The Japanese Conference, Aspire to Inspire will be held on 19 August 2016 at the Rydges World Square, Sydney.   
 
Pip Cleaves, Head Teacher Learning Innovation, and Languages will be presenting on the future-focused Japanese classroom. Kylie Farmer, AFMLTA President (2014-2016) and an experienced teacher of Japanese, will be presenting the newly released Japanese version of the AFMLTA standards and how these align to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. Kylie will also facilitate a workshop on Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL). 

Thank you to the many teachers who have already responded to the survey and expressed their interest in attending and presenting at the conference. Please complete the survey via the link http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/japaneseteachers to provide your professional learning needs and to register your interest if you would like to share your expertise in a presentation/workshop or TeachMeet session. The survey will close this Friday 17 June. 

Stay informed on Languages NSW http://www.languagesnsw.com/ for more details about registering for the conference. 

The JTAN AGM and Workshops will take place on Saturday 15 October 2016. Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea is included. The flyer includes further details regarding the schedule and workshops. Applications and payments are due Friday 23 September 2016. Apply via http://www.jtan.org.au and click on the Events tab. 

Macquarie University is seeking Japanese practicum placements for 3rd/Graduate year students for a 20-day block (18 July - 12 August). If you are able to take a student for this practicum, please contact Kerry Klujin at Kerry.klujin@mq.edu.au. 

Applications for the Japanese Language Speech contest close on Friday 19 August 2016. The speech contest will be held at Macquarie University on Saturday 10 September 2016. 
New High School Wakaba Division invites students enrolled in Stage 4 Japanese, Stage 5 and Stage 6 Beginners Japanese to participate in the contest using their creativity and level-appropriate Japanese. The main objective is to provide an opportunity for beginners to take part in an official Japanese language event in the community. We hope it will be a wonderful opportunity for them to meet students from other schools with the similar interest. 
 
There will be lots of activities including Costumes, furoshiki wrapping, etc. during lunch time. 
Teachers, please kindly promote the speech contest to your students. All food and drinks will be provided. 
 
We are hoping that students outside Sydney metropolitan area may be able to attend. Accommodation on campus is available for those students and teachers who may need to travel a long distance.

All students will receive a certificate and participation prize. The 1st and 2nd Prize winners from high school  division (except for Wakaba Division)  will progress to the National Contest to be held on Saturday 8 October in Sydney. 
 
Information, hints for speech writing and resources are available to download below or at http://www.mq.edu.au/research/centres_and_groups/macquarie_japanese_studies_centre/
Please note that all applications must be received online via this link https://mqedu.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_er0v0F2zy7bB66h by 19 August 2016. 
We look forward to meeting you and your students at the contest. Thank you for your support.
Kind regards 
Tomoko Koyama
Director, MJS Centre
International Studies | Faculty of Arts 
Macquarie University
E-mail:  tomoko.koyama@mq.edu.au

The Japan Foundation are hosting Origami: Fold Me a Story (children’s story time and origami workshop) on Saturday 18 June 2016. The workshop targets children 8 – 12 years of age and will begin with a Japanese children’s story (in English) followed by an origami lesson by origami artist, Midori Furze. http://www.midorifurze.com/
It is a free workshop but due to limited space, bookings are essential. 
Please see the flyer below for details and direct further enquiries to the Arts and Culture Department at The Japan Foundation on (02) 8239 0055.

Thank you to The Japan Foundation and many teachers for your responses to the enquiry seeking Chonmage Purin DVD. Chonmage Purin and other movies can be found on Daily Motion with English subtitles.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xrvdpv_chonmage-purin-2010-part1_shortfilms

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xrvdpz_chonmage-purin-2010-part2_shortfilms

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xrvdy7_chonmage-purin-2010-part3_shortfilms

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xrveec_chonmage-purin-2010-part4_shortfilms

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xrveeo_chonmage-purin-2010-part5_shortfilms

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xrveto_chonmage-purin-2010-part6_shortfilms

​If you use Firefox, you can get a video downloader and put it on your desktop. 

Georges River College Penshurst Girls Campus are seeking a teacher with approval to teach Japanese and Italian (0.6 part-time) from 7 June through to 20 December 2016. Penshurst Girls Campus is a 7-10 school located in Sydney's south. For further details, phone Phil Carlon on 02 9580 3141 or via email Carlon.Phillip@det.nsw.edu.au​

Does anyone have a copy of the DVD Chonmage Purin or know how to access it? Could you please respond either on the comment section on the Languages NSW blog or send an email to janelle.byrne@det.nsw.edu.au