Benefits of a Bilingual Education

'Bilingual education provides an excellent basis for children’s learning. It has benefits for literary and numeracy development in English and in this case German, as well as for children’s understanding and experience of the world around them. The model of learning at the Deutsche Schule Melbourne (DSM) is clearly defined, well developed and supported, and highly regarded in Australia. The benefits of bilingualism to an individual and to society cannot be understated. Bilingual education of the kind provided at this school should be available to all school children in this country.'
Professor John Hajek, University of Melbourne, School of Languages and Linguistics

Benefits of a bilingual brain - Deutsche Schule Melbourne


Currently we count around 160 students across 27 nationalities and 17 spoken languages at our school. To cater for the distinct learning requirements of our students, we have differentiated our methods and optimised the learning environment. Where necessary, we also provide remedial lessons to support the acquisition of both languages. This provides students who have little or no prior language skills with the opportunity to learn in a supported school environment.

At the heart of the bilingual and bicultural education of our students is a ‘one teacher-one language’ approach in which classes are conducted in the teacher’s native language (German or English). Bilingual communication broadens the cultural perspectives of our students and inspires them to become creative and confident participants in the international community.

Hi, I am Brian with the bilingual brain and this is my story - nothing out of the ordinary, but I thought I ’d write it down anyway. There’s nothing else to do in Melbourne’s 42°C heat and a few more days of summer holidays to go. Take it or leave it, it’s my story and I kinda’ like it. Hope you do, too. Viel Spass beim Lesen!

'In an increasingly globalised world it is imperative young people are equipped to compete in a global economy and participate in a global society. This will require not only knowledge of other languages but also the skills to excel in a highly connected world.'

Martin Dixon MP, Minister for Education, ‘Victoria as a Learning Community.‘ (November 2011)