Dear Supporter,
The folks at ViệtSpeak have been up to quite a bit and here are messages from the group:
1. ViệtSpeak X Small Axe forum with cohealth Arts Generator, Saturday May 22nd
ViệtSpeak is partnering with cohealth Arts Generator to host a screening and discussion of Steve McQueen’s film series Small Axe (2020) at Footscray Community Arts Centre on Saturday, May 22nd, 12:30pm to 4:30pm. Set between the late 1960’s and mid 1980’s, the five films comprising Small Axe map the experiences of racism, discrimination and self-determination of the West Indian community in gentrifying West London.
With key members of ViệtSpeak on the panel and moderating the discussion, key scenes and themes from Small Axe will act as springboards for discussion, reflecting on parallels and resonances with the contemporary climate of Melbourne’s West, and highlighting the varied strategies that marginalised communities can adopt in giving voice to their concerns. Modes of self-representation and solidarity formation explored in the films will be discussed as potential lessons for ViệtSpeak and it’s supporters.
Come join us for what will be a salient and invigorating discussion.
2. Calling all current and aspiring Vietnamese language teachers!
ViệtSpeak is looking to collect expressions of interest and thoughts from teachers of Vietnamese heritage, of which there are currently over 650 registered in Victoria. To get a fuller picture of teacher sentiment we would greatly appreciate it if you could spare 5 minutes to complete the survey. This would help us in our research to establish future Vietnamese bilingual programs. If you're not a teacher or know someone who is, share the survey to your networks.
3. Program Development: K to Tertiary approach to learning
ViệtSpeak has been working to develop a K-Tertiary approach to language learning, which would involve students learning Vietnamese from their early childhood years until after they leave school. To refine the approach we will take in developing a Vietnamese-English bilingual program, we have been working with linguists, educators and community leaders to gain further knowledge in Vietnamese language teaching and acquisition in our communities.
Central to our vision is the idea of ‘home and hub’, which was developed by Joseph Lo Bianco, Emeritus Professor of Language and Literacy Education at the University of Melbourne. In addition to formal language learning in the classroom, this model would allow students to practice Vietnamese outside of the classroom in the family and wider community, outside of formal language acquisition. Using Vietnamese in both formal and informal contexts would enable learners to achieve a high degree of literacy in the language, as well as express themselves and communicate in a natural and fluent way.
4. Working with Little Multilingual Minds to establish a bilingual pre-school program
We have been in communication with Little Multilingual Minds, a project based out of the MARCS Institute at Western Sydney University, and Maribyrnong Council to establish an early childhood language program that supports children’s Heritage Language learning.
With the Institute, we have the opportunity to apply for a co-funded PhD which would support a Vietnamese bilingual program in an early childhood space by:
- Providing a 3.5 year funded PhD scholarship to research (and by design support) the early childhood Vietnamese bilingual program;
- Providing the (scholarly/pedagogical) framework for a program facilitator already working in the chosen early childhood setting to practically lead the language program.
Western Sydney University would provide 50% of the funding with ViệtSpeak needing to supply the other 50%, approximately $70,000 dollars for 3.5 years. Our task is to get some guarantee or commitment of funding from prospective benefactors and supporters.
The next application deadline for the scholarship is May 23. If we make this deadline, we could start the research scholarship in August or September this year.
Contact us if you’d like to know more about this proposal and are interested in supporting or if you know of funders and benefactors who may be interested in supporting the PhD/pre-program position.
5. ViệtSpeak Podcast: Exploring the lives of bilingual Vietnamese families
Acclaimed writers Chi Vu and André Dao will be setting up a ViệtSpeak podcast. Hosted by Chi, the podcast will feature the bilingual lives of Vietnamese bilingual families in Melbourne’s west.
The podcast will focus on the Vietnamese family bilingual experience, with Chi interviewing Vietnamese children of primary school age and their families. The interviews will be playful and explore the intergenerational story of how language is expressed and navigated. André will help develop the scripting and provide editorial advice and ViệtSpeak members will support behind the scenes.
The first two pilot episodes will be aired late 2021 and form the basis of a pitch for a 10 episode series. If you live in a bilingual household and would like to be interviewed for the podcast, reach out to us at: info@vietbilingual.org