Why Languages Matter More Than Ever

As part of the National Conference for Teachers of German in Australia, "Sprache zählt - Language Matters", we are pleased to open this keynote presentation to a wider audience interested in languages, multilingualism, education and intercultural understanding.

Australia's cultural and linguistic diversity is one of its great strengths. Yet fewer and fewer young people choose to learn an additional language, often questioning its relevance in a world where English is widely used and translation technologies are only a click away.

In this keynote, Prof Ingrid Piller argues that we short-change the next generation when we overlook the wider benefits of language learning. Beyond communication, learning another language can broaden perspectives, strengthen intercultural understanding, support identity formation and help young people engage more deeply with an increasingly interconnected world.

The keynote offers a timely perspective on one of the central questions of this conference:
  The keynote will be delivered live as an online webinar and can be enjoyed individually from anywhere. Schools, universities, language teacher associations and community groups are also welcome to host their own screening event and watch the presentation together on a larger screen.

The presentation will be followed by a moderated Q&A session, bringing together both conference delegates and members of the online audience. Participants will have the opportunity to submit questions and engage directly with the speaker.

Please register via the link. Registered participants will receive the webinar access details.

Prof Ingrid Piller
Ingrid Piller is Distinguished Professor of Applied Linguistics at Macquarie University and Humboldt Professor for Intercultural Education at the University of Hamburg. Her work focuses on intercultural communication, language learning, multilingualism, bilingual education, and the role of language in migration and globalized societies. In addition to her research and teaching, she is a leading public voice on issues of linguistic diversity and social participation through her widely respected outreach platform Language on the Move.


Curious about the conference behind this keynote?
Discover the full program of Sprache zählt – Language Matters: