The Minister for Justice was recently the direct victim of racist slurs which went viral across all media. Petitions from more than a hundred thousand people were written in support of madame Taubira. Magazines
like "Elle" interviewed her and gave her front page cover.
View an extract of the speech she gave during the evening organised by the parti Socialiste (Harlem Désir, president) around the theme "Défendre la République contre les extrêmistes" by accessing the link below. 
Suggested activities for an Extension class in PDF doc.

http://www.metronews.fr/info/christiane-taubira-et-manuel-valls-a-la-mutualite-le-triomphe-de-la-ministre-de-la-justice/mmkB!GDd0mLQoTSytE/

NAFT, in consultation with GET Tours, is arranging a teacher tour to New Caledonia during the April school holidays (12-19 April). It will include 12 hours tuition at CREIPAC as well as sight-seeing
tours, hotel accommodation (twin-share, with single occupancy available at additional cost), daily breakfasts, two dinners and one lunch. 
NAFT will subsidise up to 20 teachers who are NAFT members to the amount of $400-$500 each. 
NAFT will pay the subsidies  prior to departure, after final payment has been made to GET Tours. Tour participants will be expected to contribute to NAFT as much as they can in the year following this
subsidised Tour. If a tour participant is unable to fulfill this commitment they will be asked to refund the subsidy.

A deposit of $300 (payable to GET Tours) will need to be paid to secure your place on the tour by
5th December 2013. Payment can be made by either Bpay, EFT transfer or cheque and should quote the tour reservation number 6278

Please contact Samantha Thomas at GET Tours : samantha@getours.com.au

The New Scheme Languages teachers and their Supervisors workshop will be held on Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th March 2014 at the Sebel Hotel Surry Hills from 8.30-4.00 each day.
Information to apply through MYPL@EDU will be provided in the near future.
Please put these dates in your diaries and notify other NSW DEC Languages colleagues who have  been appointed to permanent positions since 2012 to contact Georgina Doukas if they are interested in attending. Please don’t hesitate to contact her if you require any further information :

Gina Doukas
NALSSP Languages Officer
Learning and Leadership Directorate, Secondary Education
T: (02) 9244 5502  
georgina.doukas@det.nsw.edu.au

Karabar Distance Education Centre is accepting enrolments for Japanese, Chinese, French, German, Indonesian, Latin, and Italian. Materials are online and students are also sent a hard copy. Students are contacted weekly by phone or a departmental skype equivalent.In the last 3 years we have offered 2
workshops in collaboration with ANU on campus for most languages. 
Enrolments are on a first come first served basis.  Enquiries please phone 62105229.

One of the best ways for students to engage with a language is by travelling abroad and immersing themselves in the culture, language and customs of that particular country.  A number of tours to France, New Caledonia, Tahiti, Reunion and Quebec have been designed to improve students’ confidence, linguistic ability and cultural understanding and to provide schools with tours that reflect curriculum requirements and meet departmental guidelines. They offer tailor-made itineraries to suit the needs of each school and can assist teachers throughout the tour planning process with information evenings, sample letters and risk assessments,
group check-in at the airport and 24 hour emergency assistance whilst on tour.
www.getours.com.au