They are our 'neighbours' i think thats the reason.........
I learnt French, Greek.........waste of time, never used them, they're not even taught to a basic standard.........

In early 90's my daughter was taught Japanese in schoool(QLD)
In 2003 my other daughter was taught Japanese(QLD)

But most of my kids schooling it has been Italian or French(VIC)

The last 3 years my 14yo has had French lessons at school(WA), waste of time.

I agree with kengillard we are in the Asian region where we do more trade with than any other countries. I wish I was taught Japanese or other Asian languages since my French and German I HAD to study at school is only good for short holidays.

Absolutely right karen, there are heaps of benefits. Any secondary language study is a plus for numerous reasons and Asian languages will have added benefist of later

You all speak of benefits of learning a second language, such as us being in the Asia-Pacific region and them being our 'neighbours'. But I ask you- what good is learning a second language when you barely have a grasp on your native language like so many kids these days?

So many kids in school are from overseas now as well, we should be teaching them proper english instead of learning their language. They come to our country they should me made to adjust to us. It shouldn't be the other way around (us learning their languages).

They do currently teach LOTE (languages other than english) in schools but it only has to be taught as a compulsory subject for 1 year (for me it was in year 7). They teach you a few language basics and customs and a little history of the country they're teaching the language from. That is it. You don't learn to speak a whole other language (unless you choose it as an elective where the course is a bit more comprehensive). And they do languages other than Asian languages...

90 mins a day would be better spent by teaching them to spell, and writing as well , it is so frustrating trying to decipher mobile message and emails these days with the shortcuts to spelling a lot of people use.

Where is the evidence of barely have a grasp on your native language like so many kids these days?
They seem to have a pretty good grasp on it, IMO, the ones I know, anyway.
My children learned Italian in the late 70's because we lived in a Canberra suburb where a large number of Italians had settled. It was a great school and created a great atmosphere. Almost like a culture exchange as it was not confined to language only. It made the English learning easier for the children whose native language was Italian.

Perhaps the parents need to be doing what we all did for the education of our children and reinforce it at home. Help with homework, play games that help your child. Don't rely on a teacher who has 5 hrs a day with 25 children, to do it all?