February 2022

Happy New Year!

As many of you will know, 2022 is Year of the Tiger in the Chinese and Japanese zodiacs. The tiger sign is a symbol of strength, exorcising evils and braveness. The daring nature of the tiger will help push us forward throughout the year.

We hope everyone has had a positive start to the academic year and enjoyed being back with students, despite the obvious challenges and unpredictability that we are facing. In times like this, the value of being connected through professional associations is even more significant.

So far this year, the elected Executive officers have been working on a new Strategic Plan that will guide the AFMLTA's work over the next three years. In Term 4 last year, Presidents of each state and territory languages teacher association participated in a review of the previous plan and provided input for the new one. We have incorporated perspectives from across the country and are happy to share it with you below and on our website.

The National Languages Plan and Strategy project is entering its final phase and will be formally submitted to the Federal government this year. The participation of teachers across Australia in the surveys and focus groups has provided rich and insightful perspectives that have informed recommendations within the project reports. AFMLTA is grateful to all those who contributed and we feel optimistic about the actions and strategies that may result from this project.

On behalf of the Executive officers, we are looking forward to working with you all again this year.

Nathan

Nathan Harvey
AFMLTA President

As you set goals for the coming year we encourage you to engage with  the AFMLTA Professional Standards for Accomplished Teaching of Languages and Professional Standards for Lead Teachers of Languages. These resources have been recently updated and provide support for teachers of languages to reflect on their practice and plan for their future growth.

We remind you that digital and PDF versions of the Standards are now available on the AFMLTA website. They  complement a range of resources including the AITSL-aligned documents and the language-specific versions of the Standards that are available for 7 languages.

Presidents' Meeting

This week, AFMLTA Executive officers and the Presidents of each state and territory MLTA/LTA participated in our termly meeting. Topics of discussion included the 2022-2024 Strategic Plan, and an update on the National Languages Plan and Strategy project. The state Presidents each shared plans and goals for 2022, as well as shared practical strategies for supporting teachers during the pandemic. These meetings are very beneficial and worthwhile in connecting the associations at a national level.

International Mother Language Day is observed every year to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.

In 2022 this day recognises that languages and multilingualism can advance inclusion, and the Sustainable Development Goals’ focus on leaving no one behind. 

This year's theme “Using technology for multilingual learning: Challenges and opportunities,” raises the potential role of technology to advance multilingual education and support the development of quality teaching and learning for all. 

Observance of this day also contributes to the United Nations International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032), for which UNESCO is the lead agency, and which places multilingualism at the heart of indigenous peoples’ development.

Professional Learning

As part of the observance of International Mother Language Day, UNESCO is holding a webinar for which you are invited to register. Details are as follows:
Friday, 21 February 2022
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.(CET) (Paris time)
The webinar will explore the following two main themes:

• Enhancing the role of teachers in the promotion of quality multilingual teaching and learning.
• Reflecting on technologies and its potential to support multilingual teaching and learning

We have been informed about the dates for state conferences that are planned for 2022. Further information about these events will be provided as it becomes available.

MLTAQ - 26-27 June

MLTANSW - 15 July

MLTAWA - 29 - 30 July

MLTAT - 6 August

Articles of Interest

Giving new life to old languages in Australia

In this article you can read how the First Languages of Australia are undergoing an extraordinary resurgence and how, in this  International Decade of Indigenous Languages, their relevance to sustainable development and the preservation of biodiversity will be showcased.

Study languages and save - uni fees discount lost in translation

In the previous NIB we alerted you to a plan by the Languagues Network for Australian Universities (LCNAU) to develop an advertising campaign to raise awareness of the financial incentives for domestic students who enrol in a language at university under the Job Ready Graduates Package funding arrangements. In this article, David Reeve, an honorary associate professor at UNSW reminds us to look out for this advertising in 2022 and to bring it to the attention of school students in key years such as 8, 10 and 12 when they are making decisions about their future studies. He also highlights the importance of spreading this information in schools, to principals and teachers, and to parents.