For other local activities and events, see ALMA Newsletters and Updates, 2XX radio program and http://ciw.anu.edu.au/events/
​

Learning Mandarin PLUS a Taiwan Cultural Experience

  •  and Saturdays 10:30am -12:30pm
  • 21 August – 18 September (Food) and 9 October - 6 November (Way of living)  
  • 66 McCaughey St., Turner ACT 2612
  • $10 per class for adults, $5 for students (preferably Year 11 and above)
  • Cost includes learning materials, morning tea and treats
  • Limit of 10 places per class
A chance to experience Taiwan's culture including tea tasting, local specialties and treats, tile coaster DIY and flipbook making  while learning some Mandarin phrases about Taiwan's food and way of living. Suitable for beginner level learners of Mandarin and above.

For details of classes see LEAFLET 
For more information and to book contact Julie Tsai at tacaschool@gmail.com or CLICK HERE

Canberra Dragon Boat Festival 

  • Sunday 13 June 2021, 10.30am to 3.30pm
  • Beijing Garden Flynn Drive, Yarralumla ACT 2600
A celebration for all the family! Free activities include cultural games, a kungfu show, tea ceremony, calligraphy, origami, traditional dancing, singing, poetry reading, a talk show and a dragon and lion dance.  There will also be a dragon boat racing demonstration 11am-12noon on Lake Burley Griffin featuring several teams from Dragon Boat ACT.
  • Food Stalls will operate from 10.30am to 3.30pm, selling traditional street food, festival food and traditional Asian food.
  • Free morning tea and rice dumplings provided.
Organised by Dragon Boat ACT, Oriental City News and the Chinese Voice program of FM91.1 Canberra Multicultural Service (1CMS). 
More details from joannazhang.ostar@gmail.com 

Panda Competition 2021 

Open to students at pre-school, Primary and High school level in the ACT and Queanbeyan.
The topic this year is Traditional Chinese Games.
  • Students are asked to creatively focus on an aspect of this topic. Their entry could be 
         -  a drawing or painting,
         -  a collage or 3-dimensional construction,
          - a poem or other creative effort appropriate to the student’s age and school grade.
  • Pre-school and year 1 and 2 students can also enter a colouring-in piece.
  • If the entry is in Mandarin, an English translation must be provided.
  • Entries must be received by 5pm Sunday 19 September.
Organised by the ACT Australia China Friendship Society. For more details, and a copy of the entry form CLICK HERE or email acfsact@gmail.com 

Chinese Language and Culture Camps Canberra April 2021 

1. ASCC Chinese Language School
This camp will assist learners to expand their study of Chinese language and culture. Activities include Chinese Recitation, Calligraphy, Painting, Handcrafts, Flute, Guzheng and dance. Participants will have the opportunity to showcase the results of their learning at the closing ceremony.
  • Tuesday 6 April to Saturday 10 April and  Monday April 12 to Friday 16 April
  • UC Senior Secondary College Lake Ginninderra, Emu Bank, Belconnen
  • Registration for single day or specific activity/activities possible
  • Program will strictly follow COVID-19 safety protocols  
  • Special classes for preschoolers child or adults may be available
  • Early Bird prices until 26 March 2021
For more details see POSTER, REGISTRATION FORM or call: (02) 6176 0528, 0404266 506, 0415 762 723 or 0419 541 336

2. Canberra Chinese School 华夏中文学校 
  • 9am to 5pm, Monday 12 to Thursday 15 April 2021.
  • POD 3, Palmerston District Primary School, Kosciuszko Ave Palmerston.
  • Fee: $65 per day or $260 for four days.
  • The fee covers art material and fruit.
  • ​​Booking required by Sunday 28 March
Please complete and email the booking form to admin@canberrachineseschool.net

华夏中文学校April假期将开设四天的假期班，如感兴趣请填写报名表并发至学校邮箱（见上）

LANTERN FESTIVAL 2021 

  • 6pm – 8.30pm Saturday 27 February 2021
  • Canberra Beijing Garden
  • Lanterns for sale or bring your own for the lantern parade
  • Prizes for the best hand-made lanterns
A fun event for all the family, the Festival is the last event in the celebration of Chinese New Year. The area is decorated with Chinese lanterns, party and fairy lights and the celebration includes performances by the ANU Chinese Classical Music Ensemble, various ACT Chinese children and adult dance groups,  martial arts displays and a lion dance performance. The evening ends with a spectacular lantern parade, led by a dragon.  
COVID safe measures in place.

For more information see POSTER, email acfsevent@gmail.com or call Carol on 6247 8231
Organised by the Australia China Friendship Society ACT Branch

CIW Event: Appreciating Oolong and Pu'er Teas

A chance to hear from Master Lu Lizhen, an award-winning Taiwanese Oolong tea roaster (in Mandarin with English interpreter) and Dr Zhang Jinghong, a pu’er tea expert.

Languages at the Festival Competition - ​​21-23 February 2020

Take a photo of a word or phrase in one of the many languages other than English represented at the National Multicultural Festival in Civic Friday February 21 to Sunday 23 February 2020. Find out something about its meaning and significance for a chance to win! 
  • 1st Prize $250, 2nd Prize $100, 3rd Prize $50
  • Free entry, and open to all.
  • Closing date Friday 28 February
For more details see: POSTER 
Organised by the ACT Bilingual Education Alliance with support from Canberra Multicultural Community Forum Inc. (CMCF) and an ACT Government 2020 National Multicultural Festival Grant  

​LANTERN FESTIVAL 2020

Organised by the ACT Branch of the Australia China Friendship Society
  • POSTPONED until March  Watch this space for more info or contact acfsevent@gmail.com
  • Beijing Garden, Lennox Gardens, Flynn Pl, Yarralumla
(In the event of wet weather the Festival will be CANCELLED)
  • ​Entry is Free.
  • Bring your own picnic and enjoy the colour and spectacle.
  • Bring your own lantern or buy one there.
  • Prizes for best hand-made lanterns.
For further information email  acfsevent@gmail.com, phone 62547732. or see POSTER

Preceded the week before by a LANTERN MAKING WORKSHOP  
  • Sunday February 2 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
  • Cook Community Hub, 41 Templeton St, Cook
  • For adults and children.  Cost: $3 per person 
Bookings essential at acfsevent@gmail.com or ph 62547732

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)

All ALMA members are cordially invited to the AGM of the Association  
  • 6.15pm 29 October 2019
  • Chinese Australian Early Childhood  Centre (CAECC), 50 Ainsworth St, Mawson 
At the AGM, the ALMA Committee reports on its activities in the previous year, presents its audited financial report and elects the new committee which oversees the operation of the CAECC and the other activities of the association. 
​
If you are interested in getting more involved in ALMA activities and promoting Mandarin education in the ACT, you are encouraged to consider joining the Committee. ALMA relies on volunteers, and without a committee, the association cannot operate.  For a nomination form and more information about what is involved, please contact us at canberraalma@gmail.com

CHINESE CULTURE CAMP HOLIDAY PROGRAM

  • Mon 30 Sept – Sat 5 Oct and Tues 8 Oct – Friday 11 Oct 2019
  • 9.30am – 5.30pm (whole day, half day or single course enrolment possible)
  • Snow Centre, Canberra Grammar School, Red Hill, ACT
  • For students 5 to 23 years old (pre-school and adult classes may be possible)
  • Early bird fees for payment by 22 September
Led by specialist teachers from Gansu Province, activities include Chinese calligraphy, traditional painting, music, dance, craft and martial arts.
Co-organised by Gansu Overseas Association and the Australian School of Contemporary Chinese.

For more details CLICK HERE, see website at http://www.standardchineseschool.act.edu.au/content/ or contact (02) 6176 0528 or 0412 873 400 

Celebration of the Chinese Voice Radio Program 


All welcome to this free event to celebrate the 18th anniversary of the program.  Come and explore, experience and appreciate the cultural and ethnic diversity of the Chinese community in the ACT. A number of local societies have joined together for the afternoon activities, which will include a Kongfu demonstration, traditional dancing, youth dancing, a Chinese choir, music and a traditional art show by  There will also be  light refreshments.
  • Saturday 1 June 2pm – 4.30pm
  • Canberra College Theatre, 2 Launceston Street, Phillip, ACT
For more details, contact Hung Ngo at hungngo98@hotmail.com or 0421 033 107

Organised by the Chinese Voice program, on Community Radio CMC (Canberra Multicultural Service) FM91.1, and run by volunteers from the Chinese Community Service Inc, an ACT-based not-for-profit community organisation. 

Chinese New Year celebrations February 2019

At the National Multicultural Festival 
Lots of entertainment and information about the local Chinese community
  • On an around Stage 3, Ainslie Place, Civic  
  • Saturday and Sunday 16 and 17 February 2019
For details of performances see https://www.multiculturalfestival.com.au/entertainment  

Lantern Festival
To end the New Year celebrations, bring the family to the popular and colourful Lantern Festival organised by the Canberra Branch of the Australia China Friendship Society (ACFS). Bring your own picnic (water and snacks for sale) and your own lantern, or buy one there.  Prizes for the best hand-made lanterns. 
  • Saturday February 23, 6:15 pm - 8:30 pm
  • Canberra Beijing Garden
  • Free entry
Please note: in the event of rain, the Festival will be CANCELLED. ​For more info email  acfsevent@gmail.com or ring Carol on 6247 8231

Lantern Making Workshop
Want to make you own lantern? Come along to the ACFS Lantern Making Workshop,
  • 1.30 – 3.30pm Sunday 10 February 2019
  • Cook Community Hub, 41 Templeton St. 
For adults and children (young children will need to be accompanied by adults). Cost $3 per person. Bring a cutting board, scissors, ruler and pencil.
​Bookings essential to acfsevent@gmail.com or phone Jean 6254 7732 

ALMA Annual General Meeting

  • Tuesday 11 December 2018  6:15pm
  • Chinese Australian Early Childhood Centre (CAECC), 50 Ainsworth St, Mawson (in the grounds of Mawson Primary School)
At the AGM the ALMA Committee reports on its activities in the previous year, present the audited financial report of the association and elects the new management Committee that oversees the operation of the CAECC and the association more broadly.

Members  of ALMA interested in getting involved in ALMA and its activities, promoting Mandarin education more broadly or just want to learn more about ALMA are encouraged to consider joining the committee.

For more information contact canberraalma@gmail.com 

​National Premiere of 'In the name of Confucius' 


DATE AND TIME/Wed, June 20, 2018, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM AEST
LOCATION/The Theatre, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT 2600
DESCRIPTIONIn the Name of Confucius is the first documentary exposé of China’s multi-billion dollar Confucius Institute (CI), a Chinese language program on foreign campuses, and the growing global controversies surrounding it—loss of academic integrity, violations of human rights codes, foreign influence, and even potential infringements on national security.

There are Confucius Institutes in 14 Australian universities and 67 Confucius Classrooms in schools.

​Since its completion in 2016, In the Name of Confucius has won 10 international awards and nominations, and seen highly successful screenings in America, Canada, Poland, Taiwan, Spain, South Africa, and Germany. Audiences described the film as an eye-opener to a hidden truth and a timely reminder of an important issue—how we should deal with the unintended outcomes of our strengthening ties with a rising Communist China, as Beijing spends an estimated $10-billion annually on “external propaganda”, including the Confucius Institute initiative.
Film screening followed by Q&A
This is a not-for-profit event
PANELLISTS:
  • Doris Liu, Director of In the Name of Confucius (via Skype)
  • Kyinzom Dhongdue, Executive Officer of Australia Tibet Council and Member of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile
  • Yonglin Chen, Former PRC diplomat, granted Protection visa by Australia, currently Australian citizen and Campaign Coordinator of Sydney Network for Democracy in China
The film trailer can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYa55jk2uVI

Please RSVP through Eventbrite page (link below) directly
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/national-premiere-of-in-the-name-of-confucius-tickets-45974598261?aff=efbeventtix

Events for all ages National Gallery of Australia Sunday 10 June   

10:30am – 12:30pm in the Asian Galleries 
  • Create Space: In search of dragons
  • For all ages, children to be accompanied
  • Share creative time with the family as we search for dragons in the Asian art galleries.
  • Free (no bookings required)
2pm - 3pm in the James O Fairfax Theatre
  • Chinese-Australian musical exchange
  • Dr Nicholas Ng, Erhu player and academic,draws from his research on music in and from China and presents a program of secular and sacred music, in connection with Infinite Conversations: Asian and Australian art exchange.
  • Free (bookings essential)
  • For more information and to book: nga.gov.au/calendar/

Local celebrations of the Dragon Boat Festival 

1. Organised by Canberra Chinese School
  • Sunday 3 June 2018, 12 noon to 3pm  
  • TB Millar Hall, Radford College, 1 College Street, Bruce
  • 12pm-1.30pm: Food stalls and kids’ fun activities:face painting, brush painting, calligraphy and paper cutting/crafting
  • 1.30pm-3pm: Stage performance: Chinese dance, singing and martial arts
This is a FREE event and all are welcome.
For a poster of the event see the school website at https://www.canberrachineseschool.net/

2. Buffet lunch organised by the Taiwanese Association of Canberra Australia (TACA)
  • Sunday 17 June 2018, 12 noon - 3pm
  • Australian Centre on China in the World, Building 188, Fellows Lane, ANU
  • Cost: $10 for adults and children over 6 years old. Free for children under 6.
The lunch buffet has a vegetarian option and each participant receives a free rice dumping (ZongZi). There will also be entertainment. Extra rice dumplings can also be pre-ordered at $5 each. RSVP required by 10 June 2018 via
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/taca-taca-dragon-boat-festival-duan-wu-festival-luncheon-tickets-46034554592 ​

Chinese Film Festival at ANU Friday 27 April to Sunday 29 April 

The Australia-China Youth Association (ACYA) at the ANU is hosting the 2018 Golden Koala Chinese Film Festival (GKCFF), which is Australia's peak Chinese film festival. Films will be subtitled in both English and Chinese, and will be shown in the China in the World Auditorium, on ANU Campus. Attendance is free but you should book through Eventbrite, which also have more details about the program:  
 
Friday 27 April 2018
  • 4:30pm - 缉枪 (Strangers) – 1hr 40 mins
  • 7pm - 幕间休息 (Intervals) – 1hr 20 mins
 Saturday 28 April 2018
  •  4:30pm - 七十七天(Seventy-Seven Days) – 1hr 55 mins
  •  7pm - 暗色天堂(Heaven in the Dark) – 1hr 40 mins
 Sunday 29 April 2018
  •  4:30pm - 青禾高校(Fist and Faith) – 1hr 40 mins
  •  7pm - 念无明 (Mad World) – 1hr 40 mins

​Lantern Festival Saturday 3 March 2018  ​

In Chinese culture the Lantern Festival is held 2 weeks after Chinese New Year and marks the formal end of those celebrations. The ACT Branch of the Australia China Friendship Society (ACFS) will hold the Lantern Festival on
  • Saturday 3 March 2018, 6pm – 8.15pm
  • Beijing Garden - part of Lennox Gardens, Flynn Place, Yarralumla (behind the Canberra Hyatt Hotel)
(In case of rain, Festival will move to Lancaster Hall, 20 – 22 National Circuit, Forrest)
  • Free event. No booking or registration required
Activities include folk dancing, a Lion Dance and martial arts, culminating in a Lantern Parade along the shores of Lake Burley Griffin.
  • Bring your own lantern (there is judging of the best hand-made lantern*), or buy one at the Festival.
  • Bring a picnic and enjoy an evening by the Lake. Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase.
More info: email:acfsevent@gmail.com or phone Carol on 6247 8231

​* ACFS is holding a Lantern-making Workshop on Sunday, 25 February at the Cook Community Hall. Adults and children welcome. All materials are provided at a cost of $3 per person. Bookings are essential on acfsevent@gmail.com

​Chinese New Year 2018

Chinese New Year's Day in 2018 is on February 16, 2018. Chinese New Year (春節 or 春节 [Chūnjíe]; 農曆新年 or 农历新年 [Nónglì Xīnnián], 過年 or 过年 [Guònián] is also known as the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival. It is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. Next year is the year of the dog.

You can celebrate the New Year at the National Multicultural Festival in Civic. The Federation of Chinese Associations of ACT and the Austfeng Group are organising several events at the Chinese Village. About 20 art troupes from China and performers from local Chinese organisations will entertain you with dancing, singing, martial arts, lion dancing, dragon dancing, acrobatics and magic.

Enriching Chinese Studies in ACT schools

Since 2015, ALMA has been collaborating with the Australian Centre on China in the World at the ANU (CIW) to organise and administer an ambassador/mentoring  project to promote and enrich Chinese Studies in ACT schools. In 2017, ALMA helped link six ACT schools with eight ANU students and one researcher. ANU mentors assisting with school Chinese language programs have developed ongoing relationships with some schools. During their visits, ANU mentors share their enthusiasm, experience, and knowledge of Chinese language and culture to help teachers and inspire school students. 

Although the ACT government funding for this project ceased on 30/6/17, ALMA is continuing to work with CIW to promote and administer a similar mentoring project in 2018 funded through a grant obtained by the ANU Postgraduate and Research Students' Association (PARSA). For more information, contact Mandy at anuchinamentor@gmail.com 

Australia Confucius Cultural Festival Sunday 6 August 2017

  • 10-12 AM: Albert Hall [Note change of venue]. An opportunity to meet models wearing traditional clothes. From midday there will be a dragon dance and the chance to be photographed in traditional Chinese outfits.
  • 2-5 PM: Albert Hall. Talk show (Mandarin), Chinese and multicultural performances
This inaugural Canberra event is part of an International Confucius Cultural Festival held in several other countries. Organized by the Australian Chinese Research Centre Inc, the aim is to promote better understanding and cultural heritage between Australia and China. All events are family friendly and free.

For more information see Poster in English or Chinese

​Book Launch: Dragon & Kangaroo: Australia and China’s Shared History from the Goldfields to the Present Day

The author, Robert Macklin, will speak about the book, with introductory remarks by Professor Richard Rigby, Executive Director, ANU China Institute.
  • Seminar Room B, China in the World Building (188), Fellows Lane, ANU
  • Thursday, 3 August, 2017 - 17:30 to 19:00
The Chinese 'presence' in Australia extends from well before the time of Captain Cook - trading with northern Australia long before Europeans came here - right through to the present day, with Chinese activities ranging from being the main customer for our iron ore, to their very extensive intelligence operations here. Robert Macklin has traced a new history of the two nations. Macklin's engrossing narrative reaches from pre-colonial times, to John Macarthur's 'coolie' shepherds, the only Chinese bushranger, Sam Pu, and the multiple atrocities committed against the Chinese in the gold rush; through to the 20th century, where the two Australians - 'Morrison of Peking' and William Donald - played a significant role in the downfall of the last Chinese emperor and the creation of the first republic, before World War II and decades of Cold War brinkmanship; to our current economic bonds and Australia's role in the dangerous geopolitics of the South China Sea.

Seating Limited, RSVP essential: publicity@hachette.com.au 

Launch of new book - Australians in Shanghai: Race, Rights and Nation in Treaty Port China

All invited to the launch of this new book 
  • When: 6pm Tuesday July 25th 
  • Where: Asia Bookroom, Unit 2, 1- 3 Lawry Place, Macquarie (adjacent to the Jamison Shopping Centre)
The book will be launched by Professor Richard Rigby, Centre of China in the World, ANU. Following the launch, the author, Dr Loy-Wilson will give a short talk about these little known people and period of time in Australian-Chinese relations.

About the book: Australians in Shanghai: Race, Rights and Nation in Treaty Port China: 
In the first half of the 20th century, a diverse community of Australians settled in Shanghai. There they forged a 'China trade', circulating goods, people and ideas across the South China Sea, from Shanghai and Hong Kong to Sydney and Melbourne. This trade has been largely forgotten in contemporary Australia, where future economic ties trump historical memory when it comes to popular perceptions of China. After the First World War, Australians turned to Chinese treaty ports, fleeing poverty and unemployment, while others sought to 'save' China through missionary work and socialist ideas. Chinese Australians, disillusioned by Australian racism under the White Australia Policy, arrived to participate in Chinese nation building and ended up forging business empires which survive to this day. The book follows the life trajectories of these Australians, providing a means by which we can address one of he pervading tensions of race, empire and nation in the 20th century: the relationship between working-class aspirations for social mobility and the exclusionary and discriminatory practices of white settler societies.

RSVP by Monday July 24th to 6251 5191 or books@asiabookroom.com
Entry by gold coin donation to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation

Lantern Festival Saturday 11 February 2017


A colourful and exciting event for the whole family. Bring your own picnic and enjoy the colour and spectacle of the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival.
  • Saturday 11 February, 6.15pm until dark
  • Beijing Garden, Lennox Gardens, Flynn Pl, Yarralumla - next to Nara Peace Park (In the event of rain, the Festival will move to Lancaster Hall, 20-22 National Circuit, Forrest)
Performances by dance groups, martial arts groups, the Mawson Primary School choir, musicians and the exciting Lion Dance! Bring your own lantern or buy one at the event.
ALL WELCOME. Entrance is FREE.
Prizes for the best hand-made lanterns. If you need help making a lantern - see details of workshop below.             
For further information: email acfsevent@gmail.com or ring Carol on 6247 8231.

Organised by the ACT branch of the Australia China Friendship Society, sponsored by the ACT Government Office of Multicultural Affairs, and supported by ACTBEA

Lantern Making Workshop
Come and make a lantern, be creative and then take your lantern to the Lantern Festival! For adults and children (young children will need to be accompanied by adults). Bring a cutting board, scissors, ruler and pencil.
  • Saturday 4 February 2017, 1.30 – 3.30pm
  • Cook Community Hub, 41 Templeton St, Cook
  • Cost: $3 per person.
Workshop Bookings essential to acfsevent@gmail.com or ph Jean 62547732. 

ALMA Annual General Meeting (AGM)

  • Wednesday 9 November, 6.15pm to 7.30 pm.
  • Chinese Australian Early Childhood Centre (CAECC), 50 Ainsworth Street Mawson
Inviting all ALMA members to come along to find out what the ALMA committee and the association have been doing over the past 12 months, future ideas and goals, and/or how you can get more involved in the operation of the ALMA bilingual childcare centre or Mandarin education more broadly.

If you would like to nominate for a position on the committee or get more information about the roles and responsibilities of committee members, feel free to contact the ALMA secretary at canberraalma@gmail.com

Canberra Moon Festival Saturday 10 September 2pm-8pm

​Come and celebrate the mid-Autumn Festival on Saturday 10 September. Organised by local Chinese community groups, the festival will be a great family event with cultural displays, food and lots of interesting activities.  Due to the inclement weather conditions, it will be held  under cover at the Old Bus Depot (21 Wentworth Ave, Kingston).
  • Children from ALMA's Chinese Australian Early Childcare Centre will be performing at 3pm.
  • ALMA will have one of the community stalls, with CAECC educators running some craft activities
For more details and a copy of the program see: https://web.facebook.com/events/893982987413564/permalink/935635969914932/

CHINESE NEW YEAR Monday, February 8

The year of the monkey will soon be upon us! 
Celebrate its arrival at the National Library of Australia with decorations, lanterns and a range of fun activities and performances, including by artists from the Shanxi Performance Group.
  • Sunday 7 February at 2 PM - 5 PM
This is a FREE event. For more information see: http://www.nla.gov.au/event/chinese-new-year-family-day-0

​​Chinese Culture at the National Library of Australia 

Celestial Empire: Life in China, 1644-1911
  • Saturday, January 2 until May 22, 2016.
The exhibition includes documents from the National Library of China's collection, some of which have never left that country before. It provides a window into nearly 300 years of life, culture and tradition of the last imperial dynasty that formed the foundations of modern China. Unlike some other exhibitions, it won't only focus on the life of China's elite at the royal court and that of the Dowager Empress, but it will provide a varied texture of all lives – from the peasants who lived in the fields to the market sellers and the middle class in the cities.And for families, visit the CELESTIAL EMPIRE FAMILY ROOM
Use your imagination in this hands-on, interactive area to explore life during China’s last imperial dynasty. Kids and parents can contribute to a giant collaborative dragon artwork. Other activities will include puppeteering, craft, and colouring with ample space to curl up with a Chinese storybook.
  • Open 2 January to 24 March and 26 March to 22 May 2016, Brindabella Room Level 4
For more information: http://www.nla.gov.au/node/8699

Lantern Festival and lantern -making Workshop 

All are invited to these two events organised by the Australia China Friendship Society, ACT branch 

Lantern-making Workshop  
Learn how to make a Chinese lantern in preparation for the Lantern Festival.  Adults and children welcome.
  • When: Sunday 21 February 2016,  1.30 – 3.30pm
  • Where: Cook Community Hub, 41 Templeton St Cook
Cost for adults and children: $3 pp
Bookings essential to acfsevent@gmail.com or phone  Jean 6254 7732
 
Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival is the final event of Chinese New Year.  The site is decorated with Chinese Lanterns and lights and there are performances of Chinese traditional music, children’s dances, martial arts, lion dance, a hand-made lantern competition and a lantern parade.
  • When:  Saturday 27 February 2016, 6 – 9 pm
  • Where: Beijing Garden, Lennox Gardens, Flynn Pl, YarralumlaEntry: Free.
Bring your own lanterns or buy one there. Prizes for best hand-made lanterns.
For further information: acfsevent@gmail.com or phone Carol 62478231

Open Day of new Chinese Culture Centre

A collaboration between Canberra Grammar School and the Australian School of Contemporary Chinese (ASCC).
  • 10:00 am - 12:30 pm, 7 November 2015.
  • Snow Centre, Canberra Grammar School, 40 Monaro Crescent, Red Hill. ACT 2603
Free Chinese classes, painting, calligraphy, paper cutting, book fair and public seminar by Dr Xiaomei Ma, the Director of the HSK Test Centre in Canberra.   

For more information: Fuxin.Li@trilong.com.au or 0419 541 336

​​Chinese Classical Music Concert: Spring in the South Sunday 11 October

By the ANU Chinese Classical Music Ensemble. Proceeds will be split with half going to the Ensemble to purchase new instruments and the other half to Project Hope*.
  • WHERE? Mt Rogers Primary School, Alfred Hill Drive, Melba 
  • WHEN? 2.00pm–4.00pm Sunday 11 October 
  • PRICE (includes afternoon tea) Adults $15, child $5 (6+), $30 per family (4 people), $10 concessions
Tickets can be collected at the door.   Please RSVP to acfsevent@gmail.com by 7 Oct

* Project Hope is a national organisation in China which works in conjunction with the Youth Development Foundation. There are branches in most Provinces with the majority of schools in poverty-stricken countryside areas.The ACT Branch of the Australia China Friendship Society (ACFS) supports 13 students from Labagoumen, a school located in a remote mountainous region of Beijing municipality. It has 76 teachers, 414 students, 240 are boarders. ACFS started funding students at Labagoumen in 2002. 

ALMA Annual General Meeting  Tuesday 20 October

  • 7.30 - 8.30pm Tuesday 20 October 
  • Chinese-Australian Early Childhood Centre, 50 Ainsworth Street, Mawson (Adjacent to Mawson Primary School)
All ALMA members and others interested in Mandarin language education and promoting knowledge of Chinese culture and heritage are welcome.

If you are interested in nominating for the committee or assisting with specific projects, please have a look at the Roles and Responsibilities of the ALMA Committee  and download and complete a Nomination Form.
 
For more information, email canberraalma@gmail.com

Famous poet from China visits Mawson 

In April 2015, ALMA arranged the visit of Professor Ap Kup Vyt Vt  (Luo Qing Chun) Dean of Yi Studies at the South West University of Nationalities in Chengdu to the Chinese Australian Early Childhood Centre and Mawson Primary School. Professor Ap entranced the children at the centre with a traditional story in Mandarin, and wowed the students at the school with a poem in the Yi language. The professor presented gifts and paintings by his colleague to the centre, the school and also Ms Gai Brodtmann, member of the Australian House of Representatives for the seat of Canberra. Here are some pictures of the visit on 28 April 2015.

2015 Chinese Summer Camps July 2015 

1. School Sichuan Tourism, Youth Adventure Camp, 5 July 2015 – 13 July 2015 (9 Days)

Chinese students and Australian students will participate in the whole trip together to promote and deepen understanding and knowledge of Australian and Chinese cultures. The students will also establish international friendship and team spirit and improve their self confidence and communication skills.
  • Host: Paul International School of Sichuan, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
  • Date: 5 July 2015 (Open) – 13 July 2015 (Close)
  • Applicant requirement: 10 to 18 year old Australian youth
  • Number of applicants: 30 to 40 Australian youth
  • Cost $1380 (return trip Canberra Melbourne and international airfare and travel insurance) School will cover cost of accommodation, meals and activities, Chengdu tour and transportation in China)   
  • Accommodation: Homestay for 5 nights. Outdoor camping for 1 night. Hotel for 3. Students must stay with the group through the whole program.
For more details see poster HERE or contact future.ec@hotmail.com.au or call 6160 1338 or Joanne 6140 3437 or Jamie 0405 198 868 

2. Hunan Normal University Camp 6 July 2015 – 18 July (13 days)
  • Host: Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Capital City of Hunan, China
  • Participants: Age 14-20 teenagers with Chinese background (can be down to 12 years old)
  • Activities: Chinese language, Kungfu, folk dance, calligraphy, paper cutting and so on; communication with local students; visit local tourism areas
  • Size: 30 people (10 Canberra, Melbourne 10, Sydney 10)
  • Expense: Participants only need to pay for international transportation $1890 (international airfare, Sydney – Canberra bus tickets) and Visa fee; other costs will be covered by Hunan Normal University
Registration Deadline: /01/062015 via call or email  For more details contact Xiaohui Zhang, Chen Chu, Yunfei He Mobile: 0415762723; 0423908819; 0425910505 or Email: ascc@trilong.com.au

Understanding Chinese as an Object of Learning

A seminar by Dr Jane Orton
  • 4:00pm - 5:30pm Thurday 23 Apr 2015 
  • Seminar Room A, China in the World Building (188), Fellows Lane, ANU
Recent research into the learning demands of Chinese shows that the cognitive and motor skills acquired in students’ development of their English (and most other first languages) at home and school, are an inadequate base on which to build L2 Chinese, and the few who do manage to achieve any real proficiency from classroom study usually still carry weaknesses predictable by this lack of foundation. To establish a solid base on which Chinese language learning can build successfully, it has been proposed that further cognitive and sensorimotor skill foundations need to be laid and learning developed from there.

In this seminar, analysis of Chinese language as an object of learning requiring development of students’ cognitive base will be presented, and examples of teaching and resources developed by CTTC to address the problem will be introduced, including a series of Units developed with the assistance of the CIW. Both the proposition and the practical work are being very positively received internationally.

About the Speaker: Jane Orton, PhD is Director of the Chinese Teacher Training Centre at the University of Melbourne, a research and professional development centre for Chinese language teaching.

After the Seminar To allow for informal discussion, the seminar will be followed by a dinner with the guest speaker at 6:15pm. The location of the restaurant will be announced at the seminar. All are welcome, though those who attend will need to pay for their own food and drinks. As reservations must be made at the restaurant, please RSVP by noon of the day before the seminar to jasmine.lin@anu.edu.au

The ANU China Seminar Series is supported by the China Institute, the Research School of Asia and the Pacific, and the Australian Centre on China in the World at The Australian National University.

For more information see http://ciw.anu.edu.au/events/event_details.php?id=13214

Celebrate the Lantern Festival - final event of the Chinese New Year   

Organised by the ACT Australia China Friendship Society:

Lantern-making Workshop 
Learn how to make a Chinese lantern in preparation for the Lantern Festival.  Adults and children welcome.
  • Sunday 1 March 2015,  1.30 – 3.30pm
  • Where: Cook Community Hub, 41 Templeton St Cook
Entry: For adults and children. Cost: $3 pp
Bookings essential to acfsevent@gmail.com   or ph  Jean 62547732

Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival is the final event of Chinese New Year.  The site is decorated with Chinese Lanterns and lights and there are performances of Chinese traditional music, children’s dances, martial arts, lion dance, a hand-made lantern competition and a lantern parade.
  • Saturday 7 March 2015, 6 – 9 pm
  • Beijing Garden, Lennox Gardens, Flynn Pl, Yarralumla
Entry: Free.  Bring your own lanterns or buy one there. Prizes for best hand-made lanterns.

For further information email acfsevent@gmail.com or ph 62478231

CELEBRATE CHINESE NEW YEAR AT THE MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL 

  • Sunday 15 February 2015 9.30-5pm
  • Petrie Plaze, Civic Square, Canberra City
FREE entertainment for the whole family: spectacular traditional lion dancing, community performances and martial arts. CLICK HERE to see the program for the day 


南望：臺灣研討會  Taiwan: The View from the South

The conference will bring together scholars from Taiwan and around the world to discuss research on Taiwan, pre-historically, historically and in the contemporary world, as well as from all disciplinary backgrounds. Screenings of 蔡明亮 Tsai Ming-liang’s three films will be shown and an exhibition of Taiwanese art will be opened at the CIW Gallery during the conference, featuring works generously lent by the National Museum of History, Taipei. 
  • Tuesday 6 January to Friday 9 January 2015
  • China in the World, Building #188, Fellows Lane, The Australian National University
Please register by Monday 22 December at ciw@anu.edu.au  For more information:
http://ciw.anu.edu.au/events/2015/taiwanconference/

Special Film Screenings by Tsai Ming-liang  7-8 January 2015
A screening of Tsai Ming-liang’s 2013 prize-winning film Stray Dogs 郊遊 will take place on the evening of January 7, preceded by a discussion with the director. Two of Tsai’s recent short films, No Form 無色 (2012) and The Skywalk is Gone 天橋不見了 (2011) will also be shown during the conference. 

For more information see: http://ciw.anu.edu.au/tsai-ming-liang/
This film is also part of the series Asia and the Pacific Screens, Season Three: Survival Politics, sponsored by the Australian Centre on China in the World.

End of year celebration at FCCCI Chinese community language school 

Instead of the usual end-of-year concert, the FCCCI school tried something different this year. Tables were set up around the Lake Ginninderra College Hall where clusters of excited children enjoyed the experience of something related to Chinese language and culture, for example  calligraphy, painting, clay modelling, cooking and making Chinese tea.  Everyone was totally involved and absorbed - and children who collected stamps for completing a number of activities received a small reward. There was also a book stall with a great selection of reasonably priced Chinese language readers and other learning resources. Congratulations to all for a very enjoyable end-of-year celebration – especially the teachers and volunteers who organised the various activities.

China Day at Mawson Primary School  

A record audience for the China Day assembly on Friday 24 October followed by a day packed with activities. For pictures from the Canberra Chronicle CLICK HERE 

ALMA Annual General Meeting

This was held on Tuesday 28  October, 6.30 to 7.15pm at the Chinese Australian Early Childhood Centre, 50 Ainsworth St, Mawson, ACT.

We heard the committee report for 2013-2014 from the ALMA President and the report from the Treasurer, and elected the new committee for 2014/2015.  We thanked members who were not standing for re-election, especially the outgoing president, Bridget O'Connor, for their great contribution to ALMA over the previous year, and welcomed several new faces to the committee.  CLICK HERE to see committee details for 2014/5.

Mandarin for Fun, Children's Week Event 2014

When:  3.20 –  4.50pm, Tuesday, 21 October 2014
Where:  West Belconnen Child and Family Centre, Cnr Starke & Luke St, Holt

Mandarin for Fun playgroup will host a free family fun learning Mandarin event to support and encourage bilingualism, which we have successfully achieved over the past 4 years. Come and enjoy performances by children and parents, games, craft, singing, dancing and healthy afternoon tea. 
All welcome with Chinese or non-Chinese background.

Thanks for the support from the ACT Children's Week Committee and the West Belconnen Child and Family Centre. For catering purposes please register your interests to mandarinforfun@gmail.com  by Friday, 17 October.
For more details: Lucia  mandarinforfun@gmail.com / 0410 981 788

Languages Afternoon Tea

The ACT Bilingual Education Alliance invites you to this family event during ACT Children’s Week
  • Free games and fun activities for children in a range of languages -including Mandarin
  • Meet families raising children in more than one language and others interested in language teaching and learning 
Bring along a favourite snack for a delicious multicultural afternoon tea 
WHEN: Sunday 26 October 2014, 2pm- 4pm
WHERE: Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre, Civic Square (near Civic Library and Canberra Theatre Centre)

For more details: contact Canberrabilingual@gmail.com, 0408 089 235 (Mandy) or see http://actbilingual.weebly.com/events.html. 

Public Lecture: China’s Tibetan Challenge: Disputed Pasts and Uncertain Futures

Presented by Robert J. Barnett
Thursday 10 July, 5:30pm–7:30pm
The Auditorium, China in the World Building 188, Fellows Lane, ANU [MAP]

Much of what happens in the Tibetan Autonomous Region remains little known to outsiders, and it is not clear how much Beijing really know about these places and the people in them. How should we interpret the fragments of information that reach us about unrest and protests there, or indeed about the efforts of officials to deal with them?

For more info see http://ciw.anu.edu.au/events/event_details.php?id=11979

For other upcoming ANU China in the World events see http://ciw.anu.edu.au/events/

Linda Jaivin's Beijing 

Linda L

Linda Jaivin in Conversation with Geremie Barmé about her latest book Beijing. 
  • 6pm Wednesday July 9th, 2014
  • the Asia Bookroom, Unit 2, 1 - 3 Lawry Place, Macquarie, ACT
For more information see http://www.asiabookroom.com/events.cfm

RSVP: By 8 July by phoning 6251 5191 or emailing books@AsiaBookroom.com

Admission by gold coin donation to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation

Films – Asia and the Pacific Screens

A monthly film series that offers a fresh window on social realities, cultural transformations and creative imaginings from across Asia and the Pacific, through documentary and feature films made by some of the most entertaining, insightful and uncompromising filmmakers in our region. Screenings are followed by a short discussion, led by relevant local and invited scholars and filmmakers.
Upcoming films :
  • Thursday 3 July , 5:30pm-7:00pm Khangai Herds, 2008, 60 minutes, In Mongolian and English, with English subtitles
  • Thursday 7 August, 5:30pm-7:00pm A Screening Journey 放电影, 2014, 65 minutes, In Chinese and Tibetan, with English subtitles, presented by the Director
Venue: The Auditorium, China in the World Building (188), Fellows Lane, ANU

For more information, visit http://ciw.anu.edu.au/events/asiapacificscreens/ 
or contact ciw@anu.edu.au or 02 6125 9060

LANGUAGES POTLUCK 

WHEN?  Sunday 18 May. 11am to 1pm 
WHERE? Function Room, Theo Notaras Centre, North Building, Civic Square, Canberra 
  • A fun get-together for families raising children in more than one language and people interested in bilingual education
  • FREE fun activities, including songs and story time in Mandarin, Japanese and French
  • Bring along your favourite foods to share with others as well as your cooking skills and recipes
  • Hot drinks, cups, plates and cutlery provided
For more details and/or to book, please email canberrabilingual@gmail.com or call Mandy on 0408 089 235 
This project was made possible by the support of the ACT government’s 2013-14 Participation (Multicultural) Grants Program.

Championing Chinese Studies in the ACT

ALMA helped organise this event on 3 April 2014 at the new China in the World (CIW) building on the ANU campus. The event was funded as part of a CIW grant "to develop ANU's links with schools, the community and other relevant organisations and groups to promote and improve Mandarin learning and teaching in the ACT region".

The program included short talks about the symbolism of new CIW building (Dr Ben Penny, Acting Director CIW), ALMA's aims and activities (Bridget O'Connor, President ALMA), and Chinese programs and ANU outreach activities (Dr Mark Strange, Head of Dept of East Asian Studies, ANU School of Culture History and Language). Three of the ANU students nominated for awards for their Mandarin studies in 2013 spoke about their Mandarin learning journeys. There was then time for questions and information sharing before Dr Strange presented the students’ awards. 

Over 35 people attended, including Mandarin teaching staff from ACT schools, ANU lecturers and tutors in Chinese language and culture and members of community groups which promote interest in China and Mandarin. Some useful links were made and it is hoped that this will result in more support for Mandarin programs at school level.

One of the outcomes was in response to a request for details of competitions and other activities schools can tap into to arouse and maintain student interest in learning Mandarin and more about China. ALMA has put a new page on its website to meet this request.

As easy as Yi, Er, San (1, 2, 3) 

For children 3-7 years old. One story is read aloud in Mandarin and then in English, followed by an activity introducing basic numbers, words and phrases in Mandarin. Run by Libraries ACT volunteers at Dickson Library on  Sundays in May 2014, 2.30-3 pm.  FREE but bookings requested for each session (look for the event at   www.library.act.gov.au/learning/whats_on) .

Mandarin Language Program on 2XX 98.3FM

Practice Mandarin with your children via a new Mandarin language program from 6.30pm to 7pm on Friday evenings on radio 2XX:  98.3 FM or online at www.2xxfm.org.au 

For more details CLICK HERE. 

Lantern Festival - The final event of Chinese New Year

Enjoy colourful Chinese lanterns and lights, and performances of Chinese traditional music, children’s dances, martial arts, lion dance, hand-made lantern competition and a lantern parade.

When:  Saturday 15 February 2014, 6pm – 9 pm
Where:  Commonwealth Park near Gallipoli Reach (west of the Rond Terraces, below ANZAC Parade)

FREE entry.  Bring your own lanterns or buy one there. Prizes for best hand-made lanterns. For further information, including alternative venue in case of rain, email acfsevent@gmail.com or phone 6247 8231

This activity is organised by the ACT Branch of the Australia China Friendship Society

OUTCOMES OF FORUM ON MANDARIN EDUCATION IN THE A.C.T. Saturday 10 August

This forum was organised by ALMA in cooperation with the College of Asia and the Pacific at the ANU and the ACT Directorate of Education and Training, and was supported by a grant from the Australian Centre on China in the World at ANU.

The day-long forum brought together those involved in Mandarin education in the ACT region, from early childhood to tertiary level. The main objectives of the forum were to:
  1. develop networks and strategic partnerships to demonstrate and build on the quality and proficiency outcomes of Mandarin programs in the ACT;
  2. increase interest in learning and continuing to learn Mandarin in ACT schools, including community language schools; and 
  3. encourage language maintenance among Canberrans of Chinese background and heritage.
For a summary of the day's discussion and outcomes CLICK here.  See below for Powerpoints used by Dr Jane Orton and Dr Mandy Scott in their presentations about the current situation in Australia and the ACT region respectively.
orton-_national_picture.pptx
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scott_act_region_overview.pptx
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VISIT FROM SENATOR KATE LUNDY 

ALMA was delighted to meet with Senator Kate Lundy on Tuesday 16 April 2013. The Senator toured our Chinese Australian Early Childhood Centre in Mawson and was interested to hear about ALMA's plans to expand its operation.  We also discussed ALMA’s ideas about promoting the learning of Mandarin in the ACT more generally.

Chinese Camp in Canberra 30 September to 11 October 2013

Congratulations to the Australian School of Contemporary Chinese for organising a very successful camp at Lake Ginninderra College during the October school holidays. Over 140 students attended and had fun in a number of activities while being immersed in the Chinese language. The results of some of their activities, which included Chinese Kung Fu, Clay Sculpture, Chinese knots, Calligraphy, Traditional Chinese Painting, Peking Opera Styles of Makeup, Paper-cuts, Singing and Dancing can be seen in the photos below.

The camp was supported by the China Overseas Exchange  Association (Qiaoban), Shandong Overseas Exchange Association and the Chinese Embassy in Australia. 

ALMA Submission on draft curriulum for Mandarin

This was submitted in response to an invitation from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) for comments on the draft Australian Curriculum for Languages in Australian Schools. The final version of the curriculum for Mandarin and Italian languages will be published before the end of 2013. To see our submission, CLICK HERE 

CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS 10am-5pm Sunday 10 February

Celebrate the beginning of the Year of the Snake with spectacular traditional lion dancing and other performances at Stage 2 in Petrie Plaza in Civic, Canberra City. A FREE event as part of the 2013 Multicultural Festival.  See http://www.multiculturalfestival.com.au/signature_events/chinese_new_year_in_the_city for more details. 

CELEBRATE CHINESE NEW YEAR WITH STORIES FROM CHINA!

Where? Gungahlin Library (Hibberson St, Gungahlin) 
When? Thursday, 14 February 2013 from 10.30-11.30am 

Stories and songs in English and Mandarin. Come and learn some simple Mandarin Chinese words and make a Chinese red paper lanterns and other craft to celebrate the Year of the Snake! This event is free and is suitable for all ages. Bookings are  not required. 

LANTERN FESTIVAL Saturday 23 February, 6pm to 9pm

Enjoy the colour and spectacle of this annual event organised by the ACT Australia China Friendship Society in Commonwealth Park near Gallipoli Reach (west of the Rond Terraces, below ANZAC Parade). Entry is Free. Bring your own rug and picnic in the park. Entertainment includes a Chinese Classical music ensemble, Children’s dance groups, and a kung fu demonstration. The evening concludes with a lantern parade - bring your own lanterns or buy one there. Prizes for best hand-made lanterns (see below for details of a lantern-making workshop.

For further information, ring Carol on 6247 8231 or email  acfsevent@gmail.com   

Picture
A VERY SPECIAL VISITOR
ALMA was delighted to host the Hon Kevin Rudd MP at our early childhood centre in Mawson on Tuesday 22 May 2012. Mr Rudd was welcomed by our preschool children, who then sang  songs in Mandarin (one led by Mr Rudd!), asked many questions and enjoyed showing off their dancing skills. 
The visit gave us the chance to show how a small community-based centre can provide quality care and education, and also prepare young Australians for the future - by offering a play-based bilingual environment from babyhood up - when children are most receptive to language learning.  


Submission to ‘Asian Century’ White Paper 


ALMA made a submission to the White Paper on Australia in the Asian Century in February 2012. In this we emphasised the value of language learning, especially Mandarin, in the early childhood setting, in order for us to improve our engagement with Asia. 

The conclusions of the ALMA submission are that Federal, State and Territory governments should provide:
  • explicit funding support for bilingual child care and preschool programs in priority Asian languages; 
  • increased funding and investment in teachers and teaching resources for bilingual education programs in priority Asian languages at primary school level and beyond; and
  • support for initiatives which seek to capitalise on the cultural and language knowledge already within Australia – in our multicultural population and the large numbers of international students from Asia studying in our schools and tertiary institutions.

For a copy of our submission CLICK HERE  

To see other submissions CLICK HERE