The exhibition opened on 19th June and runs to 10th October, 2010, so there’s still plenty of time to enjoy this cultural experience and to get some basic German lessons as a bonus. 

Join our wonderful team!

The German Australian Playschool in Canberra is looking for a German-speaking teacher and assistant teacher to join us for 3 days a week, starting in February 2011.

Approx 20 hours per week, Wednesdays to Fridays.

Email Lisa on spielwelt@homemail.com.au

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/linguafranca/stories/2010/2850694.htm

The Melbourne Language Picnic - 2010

 The Melbourne Language Picnic is on again!

Date:  Sunday, 21st March,  National Harmony Day 2010, from 9 am to 5 pm.

Venue: Collingwood Children’s Farm, St. Heliers Street, Abbotsford.

Bring your family and friends, your lingo and share in some multilingual fun and games.

For further information, follow this link: 

http://www.melbournelanguagepicnic.wordpress.com/

Marisha Theeboom is an experienced, trained Mandarin teacher and volunteer community worker since 1987. She has worked with a variety of ages, cultures and in different continents whilst involved with a large charitable organisation that spans Taiwan, America and South Africa. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree from University of Cape Town, R.S.A.,1996.

 She married an Australian Pilot in 2000, migrated to Melbourne and has three daughters. As a migrant herself, she is aware of the difficulties involved in settling within the local community. Thus she has turned her love of teaching and community work into establishing Kimmba Bilingual Learning Playgroup Inc. Kimmba has been established for migrants and local residents to be able to gather together and understand each other through a fun and loving playgroup environment. In doing so, she hopes the establishment of Kimmba Bilingual Learning Playgroup enables more migrants from differing cultures to benefit by retaining their self-identity and at the same time develop proficiency in English language skills.

 Marisha has developed her own bilingual education program for young children, called Jo Jo Bilingual Education Program and started the first Mandarin bilingual learning playgroup at Taiwanese School of Melbourne in July 2006. She has further studied and obtained a Certificate in the Professional Development Program in Second Language Teaching Methodology for Teachers in Ethnic Schools (Chinese Phase I) from RMIT University November, 2006.

 This year Marisha is expanding Kimmba so that more children and families can be exposed to wide range of languages and cultures. She is opening a new Center in Prahran that will be available for students ranging from 0-6 years old to come from 1 hour- 15 hours a week to learn either Mandarin, German or Spanish. The Prahran center is set up as an early learning center with two fully qualified and trained teachers in every room. This center is hopefully the first of many to come as Marisha is passionate about exposing children and families to different languages and cultures to help build positive relationships with everyone in the community.    

To find out more , please visit  http://www.kimmba.com.au/

 The program will operate at the pre-school premises of Queanbeyan South Public School from 9 am to 3 pm on Monday of each week during term. The daily fee will be $30 per child.

 For more details and to put your child on the waiting list, email admin@ailsa.org.au with the following information: Child’s name, date of birth, parent’s name and address.

The ACT Ethnic Schools Association and members of the ACT Bilingual Education Alliance are again joining forces to organise a stall at Contact Canberra, the community expo held as part of the Multicultural Festival.

Come along and see us on Sunday 7 February from 11am to 5pm at stall number 61, City Walk, right next to the children’s Merry-go-Round in Civic.

You are also welcome to publicise your language programs and resources at the stall. Last year there were a great number of enquiries, especially about classes for adults and very young children so it is a great way to promote your activities.

Please contact Marina.Houston@Canberra.edu.au or call 6201 2483 if you have leaflets or posters you would like to display or would like to help staff the stall during the day.

Raising Children in More than One Language

A free seminar for parents, grandparents,
early childhood and preschool workers, teachers, and others interested in bilingual education

Sunday 21 February
International Mother Language Day
1.30-4.30pm

• Hear from parents who have raised their children in more than one language – and from the children themselves
• Discover more about the benefits of bilingual education
• Find out about opportunities for language learning and bilingual education in the ACT

Building 2, University of Canberra, Bruce
(enter from ‘The Hub’ – see map at www.canberra.edu.au/university/maps )

FREE ENTRY & REFRESHMENTS

Bookings essential: phone Marina on 6201 2483 or email Mandy.Scott@canberra.edu.au

This project was made possible by the support of the
ACT Government’s Multicultural Grants Program 2009–10

http://www.rumaccc.unimelb.edu.au/schools/how.html