Teaching Aboriginal language through song: a unique online study success story

Rita and brother Michael from Meningie (about two hours from Adelaide) are online students, studying TAE (training and assessment), the core qualification needed by anyone who wants to teach and train others in Australia, which the siblings both want to do. “My ultimate goal was to get a formal qualification,” Rita explains, “to be able to train and teach others and for us to be able teach our language, an Australian Aboriginal language.”

The language she and brother Michael teach through song is Ngarrindjeri which belongs to the lower lakes of the Murray River in southeast South Australia. The siblings plan to become Ngarrindjeri cultural teachers in language, traditional arts and crafts, and song and dance.

“There are many who know words because they learn them from young,” says Rita, but fluent speakers are another case. “We don’t have any. So we’re in the process of bringing back the grammar that actually stretches our sentences to be able to formulate welcome-to-country speeches and songs.”

Michael agrees. “(Gaining this qualification) is important because I need to do what I can to ensure the maintenance, continuity and revival of Aboriginal language,” he says. “Aboriginal culture is the oldest living culture in the world and it is important to protect Aboriginal language and heritage.”

The importance of preserving language is clear; it allows children and teenagers to feel more connected to their history, to their community and to their cultural background. And it’s being taught from the ground up.

“A lot of the work comes from the grassroots level,” explains Rita (who is 25), “so we’ve had a lot of Ngarrindjeri language teachers, elders, and leading community members.”

“As an Aboriginal person I am passionate about preserving Aboriginal language because some are endangered and others are at risk or are lost,” Michael who plays the drums and clapping sticks adds.

“My focus is on the fluency of the language,” says Rita. “I find the best way and the fastest to teach is through song because of the repetition of the lyrics.” Rita leads a traditional dance group called Rritjarukar or ‘Willy Wagtail’. It’s an intergenerational group that teaches language through song and dance.

In order to spread the knowledge of their Aboriginal heritage further, Rita and Michael are studying the TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training & Assessment so that they can work as official trainers and language teachers.

Because of their relatively remote location, Rita and Michael have decided to study online. Michelle Christie is a trainer and assessor for TAE and offered to give Rita and Michael some one-on-one support, something that many Open Colleges trainers offer when students are having challenges in their studies.

“We got a bit stuck on the first study period and it seemed a bit daunting at first,” Rita explains. “But Michelle was very supportive.”

“Michelle was able to guide us in the right direction and introduced us to our first assessment. It was overwhelming at first, but Michelle was very clear and gave us a lot of guidance.”

The trainer and assessor insists that her extra attention is all part of the teaching she provides as an online trainer and assessor, understanding that online students need particular types of help.

“At first, it was a bit daunting,” says Rita of her course. It was almost like a maze, trying to navigate around the study periods and the tool boxes. But just getting on there and having a go every day, trying to navigate around, we’ve become more confident in accessing our resources.”

Being able to access online learning was essential for these budding teachers. “We’re based in the country and our nearest TAFE is an hour away and the universities are over two hours away,” Rita says. “Having access to education online, and just being in our own household to learn is just a fantastic opportunity. It really makes us appreciate that availability of knowledge online.”

“I believe that studying online was the best option that suited me because of my location,” agrees Michael. “I am situated out in the country and travel can be difficult at times and the nearest TAFE is a 140km round trip.”

Michael says that he was also finding study slightly challenging and found the session with trainer Michelle very helpful, “because she was able to assist with things that I found difficult,” he says. Often returning to study online can be a daunting prospect, but with support from their peers and trainers, most students can achieve.

“I admit that I was confused at first and did not know what to do,” says Michael. “Michelle provided information, direction, support, guidance and encouragement. This gave me enthusiasm, clarity, motivation and determination to move forward with my studies.”

“Learning online is something different that I haven’t done before and I find it interesting. Studying at home is better because I do not have any distractions and I can concentrate.”

Rita explains that teachers are needed desperately in the area. “In my community, or the Ngadju nation, there aren’t any formal qualified language teachers at the moment. So it’s a gap that my brother and I are trying to fill.”

Rita finished Year 12 as well as a Certificate III qualification, mainly on endangered Aboriginal languages with the focus language being Ngarrindjeri. She’s also done a lot of community work such as performances and workshops, but her role mainly centres around cultural work, “Either visual or performing arts, whether it’s weaving in a set of flowers or language workshop,” she says.

So what’s next for this brother and sister duo?

“I’d like to do a lot of work out in the country,” says Rita, “so all in the regional areas, then in the metropolitan areas as well, but we don’t have any teachers out here in the country, so that would be my focus.”

Michael is a quiet soul who is clear about what he will have to offer once he is a fully qualified trainer. “I believe that my strengths as a teacher of my language and culture would be patience, knowledgeable, kind, encouraging, supportive, influential and unique,” he says.

There is one more thing that Rita says is of vital importance to her and that’s bridging the gap between communities. “To assist in that reconciliation process,” says Rita, “to assist in the continuity of Ngariindjeri culture.”

Would you like to study training and assessing online?

If you plan to work as a trainer of any kind in Australia, you will need this as a minimum qualification. The good news is that this qualification can be gained totally online, flexibly, at your own pace. This is a great options for students that live in remote areas, students who prefer to study at home, or for people who require flexible learning because of their jobs or busy lives.

If you’d like to find out more about the TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training & Assessment, check out this page on the Open Colleges website.