Languages Forum Update August 2024

A short Update with some language-related news.  

For a full copy of the Update CLICK HERE

UPCOMING EVENTS

 
1. Raising Children in more than one language

• Panel-led discussion for families and others interested in bilingualism and bilingual education. 5.30pm Thursday 19 September
• Part of ANU Immersia 2024

2. Online information session: Studying Year 11 and 12 languages with CIT Solutions in 2025

• For MS Teams link email: CitsolLanguages@cit.edu.au
• For more about senior secondary language studies with CIT Solutions

RECENT EVENTS July 2024

3. Radio interview with 2 linguists about Multilingual families in Canberra

4. Mother Tongue – Multilingual Poetry

• A poetry open mic celebrating our multilingual community through poetry, storytelling and wordsmithing.

NEWS

5. Language education in ACT public schools 

•  Language Education Action Plan released by the ACT Education Directorate

6. . Languages in Review of Australia’s multicultural Framework

• Recommendation for a revitalised national language policy to ‘harness the immense potential of diverse languages used in Australia’
• Chapter on Language: supporting Australians for communicate
• Full copy of Review Report: Towards Fairness: A multicultural Australia for all

FEEDBACK AND CONTRIBUTIONS FOR FUTURE UPDATES WELCOME

Contact us at languagesact@gmail.com

Languages Forum Update July 2024

A short Update with some language-related news. 

• For a full copy of the Update CLICK HERE

1.July school holiday language camps for ACT students

• Virtual Korean and Japanese camps for Years 9 and 10  
• French winter camp for Pre-kindy to Teens

2. Mother Tongue - Multilingual poetry

• An evening to share and enjoy some of the many languages being spoken, learned and taught in the ACT. Monday 29 July 7pm-9pm

3. Free language conversation meet-ups for adults

• Chinese and Japanese for intermediate and advanced-level speakers. Email Claire at pingpingdandan8@gmail.com
• Weekly multilingual language exchange at PJs in the City (See also ABC news item October 2023)    

4 Links to other opportunities to learn, develop and practice languages

• For adults
• For children

5. Language progressions project

• developing milestones to identify student languages learning irrespective of school year or where the language is being learned

6. We are multilingual

• Research findings about the benefits of developing a multilingual identity and free resources for schools

FEEDBACK AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO FUTURE UPDATES WELCOME

                                                  Email: languagesact@gmail.com

Languages Forum Update April 2024

A short Update with some local language-related activities and other news. 

For a full copy of the Update CLICK HERE

OVERVIEW OF UPDATE

• Mother Tongue - Multilingual poetry Open mic - an evening of poetry in some of the many languages being spoken and taught in Canberra. Monday 29 April 7pm-9pm
• Teacher of Italian required, ANU Centre for Learning and Teaching. More information from email clt@anu.edu.au
• ACT National Community Language Schools Day, Albert Hall, Saturday 11 May 11am - 1pm. More information from Manu at actclsa@gmail
• New Caledonia immersion trip for ACT teens with Alliance Française in Canberra, 5 - 13 October. Enrol before 30 April
• Learn more about the University of Sydney Institute for Community Languages (SICLE).
• A chance to be part of international research on the transmission of home languages in bilingual/multilingual families

FEEDBACK AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO FUTURE UPDATES WELCOME 

Languages Forum Update February 2024

 A short Update with some language-related news.  For a full copy of the Update CLICK HERE 

OVERVIEW OF UPDATE

1. Languages at the National Multicultural Festival  

• Saturday 17 February
• Libraries ACT Civic Square: 10.30-11.30am Mandarin bilingual story time; 11.45am-12.45pm  Urdu bilingual story time
• CMAG Theatrette: 11.30am-12.30pm  Sing in French with Pauline; 1.30-2.30pm  Sing a song in Tongan
• Petrie Plaza Stage: 5.20-6pm Ukrainian poetry, song and dance

• Sunday 18 February
• Languages Showcase  10am-12 noon 
• Fun with Languages 10.30am-3pm  For all ages: Italian, French, Japanese (learn to be a ventriloquist), Sinhala, Serbian (write your name in Cyrillic), Welsh and Swahili 

2.  Annual Canberra International Mother Language Day Walk  

• Sunday 25 February 10am – 12.30pm. 
• More details from imlm.21feb@gmail.com

3.  A new year, a new language - or build on skills you already have

Browse some of the many opportunities to learn and practice your skills in English and a multitude of other languages in the ACT region. 

• For adults: https://actbilingual.weebly.com/language-programs-for-adults.html
• For children: https://actbilingual.weebly.com/language-programs-for-children.html

FEEDBACK AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO FUTURE UPDATES WELCOME

Languages Forum Update December 2023

A short Update with some language-related news.  

For a full copy of the update CLICK HERE

OVERVIEW OF UPDATE

• Good news for Year 11-12 students wishing to learn languages not available through their schools – CIT Solutions is taking on the delivery of the senior secondary languages programs set up by the Canberra Academy of Languages (CAL). 
• But what is happening to the ACT Education Directorate's Languages Education Action Plan? No news since its mention in an ABC News article in mid-August 2023 
• Student petitions protesting the proposed discontinuation of five European languages at Macquarie University: Croatian Modern Greek  and  Russian 
• ‘Languages in Australian Higher Education’ Symposium, Thursday 14 December 4-5.30pm Free and online option
• Learning the languages of our community, fantastic 30-minute discussion about languages on ABC RN on 29 November. 
• Survey on Language transmission in multilingual families 

FEEDBACK AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO FUTURE UPDATES WELCOME

Languages Forum Update June 2023

 ​A short Update with local language-related events in June/July plus an opportunity for parents, teachers and students to get involved in the review of the National School Reform Agreement. 

 For full copy of Update CLICK HERE 

OVERVIEW OF UPDATE

• Canberra Festival of Languages, ​​Saturday 17 June, 10.30am-4pm
• come for the whole day or just drop in for the morning or afternoon. ​
• The role of languages in education, society, and the economy. ​Tuesday 20 June 6.30 – 8pm
• Online discussion from Tasmania but issues not unique to that state and Q&A open to all.
• Multilingual poetry workshop, ​Use all the languages you speak are learning to craft your own poems.Saturday, June 24, 10am -12:30pm
  

• Mother Tongue - Multilingual Poetry. Enjoy poetry in many languages: feature plus open mic.Saturday 1 July 4:30pm-6.30pm

• Review of the National Schools Reform Agreement - a chance to help shape the future of education in Australia 
• Australian Education Union and Australian Council of TESOL Associations call for EALD to be made an equity priority

Languages Forum Update May 2023

An Update with information about upcoming language-related events, activities and news. A host of things happening in Canberra this month with more to come in June and July! 

For more details CLICK on the electronic version 

OVERVIEW OF UPDATE

Upcoming events 

• Little kids learning languages, ANU (in-person only) Friday 12 May 3.30pm - 5pm. Contact evan.kidd@anu.edu.au for more details
• Tapestry of Cultures Family Festival, NMA, Saturday 13 May 2023, 10am – 4pm
• Multilingual poetry spot  2.10pm-2.40pm
• Program Launch: Poetic City 2023 - Winter Edition, Civic, Saturday May 13, 2pm-3.30pm
• ACT Community Language Schools Open Day, Albert Hall, Saturday 20 May 10.30-1pm. Contact Manu at actclsa@gmail.com  for more details
• Mother Tongue - Multilingual Poetry Open mic,  Smiths Alternative, Monday 22 May 7pm – 8.30pm
• Poetry and Protest: Philippine Poetry Through the Years, Griffith ACT, Sunday 28 May 2pm-4 pm
• Festival of Languages, ANU Saturday 17 June, 10.30am-4pm
• International Symposium on Bilingualism, Macquarie University or online, Mon 26 – Fri 30 June,

Other news

• First accredited training course for ACT Community Language School teachers has begun
• News from Canberra Academy of Languages
• Seeking teacher of Japanese for Semester 2
• Involvement of German students in Tag der deutschen Sprache
• Proposal about languages education again lodged with ACT government
• Podcast ‘Respecting and amplifying all languages in our multilingual classrooms’