Languages Challenge 101

Language Challenge 101

Language learning is fun and not that hard when you do it at your own pace, within your own means but with a support of other people who are on the same journey.

• Have you ever wanted to learn a language but could never gather enough motivation?

• Would you like to make a serious attempt in learning the language of your partner, your parent or your friend?

• Are you planning a holiday overseas and want to be able to hold a small conversation?

• Would you like to refresh knowledge of a language you spoke or learnt in your childhood?

• Are you interested in picking up a language that was once spoken in your family but is now lost?

• Would you like to join the journey of your child who learns a second (or third) learning a language at school? 

This project assist people who make a pledge to the Language Challenge 101 and commit to 101 days of language learning either by yourself or together with families and friends.

The project officially starts on International Mother Language Day 2011, the 21 February 2011. It concludes in the first week of June. We will have a celebration on Saturday 5 June 2011, just after the Western Australian school holidays end. 

Are you up for the challenge?

Now it your chance, it won't get any easier!

 

Why join the Language Challenge 101?

Learning another language has many advantages. Not only does it allow you to build relationships with the speakers of that languages, assist you in better understanding of other cultures and is good for te brain, it also has positive influence on your self-esteem and gets you into network of language learners.

Academic and cognitive skills transfer readily between languages. While there may be differences in the vocabulary, grammar and writing systems of languages, all languages with writing systems have in common that the reader must learn to make meaning from the text.

Concepts and strategies involved understanding a text transfer easily from one language to another, for example, ‘scanning, skimming, contextual guessing of words, skipping unknown words, tolerating ambiguity, reading for meaning, making inferences, monitoring, recognizing the structure of text, using previous learning, using background knowledge about the text’ (Baker 2006, p. 330) are strategies used by readers whether the text is in English, German, French or Spanish. Language learners gather unique insights and opportunities for the development of cognitive skills which are unavailable to the monolingual learner.

More information about the benefits of language learning:

• The double handicap of knowing only English - Joseph Lo Bianco
• Benefits of language learning - Modern Language Teachers Association of South Australia
• The importance and benefits of learning a second language - www.learntoHQ.com.au
• Benefits of multilingualism - Michał B. Paradowski
• Promoting the benefits of language learning - Sue Fernandez, Department of Education Victoria
• The cultural benefits of second language learning - Gary Birch
• Multinational companies are desperate for multi-lingual recruits - 2 January 2011

 

How to chose a language?

The choice of language is totally up to you. There are a many issues to take into consideration when deciding what language is the right one for you and your family:

• Availability of resources
• Family history
• Emotional attachment to a language
• Personal experience
• Friends or family who learn with you or already speak the language
• Time you want to commit to language learning

One of our members and a participants in this project made a personal commitment for the learning of Mandarin. Her choice was influenced by the fact that her boy started learning Mandarin this year in high school. She plans to document her personal journey on www.aussieplus.blogspot.com and invites you to make any comments you might have straight on that blog.

 

How much does it cost?

Bilingual Families Perth does not charge a fee for this challenge and the support we provide is entirely web based, that means per website or e-mail. If enough people sign up in the language of your choice we will offer to connect people with meetings to be held in public places or private homes if people feel comfortable with that. If rooms need to be hired a small fee might be charged on a donation basis.

Participants are welcome to become members of Bilingual Families Perth. Membership ($10 per family) is however not compulsory for participants and only optional. 

This project is self funded, therefore your donation would be appreciated.

 

What do I have to do?

The most important part is the commitment. We suggest that you make a proper pledge.

The next step is the development of your own personal language plan. This plan should contain information about the time you plan to set aside for the language learning, the goal of the learning and the strategies you plan to use on your journey. Download the language plan from this page.

We suggest that you clearly identify the reason and your own personal goal for the learning journey. This means you will have to decide whether you would like to only speak or as well read and write the target language, whether you just want basic conversation or use the project as a first step for learning more. We always recommend striving for the highest goal. The strategies will depend on whether there are any childen involved in the challenge and their age or if there are adults only.

The progress you will make depends on the learning strategies and as well on how much time you set aside for the language learning. If you commit three hours per week or six half hours over seven days your progress will be a lot better than if you only set aside one hour per week. Frequent repetition and dealing with the new language every day is the most successful strategy. 

Please fill in the survey at the start of your journey and another one at the completion. By filling in the survey you show your support for the project, even if you are only thinking about your participation now and are not committed yet. We need your input for this Language Challenge to improve future similar project. You can assist us by filling in the survey. Participation is anonymous 

Please download a language plan for the Languages Challenge, sign it and put it in a visible place in your house to remind you. You are welcome to send us a copy of your language plan but that is not compulsory. The language plan includes a pledge that we suggest you make to promise yourself that you stick to the project for 101 days and will not give up at the drop of a hat.  

You can pick up a hard copy of the form at the Loftus Community Centre after 19 February 2011. We will aim to make the sign-on option available over the internet as well, but this document is mainly only for you.

After you decided what language you are going to learn check out our wiki with learning resources.  You don't need to sign in as the wiki pages are publicly accessible. Feel free to include any of the proposed learning resources in your own language plan.

Please also share your own personal links for other learners to use. The internet has many useful resources and we aim to colate the most useful ones for future non-profit projects. Your contribution wis welcome and much needed to make the project a success.

 

What support is available?

Internet

Bilingual Families Perth will set up a website and a blog for each language so people can share their experiences, inspiration, resources and progress online. You only need an internet account to join in and subscribe. If you do not have an internet account, join up through your local library which often provided internet connections for its members at the library for free. 

Here is a link that gives you a headstart. It's a youtube video that shares five ways to learn languages for free over the internet. Check it out now!

Resources

Bilingual Families Perth started building a wiki site with useful learning resources for many languages. Feel free to utilise some of these links in your learning. We also ask you to upload your own experiences, links and tips. We ask all participants and other supporters such as language teachers to share with us their favourite links and sites , to assist all learners. The wiki is easy to use and provides a suitable venue to put all information together.

Also use the resources that are already available to you, you might have got books, DVD's or a friendly person around who could help you with your language learning.

The State Library of Western Australia is the resource centre for your local library. Browse their online catalogue and select books and language courses to be ordered to your local library. The website of your local council gives you details about your local library. You can usually borrow audio resources, DVD's and books that help you with learning of your new language free of charge.

Meetings

 Whether participants are meeting with each other depends on the group. These meetings would be optional.

The official commencement of the project is planned for 21 February 2001, International Mother Language Day 2011. We aim to have a celebration at the conclusion of the 101 days again at the Loftus Community Centre in early June 2011. Also there will be a certificate for all participants.

Classes

The Language Challenge 101 does not involve any classes. Participant devise their own language plan and program. Whether classes with a tutor are part of this individual plan is up to the person or group.

 

What is the origin of this project?

Multilingual Living run a Language Challenge 101 in 2010. We did not get involved that time but the journey has been documented well on the website and on youtube. The family of initiator Corey Heller joined the challenge in learning Spanish and documented their journey in a video journal. The video is an inspiration especially for people wanting to learn Spanish.  Check out how far they have come and watch their first video as well, on youtube here.

 

Why Language Challenge 101?

101 refers to simple, basic knowledge, similar to an introducion to the learning of a particular language. The time it would take to learn a language and communicate well is most likely exceeding 101 days, therefore the concept of this challenge is more like a taster.

 

Do you need more information?

If you are interested in supporting this challenge or have any additional questions please send an e-mail to bilingualfamilie@yahoo.com.au. Please also help us by filling in the survey. Browse our growing list or language learning resources here.