(AFMLTA – Australian Federation of Modern Language Teachers Associations of Australia) 

Andrew Scrimgeour 

Andrew Scrimgeour has a long, distinguished career as a languages scholar, educator and advocate. With outstanding contributions to the field across a career of more than four decades, he has significantly influenced teachers of languages and languages education scholars in Australia, and internationally.

Andrew studied Chinese at The University of Adelaide, and has achieved a level of facility with and knowledge of Chinese language and culture rare in Australia for those of non-Chinese background. He travelled to China from the 1970s, developing deep knowledge which has profoundly influenced his research, teaching and scholarship. His generosity in sharing this knowledge has ensured many others have also benefited from his extraordinary accomplishments and insights.

Andrew taught Chinese and Indonesian, and has had a distinguished career as a researcher of languages education, principally at the University of South Australia. He has also worked extensively with in-service teachers of all languages, tertiary languages educators, governments, inter-governmental bodies, education jurisdictions, boards of studies, curriculum authorities, community languages organisations and languages teacher professional associations, to advocate for, conduct and disseminate data-driven research, and contribute to improving the quality and outcomes of languages education. He advocates the importance of teachers as active and reflexive practitioners, and the benefits of professional association membership.

Andrew’s research has been highly influential in shaping practice in languages education. He was lead writer of the original curriculum for Chinese for the Australian Curriculum and he remains the pre-eminent Australian scholar in this field. This impact can also be seen in international contexts, with invited presentations around the world, and many significant publications including his book with Jane Orton on Teaching Chinese as a Second Language, subtitled ‘The way of the learner’. Recent work has included being Lead Researcher for the Australian Government commissioned project to develop a national plan and strategy for languages education in Australian schools.
In summary, Andrew Scrimgeour has made exceptional contributions to the languages education profession, meeting the criteria for the FIPLV International Award. He is a highly deserving recipient of this award.