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’

Languages Forum Update February 2023

A short Update with information about a number of upcoming language-related events and other language related news.   

Overview of Update 

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Languages at the Multicultural Festival in Canberra City 
• Ancient Coptic Calligraphy Workshop, Friday 17 February 4pm
• Multilingual Story Walk and competition, Saturday 18 February 10am-5pm
• Tongan Languages Workshop, Saturday 18 February 11am
• Languages Showcase, Sunday 19 February 10am-12 noon (includes Mother Tongue poets at about 11.30am)
• For more details of these and other language-related activities use the search bar at https://www.multiculturalfestival.com.au/festival-program
• International Mother Language Day Walk, Sunday morning 26 February
• Mother Tongue - Multilingual Poetry Open mic, Monday 27 February 7pm-9pm 
  

OTHER NEWS FROM THE ACT

• Call for EOI to present at ANU Language Teaching Forum, to be held monthly on Tuesdays 4.15-5pm. Email Wesley.Lim@anu.edu.au for details 
• New funding model for ACT Community Language schools yet to be announced.
• The Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge Open to all ACT students preschool - year 12. Books can be in any language, registration required by Friday 17 March.
• A glimpse of the range of language programs in the ACT area for adults and children.
• Canberra Academy of Languages 

NATIONAL NEWS

• Focus on Languages in the recently released National Cultural Policy ‘Revive: a place for every story, a story for every place’  Particularly First Nations Languages but funding for Community Language Schools also mentioned. 

For full copy of Update click HERE

Languages Forum Update October 2022

A short Update with information about a number of upcoming language-related events and some language related news.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• ANU Language Teaching Forum, Monday 24 October 4.15pm. Contact Wesley.Lim@anu.edu.au for Zoom link
• Mother Tongue Multilingual Poetry Monday 24 October 7pm – 9pm
• Canberra Academy of Languages Information Evening Tuesday 25 October 6pm
• Book Launch: Speaking and Being, Thursday 27 October 6pm-7pm
• Tones and Hanzi: Pedagogy of modern Chinese Language Education 7, 9 and 14 November

NEWS

• Results of Sharing the Joy of Languages competition
• ACT Charter for Multiculturalism includes “The right to use, preserve and share your language"
• Vale Professor Carol Hayes

Full copy of Update available HERE

Languages Forum Update September 2022

Here is a short Update for September 2022 with some language related news and upcoming events.

OVERVIEW OF UPDATE

News

• Canberra is becoming more multilingual 
• Draft ACT Language Education Action Plan 2022-2025 
• Increased support for ACT Community Language Schools 

Upcoming events

• Canberra Academy of languages (CAL) Information evening  22 September 2022
• Poetry on the move 22 – 26 September
• ANU Language Teaching Forum (LTF) 26 September: Bridging Indigenous Australia with Hispanic America through the Spanish classroom 
• Email Wesley.Lim@anu.edu.au for details
• Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language (COEDL) – End of Centre Event
• Public lecture: Waabarangara! Invigorating a community of speakers via performance

For full copy of Update CLICK HERE

If you have feedback, contributions for future updates, or would like to join the mailing list for these occasional updates, please email languagesact@gmail.com

August meeting of the ANU Language Teaching Forum

Connected in isolation: Creating 'real-life' language experiences amid a pandemic

Presentation by Eve Chen

• Monday 1 August 4.15pm – 5pm
• Online by Zoom
• Free and open to all with an interest in teaching languages

Abstract

The still ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic has significantly changed the way language courses are taught and learned. With courses switched online or offered in hybrid mode, language course convenors are faced with new challenges of engaging students and creating real-life language experiences when the majority of the class are studying online or in isolation. These challenges are particularly real and present in the two Cantonese courses I convene, as more than 70% of my students were or are still stranded overseas or interstate and had/have to study in isolation during 2020-2022. In this presentation, I share with examples how I connect students with each other and with Cantonese through tailored class activities and assessment items. 

Contact Wesley Lim, Wesley.Lim@anu.edu.au, for the Zoom link and to find out more about the  Language Teaching Forum 

Languages in the draft ACT Multicultural Recognition Act

The ACT Multicultural Recognition Act is a new law in the ACT to demonstrate the importance of cultural and linguistic diversity in our community.

Feedback from community consultations held in 2021 included a call for more specific recognition of the importance of languages and linguistic diversity. The government has listened. For example, number 7 of the 8 proposed Principles in the Multicultural Charter reads:

• language is central to the preservation and appreciation of cultural identity, and you are free and are supported to use, preserve and promote your language

The government is now calling for community comment on the draft Act. 

To voice your ideas about languages and to see and comment on other parts of the Act, including proposals about how the ACT government and its Directorates should liaise with the community to promote and implement the vision enshrined in the Act, see https://yoursayconversations.act.gov.au/multicultural-recognition-act

That page has quick links to how you can share your views through:

1. Leaving a quick comment
2. Completing a survey
3. Uploading a submission
4. Attending a consultation session
5. Sending feedback directly to oma@act.gov.au