In this article, the author gives a short account of her own perceptions about teaching and learning a second language in Australian schools. She emphasises that these are her own observations, which have been coloured by her conversations with language teaching colleagues and students over many years. In this respect her views differ from those presented by academics, policy makers, and commentators who usually speak at conferences for teachers. Her views come directly from her past experience as a student in an Australian classroom and her present experience as a teacher in a senior secondary college in Canberra.