Call for Expressions of Interest: Interactive artwork to celebrate languages in the Canberra region

Canberra Multicultural Community Forum (CMCF), in partnership with the ACT Office of Multicultural Affairs, is calling for expressions of interest from artists to design an artwork for Civic Square which will celebrate the many languages spoken in the ACT area.

The artwork should be visually appealing, interactive, and incorporate sound, for example the voices of Canberrans speaking various languages. There may also be an associated web presence. 

The aim is to celebrate languages spoken in the Canberra area in the past and the vibrant multicultural present, and the importance of languages and communication for the future of Canberra as an international city and national capital. The artwork should also symbolise the important role of multilingualism in a city that interacts with the world through its residents as well as international visitors, delegations and diplomatic missions.  

Closing Date for Expressions of Interest:  30 March 2012

For more information  contact Mandy Scott or phone (02) 6125 9673 or 0408 089 235 (m) 

Celebrate the many languages spoken in the Canberra Region!

Be part of an exciting marathon performance of the Austrian Christmas song Stille Nacht (Silent Night) in Garema Place in December 2012!  The idea – born at a meeting of the ACT Bilingual Education Alliance (ACTBEA)  – is to perform the song in as many languages as possible. We may even get into the Guinness Book of World Records!

The song will be sung in each language, one after the other, by small groups. Each group should contain at least one native-speaker-ACT region-resident. The event may be associated with stalls and other activities.

Would you like to get involved? You don't need to sing! Plenty of logistics and planning needed as well ...

For more details and to register your interest, contact: canberrasilentnight@gmail.com

English as a second language (ESL) support in ACT schools

There was heated debate in the ACT Legislative Assembly (see Hansard of 7 December 2011) over the ACT government decision to abolish one of the two ESL executive teacher positions which provide central support for teachers in government schools. This cut had been opposed by a number of bodies including the Australian Education Union, Parent and Citizens Council and Principals’ Associations.

While all political parties agreed that the need for ESL specialist assistance in ACT schools has increased, how to best meet this need and whether current funding is adequate was hotly disputed. An ACT Liberal motion to retain the ESL executive position was defeated. However, the following Greens’ amendment was accepted ­ that the government: 

a) Undertake a review of ESL services including the Language Performance Rating cut off for full and partial support funding, with a view to raising the required level of English proficiency and the professional development and Directorate support services available to teachers;

b) in conducting the review, consult with all relevant community stakeholders as well as ESL classroom teachers and their representatives; and

c) report back to the Assembly by April 2012

Details of how the review will be conducted and how stakeholders will be consulted are not yet available, but arrangements will presumably be put in place swiftly in view of the tight time frame.  

If you are a stakeholder in this area and want your voice to be heard, look out for official announcements or contact the Director General of the ACT Directorate of Education, Jim Watterston, for more information. He can be reached via 6207 5111 or at GPO Box 158, Canberra ACT 2601.  

Cuts to language programs in the ACT

Despite the growing recognition of the many social, economic and educational benefits of maintaining and developing multilingual skills in the Canberra community, 2012 will see a reduction in language programs for adults.

Certificate and Diploma programs 

As those who read the strident letters to the Canberra Times in early December will know, the CIT has cancelled its Certificate III and IV language courses in Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, French and Spanish from 2012.  As the disgruntled letter writers pointed out, this effectively makes it impossible for Canberrans working full-time to study another language to a reasonable level of fluency in a well structured accredited program.

Also discontinued from 2012 is the part-time Graduate Diploma in Languages at the University of Canberra, which was available in Spanish, Mandarin and Japanese.

Japanese language at the University of Canberra (UC)

On 21 December 2011, lecturers in Japanese at UC were shocked to be informed that the university’s Japanese language program was to be abolished. Following representations from a number of organisations, including the NTEU, Japan Foundation and Embassy of Japan, closure has been postponed – either until the start of Semester 2 or at the end of 2012. This leaves students already enrolled in the program and staff in limbo and discourages new enrolments. Abolition of the program also severely restricts options for the study of languages on the UC campus and could have trickle down effects on Japanese study in schools in the ACT region.

UC students of Japanese have started an online petition, which you are welcome to sign at  

www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-the-university-of-canberra-s-japanese-language-pro.html

If you wish to write directly to the UC Vice Chancellor about the proposed cuts, you can email him at Stephen.parker@canberra.edu.au

Multilingual Interactive Artwork for Civic Square

Since late 2010, CMCF has been following up ideas from the community about installing a permanent artwork to highlight the central role of languages spoken and used in the ACT during the city’s centenary in 2013.

As noted in an earlier post, the aim is to celebrate languages of the past as well as the vibrant multicultural present (170 languages are used in ACT homes according to the 2006 ABS census). It will also symbolize the ongoing and future importance of language skills for a city that interacts with the world through its residents as well as international visitors, delegations and diplomatic missions.  

Civic Square has been identified as an ideal location, where several cultural institutions meet the city and the government, and where the multicultural centre is located. In partnership with the ACT Office of Multicultural Affairs, CMCF has organized a meeting with selected stakeholders, including representatives from ACT planning bodies and institutions and businesses around Civic Square, to discuss the overall concept, plans for selecting the final design, and possible sites for the artwork.

Designs for the artwork will be called for after the meeting. In broad terms, we envisage a visually appealing artwork, incorporated into an existing building or structure, and involving sound, for example the voices of Canberrans speaking various languages, possibly with an associated web presence. The final brief for artists will, however, depend on input from stakeholders at the meeting. 

One we have an idea of the design - hopefully by early 2012 - we will be looking for sponsors. We anticipate the project will be mainly funded by the community, including the diplomatic and business community, as part of their gift for Canberra’s centenary.

Like to get involved?  Contact the CMCF Languages Advisor at mandy.scott@anu.edu.au

Want to be kept informed of progress on the project? Watch this space!!

From Dutch Language News, May 2011

1. Jongerenborrel Canberra

De Jongerenborrel or 'DE BORREL' is a monthly get together for everyone who wants to learn and practise Dutch in the ACT.

Eerste donderdag van de maand (the first Thursday of the month) everyone is welcome to the Porkbarrel on King George Terrace, Parkes opposite of Old Parliament House, Parkes, ACT from 6pm until 8pm. Many tend to come before 6pm to enjoy the great food served at this restaurant.

For more information email Irmina on jongerenborrel@grapevine.com.au or just come along and join in on the fun!

2. Dutch language in Australia

Recently the Dutch language in Australia has been under fire and, even though there appears to be plenty of interest in learning this language, there is little information on where and how to.

In order to improve the flow of information, an overview of the number of Dutch teachers in Australia is being made and an assessment of their availability and level of teaching will be conducted. If you are interested in teaching Dutch or have any information that might be useful regarding this topic please send an email to proud2bedutch@gmail.com

Have you say on the national curriculum for languages

The draft ‘shape’ paper for the new national curriculum for languages is now available (see www.acara.edu.au/languages.html). The paper discusses key concepts in learning languages, the range of learners, and possible pathways for learning; and outlines how curriculum and achievement standards may be organised.

Educators, parents, students, and members of the wider community are invited to read the paper and provide comments via an online questionnaire before 8 April (see web address above). These comments will be considered when finalizing the paper, which will then guide the development of the languages curriculum for children studying in Australia from Kindergarten level to Year 12.  

All interested are also welcome to attend a meeting at the University of Canberra to further explore the paper and share your views with others.

When?  7pm Thursday 31 March 2011.  

Please contact mandy.scott@anu.edu.au or on 0408 089 235 to confirm your attendance and/or for more information.