08/08/2026
NAPLAN RESULTS FOR LBOTE STUDENTS
LBOTE is a category of students in the NAPLAN testing results (stands for Language Background Other Than English).
A surprise? Is it really? The full article is behind a paywall, but everything is already in the heading (and in the last few decades of research on Languages).
There is a misunderstanding or generalisation lingering in Australia that migrants who speak another language, labelled ESL students, are all struggling and will automatically require support to keep up at school.
The significant understandings of literacy and language functions that a child exposed to 2 or more languages gains, are one of the main cognitive benefits, and a key reason these kids can catch up and get ahead.
As teachers of languages, we want ALL Australian children to gain these benefits, and we will continue our advocacy for the expansion and support, at administrative levels, of all Languages programs in WA.
Céline Decoux; president of TOFA WA
