The Modern Language Teachers Association of WA warmly invites members and friends to start the year with a networking event, held on International Mother Language Day (IMLD), 21 February, at the State Library of WA, starting at 4pm.
Celebrating IMLD is a perfect way to remind ourselves of the crucial role that language plays in education and to value the work of language teachers in our State. This year’s IMLD theme is “Preserving linguistic diversity and promoting multilingualism to support Sustainable Development Goals”.
Listen to guest speaker Professor John Hajek discuss the benefits of multilingualism and suggest ways teachers can get these positive messages out to parents and schools, as well as, provide tips for raising and teaching bilingual children.
Prof John Hajek is Professor of Italian and a linguist in the School of Languages and Linguistics. He has held research fellowships in the UK and Australia. He is currently director of RUMACCC (Research Unit for Multilingualism and Cross-cultural Communication) and first past president of LCNAU (Languages and Cultures Network for Australian Universities).
Come along to meet language teachers from mainstream primary/secondary schools, community language schools and tertiary institutions and learn about the resources available at the State Library of Western Australia for language teaching and learning. Find out more about the Library’s Sharing Our Diverse Heritage project from Battye Historian, Dr Susanna Iuliano and State Library Education Officer, Kate Akerman.
Dr Susanna Iuliano has worked in the field of migration studies and has used oral history to capture the stories of post-war Italian migrants. She is a historian at the State Library of Western Australia where she helps collect and promote Western Australia’s documentary heritage. She is currently coordinating “Sharing Our Diverse Heritage” a new project, in partnership with the Office of Multicultural Interests to select and digitise Western Australian heritage materials in different languages.
Kate Akerman has worked in the fields of biochemistry, documentary television research and education and currently delivers the State Library of Western Australia’s education program. Kate is also involved in the “Sharing Our Diverse Heritage” project, in partnership with the Office of Multicultural Interests to select and digitise heritage materials in different languages. Kate grew up in South America and her second language is Spanish.
This is the first MLTAWA event for the year and we encourage all our members to come along and bring a friend. Light refreshments will be provided. This is a free event but please register by 16 February, 2018.
IMLD Celebration is part of the Languages in the Mainstream Project, a partnership between the Modern Language Teachers Association of Western Australia Inc (MLTAWA) and the Office of Multicultural Interests (OMI).
The MLTAWA would like to thank our fabulous speakers and sponsors, the Office of Multicultural Interests and the State Library of WA for helping to celebrate #IMLD2018.
