Rethinking language, culture and learning in the language classroom

Professor Tony Liddicoat, University of South Australia

ANU Language Teaching Forum

Wednesday 17 September 2014, 4.15 – 5.15 pm
Al-Falasi Theatre, CAIS, Building 127, Ellery Crescent, ANU

This presentation will explore the nature of intercultural language teaching and learning as a way of understanding the practice of language education. It will examine some of the core assumptions that lie behind adopting an intercultural perspective in language teaching and learning and discuss how these influence the practice of language teaching. The presentation argues that intercultural language teaching and learning involves a rethinking of the nature of language, culture and learning as they apply in languages education.

The talk will be followed by drinks and dinner at a nearby restaurant. All welcome.

How to raise a bilingual child? Benefits and challenges

• Monday 15 September - 5.30pm to 7.30pm
• Telopea Park School, New South Wales Crescent, Barton ACT 2600

The Embassy of France and Telopea Park School/Lycée franco-australien de Canberra invite you to this information evening (with Q&A). Explore the myths and misconceptions, as well as the benefits and challenges, of raising a child in a bilingual environment. The evening will cover bilingualism as a general topic, not only restricted to French and English

Speakers:

• Dr Ruth Fielding, University of Canberra, Assistant Professor, Languages curriculum and TESOL
• Vishnu Kaleeckal Krishnankutty Nair, ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, PhD, research scholar
• Catherine Adam, Faculty of Humanities Université de Bretagne Occidentale, France, teacher trainer and author, PhD

A poster and abstracts of the talks can be downloaded HERE   

RSVP via bilingualchild.eventbrite.com.au or fb@lyceefrancoaustralien-efs.org    Live streaming will be available: contact fb@lyceefrancoaustralien-efs.org.

For more information about the event, contact Nicolas Gouletquer at the French embassy on (02) 6216 0135 

'Linguists in the education space' : ANU Language Teaching Forum September 2014

A presentation by Denise Angelo, Department of Education Queensland & Australian National University

• Al-Falasi Theatre, CAIS, Building 127, Ellery Crescent, ANU
• Wednesday 3 September 2014, 4.15 – 5.15 pm

ABSTRACT
At so many levels, schooling in Australia could benefit from linguistically informed advice, particularly where education is delivered in linguistically complex contexts. The question is whether linguists are prepared for the nature of the very particular “site” of schools which have their own culture, knowledge sets and practices. In this presentation, the school domain is viewed through the lens of the linguist to draw out the existing tensions. Specific reference is made to language in education policy, language ecologies and school data, and the role of language in teaching and assessment in the context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education. The ramifications for linguists and for teachers/administrators are shown to be manifold, with deep and respectful engagement on the part of linguists being the recommended way forward.

Canberra Region Languages Forum Update August 2014

Some information about language-related activities and issues that may be of interest:

• ANU language teaching forum: Persian language online - obstacles and opportunities, Wednesday 6 August 2014, 4.15 – 5.15 pm
• Australian K-10 curriculum for Chinese, French, Indonesian and Italian now online 
• Two articles of interest: How we kill languages and fail our cleverest children, and The importance of literacy in the home language: the view from Australia 
• Indonesian language evening classes for adults 
• Join in Love2Read and the Reading Hour –Tuesday 19 August, 6pm – 7pm
• Read along with a book in Mandarin on 2XX (98.3FM), 6.30-7pm on Friday evenings.
• Skype promises to break the language barrier?
• ACT branch of the Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators (AUSIT) - NAATI Revalidation Issues and AGM, Saturday, 16 August 2014, 2pm – 4.30pm

For details of the above CLICK HERE

Skype translator opens up new possibilites

I would not like to rely on this technology alone, especially for important or critical messages, but it certainly opens up a lot of possibilities for learning and practising languages.

See demo at http://techday.com/the-channel/news/microsoft-breaks-language-barrier-with-skype-demo/188237/

Indonesian Language classes in Canberra

Weekly classes for adults 7pm to 9pm in a residence with classrooms in O’Malley at the following levels:

• Advanced
• Intermediate
• Continuing Beginners
• Beginners from Novice to level 3.

Taught by trained teachers who are native speakers

For more information contact Phil Domaschenz at pdomasch@iinet.net.au (or Jenny at jenny_jakarta_indo_adventures@windowslive.com if before 4 August) or telephone 6288 8640

Four languages curricula made available in the Australian Curriculum

The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) has today made available Australian Curriculum for four languages: Chinese, French, Indonesian and Italian for Foundation – Year 10 – see http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/languages/preamble. 

The curricula for the four languages are awaiting endorsement from the Education Council (formerly known as the Standing Council on School Education and Early Childhood), but as per a decision taken by the Council, the curricula are now available for states and territories to use in schools in their jurisdictions.

The remaining languages, including the Framework for Aboriginal Languages and Torres Strait Islander Languages, Arabic, German, Japanese, Korean, Modern Greek, Spanish and Vietnamese are currently under development. Funding for the additional languages – Turkish, Hindi, AUSLAN, and Classical Greek and Latin – has been provided by the Australian Government.