As linguists and specialists in education now know, the opposite is actually true. Learning an Aboriginal language from an early age in the home, daycare, preschool or community enhances the social, emotional and intellectual development as well as the academic achievement of children. It turns out that learning to speak and understand, as well as read and write, in an Aboriginal language provides many benefits. ^{Footnote 4}

For a language to survive, it needs to pass from generation to generation. Ideally, this happens in the home and the community, where family members learn the language from birth and use it as part of their everyday lives. However, everyone in the community can be involved in culture and language activities. You don't have to be fluent in the language yourself.