In multicultural Australia, community language schools do far more than teach language skills. They provide young people with opportunities to build confidence, develop public speaking abilities, and strengthen their connection to cultural heritage.
Recently, I attended the Lunar New Year Card Design Competition Awards Ceremony hosted by the office of the Hon Chris Minns MP, Premier of New South Wales. Conducted in both English and Chinese, the event was emceed by three students from CASS Chinese School, who impressed guests with their poise, professionalism and bilingual communication skills.
The students were coached by teachers Ms Wang and Ms Wei from the Kogarah campus of CASS Chinese School. Reflecting on the experience, Ms Wang said, “Both students and teachers took this opportunity very seriously. A selection process was conducted across multiple campuses, with candidates assessed on their stage presence, presentation skills and language proficiency. After careful consideration, students Elena Wills, Diane Song, and Vinfred Chen were chosen to take on the responsibility of co-hosting the event in both English and Chinese.”
Ms Wang explained that the students spent weeks refining the script and rehearsing extensively. “On the day, they performed exceptionally well and were complimented by the Premier, guests and parents alike. A number of attendees were keen to learn more about the CASS Chinese school the students attended and their learning journey, which was a wonderful reflection of the value of community language education.”
Ms Wei still speaks proudly of the occasion. “Standing under the spotlight in front of senior government representatives and distinguished guests can be daunting, but the students showed remarkable confidence,” she said. “Diane spoke with clarity and composure, while Vinfred and Elena handled unexpected moments with quick thinking and light-hearted bilingual exchanges. The warm applause from the audience was a testament to their efforts.”
Later, I met Diane and her mother, Ms Zheng, at the Chinese school and asked about the experience.
“Although we had a detailed script, there were still unexpected situations that required us to think on our feet,” Diane recalled. “I’m especially grateful to our teachers, who gave up their personal time to rehearse with us and worked through the script line by line, helping us improve our pronunciation and delivery.”
When asked how she managed her nerves, Diane credited the school’s long-standing focus on public speaking opportunities.
“Our school regularly encourages students to participate in speech and recitation competitions. Through repeated practice and performance experience, I’ve gradually become more confident speaking in front of an audience. The strong foundation in Chinese that I developed over many years, together with plenty of preparation, allowed me to perform confidently on the day. It was a valuable experience that strengthened both my communication skills and my confidence in handling large public events.”
Beside her, Ms Zheng smiled as she reflected on her daughter’s journey.
“My daughter has been attending Chinese school since she was young and has never stopped learning,” she said. In New South Wales, Learning Chinese can contribute positively to a student’s ATAR results, so she has chosen it as one of her Higher School Certificate (HSC) subjects. Attending weekend classes does require commitment, but seeing the language skills and confidence she has developed makes it well worthwhile.”
Ms Zheng also shared a broader observation. “I’ve noticed that many second-generation migrants only come to appreciate the value of Chinese later in life. Some regret not being able to communicate fluently in the language despite their cultural background. I encourage parents to continue supporting their children’s language learning and to work closely with teachers. A strong foundation in language and culture can open many doors in the future.”
Through these conversations, it became clear that language learning is a long-term commitment that depends on the combined efforts of students, parents and teachers. For the students at CASS Chinese School, the benefits extend well beyond the classroom. Their experiences demonstrate how community language education can help young people develop not only language proficiency, but also confidence, resilience and the skills to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.