Languages Action Alliance: Lingo » Everyone

‘EUROPEAN MASTERS’ AS LANGUAGE TEACHERS

BrigitteL — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 11:28:04 +0000

Of course the purpose of visiting art galleries is to appreciate weird and wonderful works of art, but at the current exhibition of European Masters at the National Gallery of Victoria, my family and I were also in for a pleasant linguistic surprise. Apart from trying to figure out the German and French titles of the Staedel Museum’s collection without the aid of the English translations, my grandsons, whose LOTE is German, particularly enjoyed the language activity that was incorporated in the display. Selected works were accompanied by questions to engage the younger generation, and these were labelled from A to Z, each letter linked to an English word and then its German equivalent, e.g. L for lonely – einsam, which expressed a feeling in Max Klinger’s painting of a woman on a rooftop in Rome.

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.

Multilingual Picnics getting an airing at last

BrigitteL — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 12:22:16 +0000

This link takes you to Maria Zijlstra’s ‘Lingua Franca’ program on ABC Radio. The main topic of discussion is Camberwell Primary School, a bilingual English/French school in Melbourne – HOWEVER – the other good news is that multilingual picnics also get a mention – a general reference to the efforts of Irma Lachmund in Perth, Mandy Scott in Canberra and Philip Mahnken in Queensland, and more specifically, the Melbourne Language Picnic 2010.

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

Melbourne Language Picnic #2

BrigitteL — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:17:19 +0000

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/

How to activate language learning outside the home: tips to make a difference

BrigitteL — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:13:57 +0000

For those not able to attend the recent RUMACCC (University of Melbourne) seminar on raising bilingual children, the link below will take you to the handouts for the sessions on what parents can do to encourage language learning beyond the home, for their children and community alike.

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

Canberra Multilingual Picnic

BrigitteL — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:47:30 +0000

Source: Mandy Scott

The turnout was similar to last year’s picnic – about 25 – and keen and useful links were made between a range of languages: Mandarin, Cantonese, Italian, Russian, Indonesian and Welsh.

Most of the children who attended were too young for the ‘how many languages can you find’ game. However, those who had a go (and their mum!!) got something out of it. For anyone wishing to follow up on the above language connections, please contact Mandy.Scott@anu.edu.au

First Language Maintenance and Acquisition of English

BrigitteL — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 04:03:28 +0000

The link below leads to references on the role of maintaining a learner’s first language in relation to the acquisition of English.

http://www.tesol.org.au/Issues/Place-of-First-Language

“The Australian and international TESOL fields argue that the maintenance and ongoing development of a student’s first language (L1) provides learners with a solid base from which to acquire an additional language.

Awareness of the positive influences associated with supporting L1 development is particularly important for young learners. Older learners actively draw on knowledge of their first language and its structure, conceptual and content knowledge held in this language and their L1 literacy skills when learning a subsequent language. However younger learners do not yet have this depth of knowledge to draw on and without appropriate support they are at risk of failing to acquire full proficiency in either their first language or the main language of school instruction.”

Thank you, Mandy Scott, for this information.

2010 NATIONAL GERMAN SUMMER SCHOOL

BrigitteL — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:45:02 +0000

Enjoy a holiday immersion into the German language and culture
12-22 JANUARY – Hobart/Tasmania
For details, contact the Goethe Institut at
www.goethe.de/australien

Babies’ Language Learning Starts in the Womb

BrigitteL — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:09:36 +0000

Here’s an interesting bit of research to follow up on:

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

Hindi Support Group – WA

BrigitteL — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:35:58 +0000

To find out more or join the group, please contact Kaveesh Kumar via

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=117830146530

RAISING CHILDREN IN MORE THAN ONE LANGUAGE

BrigitteL — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:40:23 +0000

You are invited to a FREE seminar for parents, early childhood and pre-school workers, grandparents, teachers and others interested in bilingual education.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 12:45pm – 5pm
Carrillo Gantner Theatre, Sidney Myer Asia Centre, Cnr Swanston St and Monash Rd, University of Melbourne

THE SEMINAR IS FREE BUT REGISTRATION IS ESSENTIAL by November 23rd.

Speakers include: Prof. Michael Clyne, Dr. Susanne Döpke, Prof. John Hajek
Raising children bilingually is a very important process. There are many positive strategies that can be employed. The sessions in this seminar discuss issues in raising children bilingually, show you how to recognise your child’s needs in the language and provide you with important tools to foster your child’s language learning and maximise the advantages available to you.

TO REGISTER: Please send an email listing the names of people wishing to register to: rumaccc-info@unimelb.edu.au

THE SEMINAR IS FREE BUT REGISTRATION IS ESSENTIAL by November 23rd.

What you can do:
• Forward this email to any friends or family you feel might benefit from our seminar, or direct them to our website to find out more: www.rumaccc.unimelb.edu.au
• Promote the seminar in your sphere of influence, at school, day care centre, community, local government area, your local library.
• Encourage parents and those working in the area to attend.