VIctoria Community Language Teachers Hold Conference

Over 400 participants from about 20 communities participated in the Victorian State Community Languages Schools Conference, which was held on July 6 at the RMIT Storey Hall.

Issues such as language education through the arts, technology in the language classroom and implementation of the Victorian State Government’s Languages Education vision and plan were discussed during the Conference.

Stefan Romaniw, the Executive Director of Community Languages Australia, welcomed all the participants, as well as the council members of the Australian Federation of Ethnic Schools Associations (AFESA) who attended from the various states and territories.

“Community languages schools play a critical role in delivering the language education agenda and have a responsibility to ensure that programs being delivered are of the highest quality,” Romaniw said.

“The beauty of this room at this time is reflected daily in the community languages school sector around Australia – many cultures, many faiths, many backgrounds, all in one room focused on one thing – being better educators,” he added.

The Conference was opened by the Minister for Education The Hon. Martin Dixon, who highlighted the Victorian Government’s commitment to language education and the important role that community languages schools play in delivering the government’s plan.

Tassos Douvartzides, Chairman of AFESA, thanked the minister for his ongoing support and commitment to furthering language education and pointed out the importance of cooperation between the government and the community.

The work of the now retired Community languages school senior project officer Kypros Kyprianou, was acknowledged by the participants of the conference, who also welcomed the new officer, Vicky Marinelis.

The 11th National Community Languages Schools Conference will be held in Canberra on October 12. The conference will attract community language school teachers and instructors from right around Australia to the national capital and will be attended by more than 40 diverse communities. The conference will aim to strengthen learning and teaching processes and build a more harmonious community, according to the website of ACT Community Language Schools Association.