Studying in Year 4 at the Lakemba Public School, Ayesha visits the Saturday school (United Subcontinental Language Schools of NSW) every weekend to learn Urdu.
“It was quite a challenge for me to write in Urdu and some of the words are pretty difficult to pronounce, but since I am studying here I feel my Urdu communication is getting better.”
Mother of another female student, Zareena Shahid is very happy with the opening of the new school.
“My daughter communicates in English everywhere and there was no place to teach them Urdu near my house. I am glad that this school opened as it is a perfect facility to help her learn Urdu.
I would strongly recommend parents to take out time for their kids as this is an excellent opportunity for them to learn Urdu in Australia.
Students, parents and teachers at Urdu school at Lakemba, Sydney share a moment. Source: SBS
“What we are seeing this is a very positive phenomenon in the community. The school started out with very few kids in Term 1 but has now grown considerably," says Alex.
“They now have a qualified teacher in the room and have teaching material based on a local program provided by the Department of Education, NSW.
“They engage with children in this kind of learning the local way of the language by incorporating the local syllabus and also incorporating the culture.
"This has made this a burgeoning community in Lakemba which is putting together successful ingredients that are attracting kids.
Urdu is not a huge language in Sydney…As a language it is definitely there, but to see a school opening up [branches] in two locations successfully, before even being approved for funding; it is a very interesting phenomenon, a great success.
The reason behind opening the Urdu school
Indian-origin migrant Ali Khan who runs businesses in the fields of telecommunication and digital media in Sydney was looking for an opportunity for community service. Last year, he found out there was a “major vacuum” of learning Urdu in the community.
“I meet people especially the new generation but they hardly speak in Urdu. All their communication is in English without the use of their mother tongue.
“Two of the largest populations in Sydney that communicate in Urdu reside in Lakemba and Auburn suburbs. However, there was nothing to promote the South Asian language in this region.
“So, there was a major need for an Urdu school. I spoke with several community members, discussed the solution and then established the school.
“I have opened two schools, one in Lakemba and the other branch is in Auburn. Lakemba branch primarily has the majority of kids from Pakistani background while Auburn has kids from an Indian background.”
Urdu language school Principal/Founder, Ali Khan. Source: SBS
Just like French is being taught at a public school even though there aren’t any French in the area, I want to promote Urdu and see it become an optional language in the NSW schools.
"I want the Urdu language not just for Pakistani and Indians but for all Australians.
"It is a beautiful language full of philosophy that is hidden in troves back home. I want people in Australia to learn about the amazing culture and traditions of the past.
Hidayatullah Hasan brings his three children to study the Urdu language every weekend and says that they were missing such a place for quite some time.
“We speak Pashtu at home but being from Pakistan I want my kids to learn the national level back home, even my kids are interested to learn Urdu.
"If they visit Pakistan or move back to the home country, it is essential that they learn the language so they could communicate with others.”
The Head Teacher of the school Mrs Komal Tariq works as a teacher during weekdays yet takes out time to volunteer for the school as Head Teacher to help children learn the South Asian language.
“We teach students to read, write and understand the Urdu language. There are various types of student categories, some can understand Urdu but can’t speak, and others find it difficult to write.
"We teach them by applying various activities to engage them with the language.
"I am passionate about the language and want the children to learn about their roots. If they are not able to learn to read and write Urdu, they will lose out the enormous knowledge of culture and history that is present in the Urdu language."
Language is a beautiful asset that must be transferred to the next generation.
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Challenge of learning 2nd Language
Mrs Tariq says the main difficulty in learning the language is its limited use outside school.
“When the children go back to their schools, or at a play area, even in the market, they communicate in English. Everything revolves around English so they don’t get any other avenue to learn Urdu other than school.
“It is very important for parents to speak them in their mother-tongue to boost the prospects of learning the language.
“I am glad that the parents understand this issue and so far are helping to engage kids in the Urdu language at home."
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