Conferences and Symposia related to Languages Education

International Conference on Community/Heritage Language Education

• Thursday 11 – Saturday 13 November 2021
• Sydney Institute of Community Languages Education, University of Sydney 

This conference will explore community/heritage language education and its key role in maintaining and developing intergenerational linguistic and cultural understandings. Bringing together researchers, school leaders, teachers, community members, parents and students, the conference will be organised in two strands. Strand 1 will focus on the latest research into community/heritage languages education. Strand 2 other will focus on effective classroom practice. 

Featured speakers

• Joseph Lo Bianco, Professor of Language and Literacy Education at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education.
• Maria Carreira, professor at the University of California and co-director of the National Heritage Language Resource Center.
• Vicky Macleroy, Reader in Education and Head of the Centre for Language, Culture and Learning at Goldsmiths, University of London.
• Mahmoud Al-Batal, Professor of Arabic at the American University in Beirut.
• Ingrid Piller, Distinguished Professor of Applied Linguistics at Macquarie University, Sydney.

Call for papers, symposia and posters now open. Abstracts (250–300 words) due by 1 July 2021.

For more information: https://sesw-events.sydney.edu.au/calendar/international-conference-on-community-heritage-language-education/

Multiculturalism, multilingualism and culture-language education in Asia and the Pacific

• Thursday 18, Friday 19, and Tuesday 25 November 2021
• Mainly online symposium with possibility of some hybrid face-to-face participation.

This symposium is interested in the socio-cultural-historical-political-economic-educational dimensions and challenges that multiculturalism/multilingualism pose in the modern context in Asia and the Pacific. These straddle intertwined themes such inter-ethnic relations, peace and harmony, indigenous minority rights, culture-language interrelation, culture-language maintenance, language and education policy, and local/regional ethnolinguistic economic vitality.

Invited speakers

• Prof Miriam Meyerhoff (Oxford University) [on multilingualism in NZ]
• Dr Fiona Willans (The University of the South Pacific) [on multilingualism in the Pacific]
• Prof Anthony Liddicoat (University of Warwick) [on multilingual education or language education policy in East and Southeast Asia]
• Dr. Ruth Singer (University of Melbourne): [on the sociolinguistics of multilingual Indigenous Australian communities]
• Prof Yongyan Zheng (Fudan University) [on multilingualism and language policy in China] 

Call for abstracts (500 words max) open until Saturday 31 July 2021

For more information: Wayan Arka (wayan.arka@anu.edu.au), Duck-Young Lee (Duck.Lee@anu.edu.au), Carmel O'Shannessy (Carmel.O'Shannessy@anu.edu.au) or Yanyin Zhang (yanyin.zhang@anu.edu.au).

Decentring and Diversifying Languages and Cultures  - 6th National Colloquium of LCNAU (Languages and Cultures Network for Australian Universities) 

• Wednesday 24 November - Friday 26 November 2021
• a hybrid conference, online and in person The University of Queensland, St Lucia

As we continue to adjust to a new (ab)normal reality and to tackle the many challenges faced by an increasingly vulnerable education sector, we invite colleagues to consider critically how the disruption of what it means to teach and research in the field of languages and cultures has been enacted in their own contexts.

Call for Papers open until 28 June
Submissions on topics addresses the colloquium theme particularly welcome - how de/re-centring strategies may have manifested and enhanced the diversification of our teaching and research practices to consider more accessible and inclusive approaches (taking into account questions of gender, race, social class, etc.). However, papers covering other aspects of praxis and lines of inquiry relating to languages and cultures, particularly at the tertiary level, will also be considered.

Confirmed Keynote Speakers

• Professor Felicity Meakins, ARC Future Fellow, School of Languages and Cultures, University of Queensland
• Associate Professor Ursula Lanvers, Department of Education, University of York, York, UK
• Dr Robyn Ober, IRC Fellow, Batchelor Institute

For more details: https://www.lcnau.org/colloquia/#2021

 

Upcoming talks and workshops for language teachers

Roundtable on Supporting Teaching Advanced Japanese in Australia

• Wednesday 19 May 5pm

Professor Chihiro Thomson (UNSW) and Associate Professor Claire Maree (UMelb) will discuss 

• the ‘challenges’ and ‘strengths’ of Advanced Japanese language teaching in Australian Universities and
• speak to their own approaches and initiatives such as;
• Heritage Language Learning Project
• Diversity in Japanese language education
• Advanced learners as critical/proactive users
• Connections with wider society – internships & mobility
• Free and online 

Hosted by the ANU Japan Institute, co-chaired by A/Prof Carol Hayes from ANU and A/Prof Ikuko Nakane from University of Melbourne and supported by the Australian Government through the Australia-Japan Foundation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

For more information and to register: https://anu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcldumrrD8vHNf0MSyFsau5co8hDLGj7kf5

Three Masterclasses organised by the NSW Federation of Community Language Schools

Free and online 

1. Teaching Pragmatics: Creating context in the community language classroom.

• Wednesday 26 May, 7pm to 8pm

A workshop led by Dr Jill Murray, Honorary Lecturer from Macquarie University, exploring

• the importance of the right kind vocabulary, grammar and communication for real-life language situations
• pragmatics and its relationship to cultural awareness, knowledge values and beliefs
• the importance of culturally appropriate politeness, directness and correct forms of address as well as knowing topics and behaviours to avoid.

2. Using Book Creator to produce and share personalised multimedia eBooks

• Monday 31 May 7-8pm

3. Promoting formative assessment with (synchronous and asynchronous) quiz tools

• Monday 7 June 7-8pm

Workshops 2 and 3 presented by Joe Dale, an independent languages consultant from the UK

To register and for more details: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/may-and-june-masterclasses-26-31-may-and-7-june-registration-154343205683

ANU Language Teaching Forum

• Monday 3 May 4.15pm
• Topic: 'The Grammar of Political Leadership Instructions' 
• Speaker: Negar Davari Ardakani
• Online delivery via Zoom

Abstract: We are constantly shaping our world through our verbal and nonverbal acts amongst which political leadership communications are specifically crucial. This presentation aims at looking into the grammar of instructions as represented in Coronavirus lockdown speeches delivered by the two prime ministers of New Zealand and Britain and the chancellor of Germany in March 2020. The talk reports part of a broader study of communicational strategies and gender linguistic stereotypes of the speeches in a framework of discourse analysis and language planning and will shed light on the effect of the leaders’ political positions on their grammatical choices for giving instructions. A spectrum of lexical and grammatical elements used for issuing explicit/implicit and convergent/divergent instructions is suggested which could be thought-provoking for the function-based language teaching. The talk could be considered as an implicit support for the idea of the emergence of a new political rhetoric which questions the normative so-called dominant “male” political discourse.

For Zoom link and/or to be added to the email list for these monthly forums, email Wesley.Lim@anu.edu.au

Languages Forum Update April 2021

A update with some language-related news and local activities

UPCOMING EVENTS 

• MotherTongue: Transporting Words, 6.30pm Friday 16 April
• Teacher development opportunities
• Collaboration,creativity and formative assessment in Languages, Online: Thurs 22 April 7pm – 9.30pm and Thurs 29 April 7pm – 9.30pm
• Free webinar: Translation in the Multilingual Language Classroom: Rationale, Roles and Activity Design.Thursday 22 April 9 – 10.30am
• Free videos of Professional Development courses and talks organised by the NSW Federation of Community Language Schools

OTHER ACT NEWS

• Languages at the ANU
• ANU Language Teaching Forum recommencing in 2021
• Diploma of Languages re-commenced in Semester 1
• Asian and Pacific languages at the ANU School of Culture History and Language in second semester 2021
• Winter School in Gamilaraay 2 commences 1 July
• Language programs in Canberra starting in Term 2
• Italian with Canberra Dante Alighieri Society
• French with the Alliance Française de Canberra   
• Indonesian with Australia Indonesia Association ACT
• and many others - see 
• https://actbilingual.weebly.com/other-language-programs.html for adults and
• https://actbilingual.weebly.com/language-programs-for-children.html for children
• ACT community language schools  
• Independent Review of ACT Community Language Schools now complete
• University of Canberra partnership with the Spanish Speakers Association to deliver Teaching Methodology course to ACT community language teachers
• Libraries ACT - Language-related activities and resources:
• Online Bilingual Story Times and Giggle and Wiggle
• English conversation classes 
• Books, DVDs, CDs, magazines and newspapers in 23 languages other than English
• Mango Languages – free online language-learning system
• Call for volunteer literacy tutors to assist learners who speak English as an additional language.
• To keep up to date with ACT Library events and activities, follow them on Facebook or visit their website

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL  

• From Western Australia  (WA)
• Plans to develop resources for Noongar language teaching in WA schools
• Hindi, Tamil and Korean will start being taught in WA schools from 2023
• Family languages in mainstream education
• Examples from Ireland: Statement of their value  and how to encourage their use in the classroom
• Relevance for ACT schools? 
• Interesting discussion about the process and politics of translation on ABC RN Radio

For a full copy of the 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

International Mother Language Day activities 2021

Observed every year on 21 February, International Mother Language Day celebrates and promotes linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. Here are some of the things happening in Canberra related to the day and its aims.

1. International Mother Language Day Walk

• Sunday 21 February
• 10.30am: meet at the International Flags Display near the lake behind Questacon
• 11am: start the walk along the lake shore and across Kings Avenue Bridge 
• Free event for all ages and all languages

Sing in your languages as you walk, wear traditional dress and wave a banner or poster to raise awareness of multilingual Canberra  

Organised by Canberra-based International Mother Language Movement. 

For details phone Ziaul on 0411 031 942, email IMLM.21Feb@gmail.com or see the article at https://citynews.com.au/2021/walk-highlights-the-value-of-all-languages/?fbclid=IwAR1AJo1t7MATGl-UsMGRJTQI1j_WSQGHkUZPgqc92BOwzsYcIBwN7CAEPOg

2. Activities at your local branch of Libraries ACT

• · Friday 19 February to Monday 1 March

Ngunnawal word activity: After collecting your Ngunnawal Animal Word Search sheet from friendly library staff see if you can find the words around the library. BYO pen or pencil. Suitable for children and adventurous adults

'Say Hello’ activity: Did you know that over 90 languages are spoken in Canberra? Visit your local library and show us how to write hello in your family language.

More details at https://www.facebook.com/LibrariesACT

Languages Forum Update December 2020

A final CReLF Update for 2020 - a year which has certainly highlighted the central role of languages and communication in all our lives. 

ACT news 

• Canberra Languages Network: Terms of Reference now officially endorsed.
• Languages at the ANU
• Details of Languages offered in 2021
• Diploma of Languages reinstated from 2021! 
• Call for nominations for Patji-Dawes language teaching award:
• Taste of Languages competition results 
• Canberra Academy of Languages – latest news and seeking teacher of Japanese for 2021
• ACT Community Language Schools: news and progress of independent review.
• Government of Japan award for ACT language educator:

National and international

• International call to action
• Joint statement: The importance of languages in global context
• Australia joins global Call to Action to celebrate language diversity and promote a multilingual world
• The role of languages in a multicultural society discussion, Thursday 10 December.  Video available 
• Call for all languages teachers to help develop National Languages Plan and Strategy 

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

ANU Language Teaching Forum

Responding to Covid with Peer-to-peer Learning: A Model from Intermediate French

• Friday 6 November 4:15-5:15pm
• Online via Zoom
• Presenters: Leslie Barnes and Gemma King . 

Abstract

In response to the Covid pandemic and with an eye toward the sustainability of our teaching in an online format, we have established a peer-to-peer learning model for Intermediate French. This model draws on second-language classroom pedagogy and the latest thinking on synchronous/asynchronous classroom activities and peer-to-peer learning to rethink content delivery in a time of rapidly increasing “Zoom fatigue.” With this delivery model, students are put into groups of 3 for bi-weekly peer-to-peer sessions, which meet for 45 minutes prior to the class Zoom session, at a time and place agreed upon within the group. These sessions are followed by truncated bi-weekly Zoom sessions, during which students reinforce the course content with the aid of the instructor. The results of our trials to date suggest that the model is a success. Students develop a sense of responsibility for the material and their partners, pushing themselves and each other to explore the course content in greater depth and cultivating increased levels confidence in themselves as teachers and learners. This presentation will detail the rational and practice of the peer-to-peer model before considering some of the challenges and reviewing the qualitative results of our study.

For Zoom log-in details or more information about the ANU Language Teaching Forum, please contact Dr Wesley Lim, School of Literature, Languages & Linguistics Wesley.Lim@anu.edu.au or 6125 2785

Link to a recording of the presentation available later on request to Dr Lim.