http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091105092607.htm

Our classes are small with 5-6 children per class and divided into 4 age groups. Classes are held in a home like environment with beautiful surroundings to make your child comfortable and ready to learn.

Your child will have lots of fun learning Mandarin in a great atmosphere where they will be immersed in the Mandarin language.

Mandarin mandarin Bilingual Centre is located at 783 Bourke St, Redfern NSW, Australia 2016.

Read more at http://www.mandarinmandarin.com/.

In an article last year I discussed the multiple benefits that young children can gain from learning a second language.  These benefits include adding to communicative and intellectual skills, and laying the foundation for successful learning of further languages later in life.

This article introduces readers to a growing area of interest among parents – bilingual playgroups.

Over recent months I have visited three language-based playgroups in the ACT.  All are providing a bilingual experience for children and highlighting the fact that speaking more than one language is a natural and fun thing to do.

First I visited the Yeppeun Byol Playgroup at Hughes, where I found a warm centre of activity and intercultural communication.  The group focuses on Korean children under school age, but includes parents of various ethnic backgrounds who have adopted children from Korea.  Food was a major part of the morning’s activities, reflecting its cultural significance and the interest of the Korean mothers in various non-Korean recipes and vice versa – The Aussie pikelets were a bit hit with the children on the day I was there!  The Korean parents take a leading role in teaching Korean songs, music, games and other activities to the children and the other parents.

The German playgroup Spiel und Spass, is held in Cook.  Again it was a busy morning, with about 20 children.  After a period of individual play and a craft activity, the group came together to sing songs from the “German songbook”, collated by and for the group over time.  Most parents have some connection with the German language, either coming from a German speaking country or having German speaking partners.

As with all playgroups, the activities allow parents to get together as well as the children.  One mother told me of her pleasure at being able to speak her native language with others.  Another, a non-German speaker, was attending to broaden her own and her child’s experience.

I also visited a Chinese playgroup, which is held in the homes of various parents.  This was less structured than the other groups, and a happy, boisterous atmosphere was the order of the day.  Again, food was an important part of the activities.

The mothers were all Chinese and obviously enjoyed being able to discuss family and life issues in Mandarin.  Not that the group does not welcome non-Chinese: others are welcome – though as with the two previous groups, culture and language maintenance was the guiding aim.

There is a place in Canberra for language-based playgroups which focus on English-only families.  These are springing up in other cities across Australia as parents realise the value to young minds of being exposed to more than one language.  Canberra is a highly educated city with a talented multilingual community – and plans are already afoot for new bilingual playgroups here.

One of the Chinese parents at the existing playgroup is thinking of starting a group which will focus on non-Chinese families, where parents and children can experience a Mandarin-speaking environment and learn Chinese songs and cultural activities together.

An experienced preschool teacher from Belgium has also just moved to Canberra and is exploring the possibility of starting sessions for teaching French or Dutch to young children.

So: watch this space!

Playgroups are ideal environments for introducing children to a new language in a fun way.  Parents can also be fully involved and can continue activities in the chosen language with their children at home if they wish.

Mandy Scott has a PhD in Linguistics, speaks several languages and is an active supporter of languages education; she can be contacted at mandy.scott@anu.edu.au This article first appeared in PlayACT, the newsletter of the ACT Playgroups Association, in 2008

We have created a comprehensive language teaching system that is exciting and enjoyable for both children and parents. Our curriculum includes activities in all lessons such as singing, music, story-telling, games and art to capture the imagination of every child.

We have a co-ordinated system of story books, flash cards, activity books, CDs and online access. You can actually make it as much fun at home for the kids as it is during the lessons! Your whole family will be exploring another language in no time.

We have 3 centres across Brisbane which teach French, Spanish and Italian to children aged between 18 months – 12 years.

www.alphatykes.com.au

Our Mandarin Stars develop cognitive, gross and fine motor skills whilst being immersed in the Mandarin language. It’s a playgroup with a difference and designed for families of all nationalities.

Our curriculum has been inspired by Mandarin programs already taught in private, international Pre-schools, Kindergartens and Mandarin Playgroups in Hong Kong and China. With this inspiration, we have blended the Australian ‘playgroup’ approach in delivering our program and as a result, have created stimulating, fun mandarin classes for children age 1 to 5 years.

Click here to go to the website

They will be immersing in another language while they play and learn in our playgroups. In turn, they’ll pick up the language effortlessly and spontaneously .

Besides learning a new language, we also aim at building self-esteem and confidence. We encourage and help our children and their families to understand culture diversity and to promote community harmony.

We are the first playgroup centre in Victoria to provide a variety of languages. We have Mandarin, German, Cantonese and Spanish playgroups.

Click here to go to the website

It will be held in the Sydney Myer Asia Centre, cnr. Swanston Street and Monash Road, University of Melbourne from 12.45pm-5pm on Sunday 31 August 2008

Presenters are:

Michael Clyne – an Australian-born bilingual and father of an Australian-born bilingual;

Suzanne Dopke – a speech pathologist and international authority on raising children bilingually. She is also the mother of two Australian-born bilingual children.

Presentations and discussions will explore a range of issues including:

• What parents and other carers can do to assist a child speak two languages
• Supporting the child’s first steps into language
• Advice for parents starting out and wondering if they are doing the right thing
• How parents and grandparents can encourage children to use the community language by finding uses of special interest to them
• How to build on the child’s personality and motivation
• Community resources and strategies to boost language maintenance and development

Panel discussions will answer questions and examine the ways that parents can be more active in promoting bilingualism with their children.

The seminar is free – but registration is essential by 22 August.

Registration and enquiries: email rumaccc