Aboriginal English recognition in schools critical for improving student outcomes for Indigenous Australians

Imagine speaking English at home with your family, then starting school and being told you've been taught incorrectly; that has been the experience for many Aboriginal-English speakers. Key points: Aboriginal English is an official dialect of Australian Standard English Educators and academics want teachers trained in Aboriginal English to achieve better outcomes for Indigenous students An expert says the current education system is "setting people up to fail" Since the early 1990s Aboriginal English has been recognised as one of over 160 official dialects of English, but strangely many people have never heard of it, including some of those who speak it. She said recognising Aboriginal English in the classroom would allow the children to learn more, and become stronger Australian Standard English speakers. Power in code-switching Ms Tucker said understanding the difference between Australian Standard English and Aboriginal English allowed children to code-switch — the practice of alternating from one language or dialect to another. "The more people understand about Aboriginal English and the more we're implementing in the education system, the better our children will be as Aboriginal people," she said.