After studying Chinese as an Australian student at a French university, Rebeca Tamas
knows how difficult learning a second language – or in her case, a fifth – can be.
Ms Tamas, 26, is head teacher of language and literacy at Warners Bay High and a polyglot,
or someone who knows and is able to speak several languages. She teaches students Chinese Beginners, French and Japanese and also speaks Romanian and Spanish.
“Mandarin Chinese is a much harder language to learn than the others,” Ms Tamas said.
“100 per cent of the written language is made up of pictures and there’s over 20,000 pictures.
“Even to read a newspaper you need to know 2000 pictures. Tone is also important.
“But we firmly believe it will give students that extra edge in employ-ability and
better career prospects.
“It’s going to be the language of the future and they’re going to get a competitive advantage.”
Already, one of Ms Tamas’ former students who studied Chinese Beginners for the Higher
School Certificate last year has started earning $75,000 in his new role as a cryptologic
linguist with the navy. But he is a rarity.
Warners Bay High, Whitebridge High, Newcastle Grammar, Saturday School of
Community Languages at Merewether High and St Bede’s Catholic College, Chisholm,
are understood to be the only schools in the region teaching the language.
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