Community Language Programs - Frequently Asked Questions
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Why do we utilise community resources for language programs?
Exposure to a living language outside the four walls of a classroom is the most effective way to learn a language.
Melbourne, with 27% of its population using a language other than English at home, offers an environment rich with resources that lend themselves to language sharing. Teachers should tap into these resources to enhance the learning experience of their students.
What Types of Community Resources can we Utilize in our Programs
- Students of mixed background in the community language within the school
- Institutions and community organizations e.g. centres for the elderly, social clubs, retirement homes, welfare organizations, church groups, sport clubs where people who speak the various community languages reside or congregate.
- Shops and shopkeepers e.g. greengrocers, restaurants, cake shops, banks, music shops, christening/baptism shops, etc where there are visible presence of signs and symbols of various community languages as well as shopkeepers who are native speakers of these languages.
How do we make use of these community resources to enhance the teaching and learning of community languages?
Activities have been developed to demonstrate the effective use of community resources in language programs. These activities can be used as models and be adapted to any community language.