Canberra Region Languages Forum Update May 2016

Some information about language-related activities and news, especially in the Canberra region. Please feel free to pass on to colleagues and friends who may be interested.

Click HERE for more information about the following

• ANU language teaching forum, Monday 23 May, plus draft  program for the rest of 2016
• A chance to contribute to the review of the ACT Languages Policy
• Update on changes to the ANU’s school of culture, history and languages (CHL)
• Libraries ACT appoint multicultural learning coordinator
• ANU languages showcase 31 May
• Enriching Chinese studies in Canberra schools: A mentoring project linking schools with the ANU to promote and enrich the study of China and Chinese
• Recent reports about language learning in Australian schools
• Senior Secondary Languages Education Research Project
• Building Chinese Language Capacity in Australia
• Other articles and links that may be of interest:
• Oxford global languages
• The Language Flagship, a US initiative to change the way Americans learn languages
• Less Commonly Taught Languages (LCTLs) Project to advance the teaching and learning of LCTLs in the USA
• Languages in soccer
• Nine research facts about L2 phonology teaching and learning that every teacher should know
• Inaugural Canberra Writers Festival: 26 - 28 August 2016
• ACT Book of the Year Award, nominations close 5pm, Wednesday 1 June 2016.
• Three poetry prizes administered by the University of Canberra (UC)
• http://www.canberra.edu.au/vcpoetryprize
• http://www.canberra.edu.au/about-uc/competitions-and-awards/health-poetry-prize
• http://www.canberra.edu.au/young-poets-awards
• Me & my school: Education & School Engagement Forum: Creating a sense of belonging at school for migrant and refugee students and parents. Thursday June 9 Time: 2-4pm
• Africa in world history: literacy, revolutions and the quest for alternative histories, Friday 27 May 2016

Feedback and contributions to future Updates welcome

Canberra Region Languages Forum Update March 2016

A short Update about some information about language-related activities and news in the Canberra region. Please feel free to pass on to colleagues and friends who may be interested.

• Promoting languages at the Connect and Participate (CAP) Expo, Saturday 19 March
• Noted Festival 16 – 20 March 2016, including workshops on Auslan Storytelling and Writing on Other Tongues
• More opportunities to celebrate other languages in poetry in the Canberra Region: Mother Tongue: multilingual poetry open mic
• Seminar: Raising children in more than one language, Sunday 10 April
• Opportunities for people wanting to improve their English Skills in the ACT area
• Interested becoming involved in the Modern Language Teachers’ Association ACT?
• Help celebrate the centenary of the School Magazine 

Feedback and contributions to future Updates welcome

For more details click HERE 

Celebrate International Mother Language Day

• 10.30am-1.30pm Sunday 21 February
• Near the International Flags Display (behind Questacon car park) on Lake Burley Griffin 

Join the community Language Walk at 11am across the bridge and around the lake to Stage 88 in Commonwealth Park (near Regatta Point).

With a warm up band performing from 11am, the main Cultural Performance Program will formally commence on Stage 88 from 11.50am and conclude around 1.30pm.

Come and enjoy:

• a fun day celebrating Australia’s diversity of languages and cultures!
• a packed program with a bunch of Australia’s finest singers, rappers, traditional dances, African drummers, poets and more from across all walks of our community.
• Sausage sizzle, jumping castle, face and henna painting and a free T’shirts for early comers!

Come along in your community’s national costume or come as you are.

Proudly brought to you by: International Mother Language Movement (IMLM) and Supported by: ACT Government (Office of Multicultural Affairs), Bangladesh Australia Association (BAAC), The ACT Bilingual Education Alliance (ACTBEA), National Capital Authority.

See program and map here.  For more details email IMLM.21feb@gmail.com or follow IMLD Canberra on facebook.

For more information on International Mother Language Day see http://imlm21.org.au/?page_id=1109

Indonesian Language Classes

Discount for payments before 1 February

• Fun vocational classes
• Teachers are professional and native Indonesian speaking

Five levels

• Advanced – Tuesdays 7-9pm
• Intermediate – Thursdays 7-9pm
• Continuing Beginners - Mondays 7-9pm
• Beginners level 2/3 – Wednesday 7-9pm
• Beginners level 1 - Wednesdays 7-9pm

Details

• Commence week beginning 1 February 2016 (4 terms a year starting the same week school commences)
• Each term runs for 8 weeks 
• Classes held at a private address in O’Malley

Cost

• non members $140* (reduce this by $10 for payment before 1 February)
• members $120* (reduce this by $10 for payment before 1 February) and membership $10pa

For Fast enrolment: make electronic payment to account BSB 032-729 Account No: 13-0447 Account Name: Australian Indonesia Association.  Please provide your surname with the payment and email pdomasch@iinet.net.au to confirm payment and class level

For more information:

• Phone: Phil 0406930835
• Email: pdomasch@iinet.net.au
• webpage – www.aia-act.org.au

The Australia Indonesia Association is a not for profit organization. However, we do raise funds to support the Association’s charitable efforts in Indonesia. The Association would like to acknowledge the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in running this program.

Why learning a new language should be your New Year's resolution

Dr Ruth Arber and Dr Michiko Weinmann of Deakin University's Centre for Teaching and Learning Languages argue that learning a new language should be top of your list. 

Here are their top five reasons why learning a new language should be on your to-do list in 2016.

1. For each new language you learn, you'll stave off dementia for about five years
2. You'll recover from a stroke much more quickly
3. You'll become a better multi-tasker and boost your memory and attention span
4. You'll become more employable
5. You'll become a better traveller

To read more CLICK HERE

For ideas about where you can add to your language repertoire in the Canberra Region for adults CLICK HERE and for children HERE

Help Save S4C - the ONLY Welsh language TV channel in existence

This may be of interest for anyone with a connection to, or interest in Wales and the Welsh language, or involved in promoting or maintaining minority languages.

Funding for S4C, the ONLY Welsh language TV channel in existence is under threat. S4C not only produces top quality TV programs but many are available internationally and are a great resource for learning and maintaining Welsh language skills (see http://www.s4c.cymru/clic/e_category.shtml?id=99). However, overseas viewers are apparently not counted when the viewing figures for S4C are tallied up.

Henddraig has created an online petition for S4C viewers across the world to express their support for the channel and asking that current funding levels be maintained. You can Sign the Petition by clicking on that link.

Canberra Region Languages Forum Update December 2015

An update about language-related activities and issues. Please feel free to pass on to colleagues and friends who may be interested.  

• University Languages Portal Australia: which languages are available at which Australian universities, why learn languages, which unis give a language bonus and more.
• Canberra languages teacher wins national award
• Upcoming events at the ANU at the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language
• News of cuts in staff and language courses at the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific
• Australian curriculum languages: curricula for Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Modern Greek, Spanish, Vietnamese now endorsed and available
• Google+ Community OzLangED : a new resource site for language teachers
• Publicise languages at the multicultural festival in February 2016
• Calling rappers and slam poets in various languages
• ACT Mandarin Blueprint to enhance the learning of Mandarin and promote understanding of Chinese culture in ACT schools officially released.
• New Japanese book club for kids
• Alliance Française Canberra: French courses for all ages, cultural and events program, library and other services.
• Learn Mandarin over summer in Tasmania
• Articles that may be of Interest:

• Myth: young people have abandoned language learning: Fact: applications to language degrees have plummeted – but students are finding novel ways to learn
• Speaking two languages can double hopes of stroke recovery
• Indonesian language study headed for extinction at Australian Universities
• Aboriginal languages will become a new HSC subject from 2016

For more details see http://actbilingual.weebly.com/uploads/4/4/9/1/4491774/languages_forum_update_december_2015.pdf