The immersive Indigenous language class where English is left at the door (opens original article in a new tab)

An Indigenous language immersion program in Alice Springs is helping preserve the Pertame language by teaching young children and their families in a fully immersive environment, with plans to expand into a school by 2029.

• Pertame Language Nest is a total immersion program for Indigenous language preservation in Australia, where children aged 0-5 learn entirely in Pertame.
• The program aims to create fluent speakers by surrounding children with their language daily, with plans to expand to a full school by 2029.
• Pertame is critically endangered with less than 30 fluent speakers left, and the initiative draws on successful language revival models from other Indigenous groups.