Govt boosts language spend by $400,000

Community language schools in NSW will get an extra $400,000 to ensure students develop skills in a second language, the state government says.

Citizenship and Communities Minister Victor Dominello made the announcement on Saturday at a Chinese Language school in the Sydney suburb of Eastwood.

Thirty-six per cent of Eastwood residents report their heritage as Chinese.

Mr Dominello said the extra cash meant total funding for community language schools would be more than $6 million per year.

Mr Dominello said a more multilingual workforce would provide "invaluable human links to our major trading partners".