An invitation to take part in the Review of the ACT Languages Policy

All interested in language-related issues are invited to be involved in the review of the  ACT Government’s Language Policy:Many Voices: The ACT languagespolicy 2012-2016) in two ways:  

1. Call for written comments on the current policy 
The Community Participation Group (CPG) of the ACT Community Services Directorate is calling for community input via the template downloadable HERE   

You will see that the template covers 5 key areas of the policy:  

• English as the National Language,
• Language Services,
• Learning other Languages,
• Languages and Economic Benefit and
• Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages.

In relation to one or more of these areas, you may like to

• list your own activities, whether assisted by government or other organisations/groups  
• comment on the policy's aims and government implementation
• suggest new ideas or ways to strengthen the policy 

Please return responses to languagesact@gmail.com by cob Friday 29 July.

2. Public forums 

You are invited to attend one of two public forums to 

• hear reports on the community responses collected through the exercise above, plus responses from a similar template sent to ACT Government Directorates and 
• discuss the issues raised and provide further comments on the achievements of the current policy and ideas for new actions/priorities.  

Details of the forums:

• Tuesday 9 August 6.30pm to 8.30pm, Function Room, 2nd Floor, Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre, LondonCircuit, Canberra city  or
• Saturday 13 August 1.30pm to 4pm, Room 121 on the lower level of the Baldessin Precinct Building (Building 110) at ANU. Please enter by door on Ellery Crescent – see MAP

Attendance is free, and refreshments will be available

To register for one of the forums (RSVP by Friday 5 August), please contact Lindsay Burge, Senior Policy and Projects Officer, CPG at Lindsay.Burge@act.gov.au or Mandy Scott at languagesact@gmail.com

Discussion at these forums, plus the previous written comments, will help guide the review process and provide input for the Directorate's recommendations to government on the form and content of the Languages Policy 2016-2020.

Multilingual poetry and spoken word event

Celebrate the many languages spoken in the Canberra region at this spoken word event.  Come along and listen and/or contribute a poem or story of your own.

• Who: People who speak, write or just enjoy listening to languages other than English in all their rich variety.
• When: 2.00pm - 4.00pm on Sunday 26 June 2016
• Where: Belconnen Arts Centre
• Cost: Free

All welcome. For more info see https://www.facebook.com/events/1555188794777067/

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