Learning a second language in preschool could soon be the norm

Learning a second language before starting school could soon become the norm as 40 preschools around Australia commence a pilot program to teach kids another tongue.

The Abbott government’s $9.8 million trial will use apps on electronic devices like tablets to try to generate interest in language studies with the hope it will be carried on in later years of schooling.

Interest among year 12 students in learning a second language is in decline with only 12% studying a second language, compared with about 40% in the 1960s. One in five Australians however speak another language at home.

More than 1000 centres volunteered for the program. Forty were hand-picked across all states and territories.

Preschools will choose between Mandarin, Japanese, Indonesian, Arabic and French.

The first series of applications will be introduced to pre-schools early in 2015.