The Queensland Tongan Language School will teach native Tongan language for the first time ever from next year.
The announcement was made during the soft launch at Highgate Hill in Brisbane, last week.
The launch was held at the Park Uniting Church Tongan Congregation and attended by councillors, university representatives, community leaders, teachers and future students.
The school will be run by the Brisbane Tongan Community (BTC) at Griffith University Logan campus with classes for primary, secondary, and open adults held on Saturdays between 2pm and 4pm during school term.
Principal of the New South Wales Tongan Language School in Sydney, Uanivā Havea highlighted in her keynote speech, the importance of preserving and teaching the Tongan language in Australia.
“By providing a platform for our children to learn the Tongan language, we are further empowering them to connect with their culture and their identity, notwithstanding the fact we then allow them to think in two worlds, the Australian context as well as a Tongan context.”
She advised volunteer teachers to avoid using English words in classes.
“We need to be ahead of the game in developing our Tongan vocabulary with the evolution of new terminology and ensure we avoid Tonganising English words to see our language valued and preserved.”
According to the Australian 2016 Census, there are over 32,691 Australians with Tongan ancestry with 17.2% residing in Queensland. An estimated 82.3% speak Tongan at home fluently.