Canberra Region Languages Forum Update April 2017

Some news and information about languages and languages-related activities, especially in the Canberra region:.

• Noted Writers Festival: 3 - 7 May 2017
• You might be particularly interested in the Multilingual Hub Sunday 7 May
• And if you are interested in Auslan – also Sunday, May 7 
• An invitation to promote languages and language learning at the Noted Festival, Sunday 7 May
• Woroni Multilingual is seeking contributions. You do not have to be a student or affiliated with the ANU to get involved! 
• Celebration of the Portuguese language 5 May 2017, 12.30pm - 2pm
• ANU Language Teaching Forum Monday 24 April 2017, 4.15 – 5.15 pm 
• Opportunities to learn and practice languages in Canberra 
• Polyglot Club 
• French with the Alliance Française de Canberra 
• Indonesian with the Australia Indonesia Association ACT Inc 
• For other opportunities to study and practice a range of languages in the ACT area
• Host family opportunities: experience a new culture, make new friends and learn a new language 
• Data wanted for Kinship questionnaire  
• Articles and links that may be of Interest:
• Fighting for ‘pure’ Mongolian
• "Mandarin skills open doors for jobseekers", The Australian, 12 April 2017. 
• How Britain's monolingualism will hold back its economy after Brexit, 

For more details download a copy of the April Update HERE 

If you would like to join the email list to receive these occasional Updates please email languagesact@gmail.com

Mother Language Walk 2017

Unite for diversity on 26 February 2017 

The UN has proclaimed that February 21st is International Mother Language Day. Celebrate your mother tongue by joining the 2017 Mother Languages Walk across Commonwealth Bridge in Canberra.

When? 10am Sunday 26 February 2017

Who?   Anyone and everyone! 

Where? Under the flags, near the National Library in Canberra.

·         Sing your mother language during the walk

·         Wear something traditional or colourful

·         Bring banners, posters or anything else that celebrates your language identity

·         Sausage sizzle and children’s games available at the end of the walk

THIS IS A FREE EVENT.   For Poster, CLICK HERE 

More info? see Facebook or Email imlm.21feb@gmail.com 

Mother Tongue – Multilingual Poetry

Celebrate the languages, cultures and stories of our diverse community at the Multilingual Poetry Showcase.

·         Canberra Fringe Festival, Canberra City

·         10am-1pm, Saturday 18 February 2017

Anyone who speaks a language other than English is invited to register their interest in taking part. All languages are welcome, and any style, from traditional poetic forms to hip hop. 

Each person will have up to 5 minutes to read or recite a poem or story in their language/s, or a mix of their language and English.  Original work is encouraged, but a favourite piece by another poet is also welcome. 

Workshops for young people (12-25 yrs old) who speak a language other than English

Mother Tongue, in partnership with the Multicultural Youth Service, Canberra, is offering two free workshops for young people

·         Friday 3 February, 4.30pm – 6pm, to write a poem or short story, and

·         Friday 10 February, 4.30pm – 6pm, to learn performance skills to read or recite their words out loud

·         Venue for both workshops: Multicultural Youth Services, Level 2 Theo Notaras Centre, London Circuit, Canberra   

To sign up to share poetry at the Fringe Festival or for the workshops and/or for more information, email mothertonguemic@gmail.com or call 0433 845 900.

Join and follow the events on https://www.facebook.com/events/593935637470026/

Our languages, a national resource, in 'terminal decline, SBS special report

Disconcerting report from SBS, 5 December 2016.

Our languages, a national resource, in 'terminal decline', SBS special report

Australia is losing the riches of its many languages. Even school children from immigrant families are abandoning the study of their mother tongues. In the nation’s most multicultural state, researchers claim students are being “punished” with the scaling down of their HSC marks.

Canberra Region Languages Forum Update December 2016

Some news and information about languages and languages-related activities, especially in the Canberra region.

1.  Ideas to make Canberra a multilingual city
2. A chance to promote languages at the Multicultural Festival, 19 February 2017
3. Mother Tongue: Multilingual Poetry at the Canberra Multicultural Fringe 18 February 2017
4. Language programs at Canberra schools in the news: Preschool and Mawson Primary and Telopea and the National Gallery   
5. More opportunities to learn more languages on campus and/or online through the ANU in 2017
6. New Canberra Academy of Languages
7. Balai Bahasa Indonesia (ACT):
8. Upcoming events and courses at the Alliance Française de Canberra
9. Nominate an outstanding language teacher in Australia for the 2017 Patji-Dawes Award
10. Languages of the Pacific and indigenous Australia at the Canberra Museum and Gallery
11. Be: longing, new online publication launched in Canberra
12. 2017 National NAIDOC Theme - Our Languages Matter
13. Articles and links that may be of Interest:

• Why is bilingual education ‘good’for rich kids but ‘bad’ for poor, immigrant students? 
• Timetravelling to the mother tongue 
• Reviving Indigenous languages – notas easy as it seems. 
•  Is bilingualism really an advantage? 
• How using a foreign language changes the decisions peoplemake. 
• Statement of the role of language learning in valuingdiversity and promoting unity
• This is what we need to do to boost languages learning inAustralian schools’  

For more details, click HERE

Call for LOTE Markers & Assessors (Qualifying and Placement Tests)

Fortis Consulting has been asked by a Government Agency to put forward a number of language instructors to conduct marking of Language Proficiency Tests known as Qualifying (Q) & Placement (P) tests commencing November 2016 and concluding in November 2017. 

The languages being sought are: Arabic, Cantonese, Dutch, French, Indonesian, German. Hindi, Japanese, Javanese, Mandarin, Punjabi, Russian,Spanish, Sundanese

The Scope of the Job is as Follows:

• Positon: Marking and Assessment of Qualifying & Placement Tests – intermediate, high and advanced levels
• Period of engagement: November 2016 – November 2017
• Location: Remotely – Wi-Fi Connection, scanner and email access is required
• Time Frame to complete markings: One (1) week period upon receipt from Fortis Consulting
• Rate: $45 p/hr inclusive of super

If you are interested in this position, please send a CV and a one page summary in the following formats  CV  and   Summary to Mylynda.Balodis@fortisconsulting.com.au by no later than COB 19th of October 2016   

Canberra Region Languages Forum Update October 2016

A short Update about some language-related activities and news in the Canberra region. 

1. Mother Tongue Tuggeranong 

• Multilingual Poetry Writing Workshop, Saturday 15 October 2016, 2pm-4pm 
• Multilingual Poetry Writing performance Workshop, Saturday 22 October 2016, 2pm-4pm 
• Multilingual Poetry Showcase Saturday 29 October 2016, 6pm-8pm 

2. Free public lecture on multilingualism, Monday October 17, 6pm-7.30pm

3. Languages Potluck Lunch Sunday 30 October, 11am - 1pm

4. Multicultural Spectacular to Aid Canberra’s Italian Earthquake Relief Appeal, Sunday 30 October, 3pm

5. Multilingual Sydney: Human Sciences Perspectives on Urban Diversities Tuesday 15 November 2016, 8am-6pm

6. Opportunities to learn and Practice Languages in Canberra 

• Spanish, French, German or Danish conversation, Mondays 5.30-7pm for conversation.
• Spanish, Irish, Arabic, Hindi, Japanese and Portuguese conversation groups on meetup.com 
• Indonesian Language Classes with the ACT Australia Indonesia Association

7. The School Magazine Exhibition 23 September – 21 October, and public talk Friday 14 October, 4 - 5pm

For more details about the above click HERE