Language lessons in Perth

Located in the south-western corner of Australia, Perth is known for its natural attractions and active cultural scene. People from all over the world are drawn to this wonderful city for its laid-back lifestyle and excellent weather, so it comes as no surprise that almost 43% of its total residents were born in other countries like India, South Africa, Malaysia, and China. As you can imagine, the big presence of immigrant communities has impacted Perth in many different ways, as all of these people brought their traditions and customs with them and turned the city into a melting pot of cultures. 

This makes Perth a perfect place to learn languages, especially if you take into consideration that 22% of the population speaks a language other than English at home. Among the most commonly used, according to the 2016 census, are Mandarin with 45,658 speakers, Italian with 26,759, and Vietnamese with 19,396. If these or any of the other many languages you can hear around the city spark your interest, starting a language course is the smartest thing you could do, as you’ll make new friends in the city, access unique job opportunities, and learn all sorts of facts about other cultures that will blow your mind. 

Where to study foreign languages in Perth

The City of Perth Library, located at 573 Hay Street, is a great place to borrow books and other learning resources you can use to develop your language skills. If you want to work on your French, there are great audiobooks you can check out to get started in the language, like French Self-Taught by Franz Thimm, which presents the most important elements of French vocabulary and grammar in a clear and simple manner.  On the other hand, if you’re interested in learning Hebrew, there’s a great recorded language course called Hebrew Basic Course by FSI Language Courses, that incorporates different methods to learn the language like imitation, repetition, memorization and pattern practice you might find useful. Additionally, you’ll find plenty of other coursebooks in languages like Mandarin, Japanese, German and Arabic, so if you like learning on your own, do consider paying a visit to this library.

If your goal is to become a language teacher or a translator, there are many courses at the University of Western Australia that you should consider. These include programmes in eight different languages that include Spanish, French, German, Indonesian and Italian where in addition to learning how to communicate efficiently, you’ll become an expert in the language and learn all about the cultures where that language is spoken.  

Language exchange groups in Perth

There are many language groups in Perth that organise fun meetups where you can meet people from all over the world and practise your skills. One of the biggest in the area is the Local & International Friends Club in Perth, which was created to provide a supportive social network for international students and locals who want to make new friendships, learn about other cultures and chat in other languages. The events they hold are quite varied and include language exchanges, social meetups and international dinners. Most of them take place at local restaurants like 3 Sheets on the Lake, located at 88 Rosewood Avenue, where on top of having great conversations in your target language you can enjoy great live music and grab something to eat with your new friends. 

Cultural institutions and events in Perth

A great way to explore other cultures in Perth is to attend the annual Perth International Arts Festival, Australia's longest-running cultural festival, which offers impressive programs every year that feature dance, theatre, performance, cinema, literature, visual arts as well as contemporary and classical music. The main events of this festival take place at different venues around the city during the months of February and March to celebrate Perth, its people and its diverse culture by highlighting talented local and international artists that will surprise you every year.

Another great way to expand your knowledge of other cultures is to visit some of the local restaurants that specialize in making traditional food from other countries. If you want to taste delicious Italian food, Galileo Buona Cucina, at 203 Onslow Road, is an incredible restaurant that focuses on seasonal cuisine and has its ingredients sourced all the way from Italy. On the other hand, Perth has many amazing places where you can get a taste of Indian cuisine, like Chatni Fine Indian Dining, at 15 Main Street, known for making one of the best curries in the city. 

Language jobs in Perth

Perth has a strong economy that has experienced sustained growth in the last ten years, so there’s a great local job market where you can find more than 149,475 jobs. If you’re interested in landing a job in some of the biggest industries in the city like finance, technical services or mining, learning a second or third language is one of the smartest things you can do, as you’ll impress local companies in these sectors and stand out in any job interview. What’s more, if you stop being monolingual, you’ll get access to unique positions that require you to speak other languages such as French-speaking Sales Assistant, Mandarin-speaking Lending Consultant and Japanese-speaking Editor and expand your opportunities in the city.

If you’re not interested in working for a company, learning a language is still a great idea, as it will help you to connect with the local foreign-born community and find potential business partners or employees that can help you advance your career in Perth by helping you reach international markets or find new clients abroad, so no matter what it is you do, becoming multilingual is the way to go. 

Get started now!!!

Learning any language will make your life in Perth so much better. Whether you want to learn Hungarian, French, Indonesian, Afrikaans or any other, the best place to do it is at Listen & Learn. Here you’ll find unique courses that are completely based on your interests and goals, so don’t wait any longer and make the first step to becoming multilingual by contacting us now!