James Cook University is expanding its language program with Townsville's 3rd Brigade, adding a third language as the burgeoning partnership continues to provide soldiers with vital communication skills for future deployments.
JCU's Academy of Modern Languages director Dr Florence Boulard recently taught an enthusiastic group of soldiers a week-long, intensive course in Pacific French, adding to regular courses teaching Papua New Guinea's native language Tok Pisin, as well as Bahasa Indonesian.
The partnership began in June this year and Dr Boulard said JCU is delighted to work hand in hand with the Australian Army, with hopes the program can be expanded to further languages as well as intermediate and advanced classes.
"We had a great response to our first classes in June and have just recently expanded the program to teach Pacific French, which will help the troops should they be deployed in French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, Vanuatu or New Caledonia," she said.
"The learning is very much contextualised within these islands, which are some of Australia's closest neighbours and it also aligns with JCU's tropical agenda.
"We've got 6000 languages that are being spoken around the world so obviously we can't offer all of them, but we are working closely with 3rd Brigade, having some great conversations surrounding what they need and what we can deliver for them."
Dr Boulard praised the soldiers as fantastic and engaged students and said the new language skills and phrases they learn can be key in communicating with locals.
"These classes are week-long, intensive classes so it isn't long enough to be fluent in another language. What we say to them is it's about breaking down the first barrier and opening a door," she said.
"By knowing even a few words in their native language that helps you to connect with the locals, wherever they might be.
"Whether it is in PNG, or if they are traveling to Bali, or if they going to go to Nouméa in New Caledonia, they will have some language to break down those barriers on their initial interactions with people.
"For a lot of them it's their first time on JCU's campus so it's exciting for them, it's exciting for us to have them and I'm really looking forward to seeing that partnership growing further."
Last week's Pacific French course was a continuation of a big year for language lover Private Natasha Musumba from 3rd Combat Signal Regiment, after spending three months earlier this year learning Fijian in Melbourne.
"My parents are from Congo, they know a bit of French already, so it was interesting to see the differences to Pacific French," Corporal Musumba said.
"I speak English, Swahili, Fijian, some French, I'm learning a bit of Mandarin, and I think language really is the best way to understand someone.
"In our careers we could be deployed to any number of different places so actually knowing the language spoken by the people affected is really important and shows you have respect for their country and culture."
