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The current state of modern language education in Australian public universities.

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Title: The current state of modern language education in Australian public universities.
Authors: Charles, Michael B1 (AUTHOR) michael.charles@scu.edu.au, Harmes, Marcus2 (AUTHOR)
Source: Arts & Humanities in Higher Education. Oct2025, Vol. 24 Issue 4, p370-392. 23p.
Subject Terms: *Foreign language education, *Content analysis, *Postsecondary education, *Linguistics education, *Humanities education, Institutional isomorphism, National interest
Geographic Terms: Australia
Abstract: Studying modern languages has been part of Australian tertiary education from close to its beginning. This study, which uses an online content analysis approach, analyses current units of study in each Australian public university teaching modern languages. Set in the context of the origin and development of this field, together with contemporary debates regarding the value of studying the humanities in general, and modern languages more specifically, this research offers detailed analysis of what is currently being taught, and how public universities are framing the merit and utility of teaching modern languages. Our analysis reveals that the study of modern languages remains relatively vigorous, but there is a high degree of institutional isomorphism at play. The findings show that many universities offer very similar fields of study across the board, albeit with some surprising omissions of languages that are of strategic significance to Australia's national interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Arts & Humanities in Higher Education is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: The current state of modern language education in Australian public universities.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Charles%2C+Michael+B%22">Charles, Michael B</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> michael.charles@scu.edu.au</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Harmes%2C+Marcus%22">Harmes, Marcus</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Arts+%26+Humanities+in+Higher+Education%22">Arts & Humanities in Higher Education</searchLink>. Oct2025, Vol. 24 Issue 4, p370-392. 23p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+language+education%22">Foreign language education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Content+analysis%22">Content analysis</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Postsecondary+education%22">Postsecondary education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Linguistics+education%22">Linguistics education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Humanities+education%22">Humanities education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Institutional+isomorphism%22">Institutional isomorphism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22National+interest%22">National interest</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Australia%22">Australia</searchLink>
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Studying modern languages has been part of Australian tertiary education from close to its beginning. This study, which uses an online content analysis approach, analyses current units of study in each Australian public university teaching modern languages. Set in the context of the origin and development of this field, together with contemporary debates regarding the value of studying the humanities in general, and modern languages more specifically, this research offers detailed analysis of what is currently being taught, and how public universities are framing the merit and utility of teaching modern languages. Our analysis reveals that the study of modern languages remains relatively vigorous, but there is a high degree of institutional isomorphism at play. The findings show that many universities offer very similar fields of study across the board, albeit with some surprising omissions of languages that are of strategic significance to Australia's national interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Arts & Humanities in Higher Education is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1177/14740222251341412
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign language education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Content analysis
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      – SubjectFull: Postsecondary education
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      – SubjectFull: Linguistics education
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      – SubjectFull: Institutional isomorphism
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              Text: Oct2025
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