
Deakin University today presented outstanding achievement awards to Indonesian language student Jay Edwards from Vincentia High School, NSW, and Indonesian language teacher Jonathan Petersen from Coffs Harbour Christian Community School, NSW.
Edwards and Petersen were selected from nominations submitted from every state and territory in Australia to Deakin’s Centre for Teaching Asian Languages and Cultures (CTALC). The nominations were critically assessed for winning selection by Associate Professor Ismet Fanany, lecturer in Indonesian at Deakin University.
Professor Gary Smith, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Global Engagement, who presented the awards, said that the study of languages “has the power to connect”, influencing and changing the individual to create a more complex person, which benefits in personal and professional life.
Professor Christine Ure, Head of the School of Education, defined the role of CTALC, within the School of Education, as providing support specifically for LOTE teachers, providing initiatives that support LOTE teaching and improve the social and economic growth of Australia.
CTALC’s charter is to encourage language teaching and learning in Australia, building effective partnerships to increase teacher supply and to enhance the quality of languages education. It will foster Deakin’s expertise and leadership in language teacher education programs.
“We are building capacity in schools to deliver languages and building demand from students for languages”, Professor Ure said.
“Continuity of education is important, from primary through to secondary to tertiary. The one thing that facilitiates and enhances learning Indonesian is friendship with Indonesia”, said Mr Petersen, who won the Indonesian Language Teacher of the Year 2013 award.
Dr Michiko Weinmann, Co-Director of CTALC said, “The Centre is at the nub of languages education, supporting LOTEteachers. We bring teachers together for networking, and encourage and support innovative practices in languages education including in-country experiences and initiatives such as those outlined in The New Colombo Plan“.
Photo (left to right): Professor Christine Ure, Professor Gary Smith, Jay Edwards (Indonesian Language Student of the Year), Jonathan Petersen (Indonesian Language Teacher of the Year), Associate Professor Ismet Fanany, Dr Michiko Weinmann. (Photo credit: Nick Murphy)