Languages Action Alliance: Lingo

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13Sep

Picture Chinese 1000

4. Years 1-3, 5. Years 4-6, 6. Years 7-10, Everyone, Mandarin, Resources Comments Off

Welcome to a Facebook Page about “I Too Can Speak Mandarin Chinese” apps.facebook.com/omandarin Free download E-Book to get a lot of COMIC pictures without spending hours poring over lengthy textbooks to learn ESSENTIAL vocabulary for typical situations in Chinese life. Join Facebook to start connecting with ” I Too Can Speak Mandarin Chinese” – Online Chinese sharing Group

Tags: Chinese, language learning resource, Mandarin

13Feb

Kimmba Bilingual Learning Playgroups: Parent Initiative – Community Benefit

2. Pre-schoolers, Carers, Experiences, German, Mandarin, Parents, Spanish, VIC Comments Off

One of the presentations at last year’s seminar on raising bilingual children at Melbourne University discussed Languages Activism and the different ways in which parents can contribute to enhancing language learning in the wider community. Kimmba Bilingual Learning Playgroups are an outstanding example of such an initiative, and here is the story of the person behind its success.

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/

Tags: bilingual learning, bilingual playgroup, Kimmba
11Dec

Canberra Multilingual Picnic

9. All ages, ACT, Cantonese, Events, Everyone, Indonesian, Italian, Mandarin, Parents, Russian, Uncategorized Comments Off

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
05Jan

Mandarin mandarin Bilingual Centre

1. Babies, 2. Pre-schoolers, 3. Kindergarten, 4. Years 1-3, 5. Years 4-6, Mandarin, NSW, Parents, Resources, Young People Comments Off

Mandarin mandarin Bilingual Centre’s program is specially designed to meet the second language acquisition needs of both preschoolers and primary school Mandarin learners.

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/.
19Dec

Learning two languages – it’s child’s play!

1. Babies, 2. Pre-schoolers, 9. All ages, ACT, Carers, Dutch, French, German, Korean, Mandarin, Parents, Resources 1 Comment

Dr Mandy Scott

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.

Continue reading »

Tags: Playgroups