Two NSW Department of Education schools have dominated the HSC First in Course language lists accounting for more than half of the first places, from Arabic Extension to Vietnamese Continuers.

Students taught by teachers at the NSW School of Languages and the Secondary College of Languages and other public high schools took home 30 first places in languages.

The four Japanese courses were snapped up by Mosman High’s Liangpei Liu (Japanese Beginners), North Sydney Girls’ High’s Seo Yun Choi (Continuers), Secondary College of Languages student Monei Takeuchi (Japanese in Context) and Baulkham Hills High’s Melissa Gao (Japanese Extension). Baulkham High’s Ashley Peng was first in Korean Beginners.

In a time when language enrolments in NSW face a decline, the two Department of Education language-specific schools stand out, achieving remarkable results and defying the trends.

The NSW School of Languages (Distance Education) and the Secondary College of Languages (operating on Saturday mornings) this year successfully prepared 1,549 Year 12 students for their Higher School Certificate in 26 languages.Ten students from the NSW School of Languages, which offers 12 languages for students in years 9-12 through innovative distance learning programs, took out First in State results in their HSC courses.

Principal Teresa Naso said the success highlighted the effectiveness of the teaching practices employed by the school, enabling students from various backgrounds and schools across the State to access and excel in language studies.

Ms Naso commended the students' hard work, and the high-quality learning provided by their teachers.

At the Secondary College of Languages, 15 students were awarded First in Course including Althea Ortiz for Filipino Continuers (home school Kotara High School), Mansukh Singh (Punjabi, home school The Ponds High School), Vedran Toshevski for Macedonian (Ryde Secondary College) and Vornith Sovan for Khmer Continuers (Cabramatta High School).

Secondary College of Languages relieving Principal Nada Gemayel said the true impact of learning a language lay in its ability to prepare students to become global citizens.

Ms Gemayal said language learning was not just about mastering vocabulary and grammar.

"At our school, we are committed to ensuring that students maintain their heritage language and immerse themselves in the associated culture and traditions," she said.

By learning a language, students gained a deeper understanding of diverse worldviews, helping them become more empathetic, open-minded, and culturally aware—qualities critical for success in the 21st century.

Learning a language also played a significant role in shaping global citizens by fostering intercultural understanding and empathy—skills essential for the next generation of leaders.

"We live in an interconnected world, where communication across cultures is more vital than ever,” Ms Naso said.

“Language learning provides students with the tools to navigate and succeed in this diverse world, while also giving them an appreciation for the rich histories and perspectives of other cultures.”