Hi to all our members!
Membership Registration Process
Firstly I want to say a great big thank you to all members and especially the SLA Presidents for your patience as we moved from a twice yearly membership registration to just once a year in keeping with the recommendations of the AFMLTA.
Finally I think we have tied up all loose ends…not the easiest job if some pay their dues but don’t put a name, or send a form but no payment can be found or pay with no form so we can’t add you to our membership data base in order to communicate with you!
Thank you to our treasurer, Alessandra Hardwick and Membership Secretary, Penny Coutas, for the many hours of work involved.
MLTAWA State Conference
Review, Revise REVITALISE!!
WOW! What a great success! Largely due to the efforts of our PL Coordinator, Kate Reitzenstein, but also to the hard working Conference Sub Committee. Saturday 6 September we gathered at Murdoch University, and enjoyed a day of stimulating presentations which not only challenged us but also revitalised us! Keynote speakers David Reeve from University – New South Wales and John Hajek – Melbourne University, had everyone hanging on every word. Reports on their presentations will be on our website. SPECIAL THANKS to our local presenters, including our pre-service teacher, who all contributed to our REVITALISATION!!!
MLTAWA WEBSITE
Our website is developing day by day, thanks to the dedication and skills of our Webmaster, Penny Coutas. If you haven’t checked it out yet…it’s a MUST! http://mltawa.asn.au I no sooner come across an interesting article and pass it on to Penny, that she uploads it…you too could contribute as we want this to be a two way process ……not only will we upload interesting articles related to language education, or inform you of the latest PL, but we want, in fact need you, to be interactive and send us items, photos of special language events and other reports of interest!
ACARA
Is this the catch word? Catch your breath and wait?! I have been involved in several teleconferences in recent weeks, with another scheduled for Monday night, with all MLTA Presidents and other times with just the AFMLTA Executive. It’s interesting to hear that not all states will be adopting the Australian Curriculum, some will with modifications. We wait and see.
Keep abreast of developments not only on our website but also on the ACARA website http://acara.edu.au/languages
Advocacy
Now that our big event of the year, our State Conference, is over, we will be turning our attention to advocacy. Some members have recently contacted me asking for our support in lobbying against the many cuts to successful and long standing language programmes, predominantly but not exclusively, in primary. We will be looking at sending letters to support our members. If you are experiencing similar problems or if you have had a win and saved your programme please share with us!
AFMLTA, our National representatives on more associations and panels and forums than i can remember, spearhead advocacy on a daily basis. Members of our executive, represent us at national events, organize meetings with Minsters, speak on radio, and are interviewed for national newspapers. In my role on the National Exec, I have been participating in bi-monthly teleconferences and can vouch for the intensity with which our AFMLTA continuously works for improvements that we can all benefit from as language educators.
2015 National Conference
The AFMLTA have recently taken over the organization of the 2015 National Conference, from the MLTAV (Victoria). I will be actively involved in the planning and will bring you updates as they come to hand. Can I encourage you to set aside July 9 – 12 and come across to Melbourne for what is shaping up to be a great language event! Better still, keep an eye out for the Call for Papers and consider sharing the considerable talent of Western Australian language educators!!! The MLTAWA will once again be offering one of our members, a scholarship to attend the conference! So check out our website for forth coming information and application forms!
Remember that members of YOUR MLTAWA Committee always do their best….we are all volunteers and give as much time as we are capable of giving. So please before criticizing us, do consider joining us by nominating for the 2015 committee at our AGM (more details will follow!)
My thanks to my committee members for your many valuable contributions!
Happy holidays!
fulvia