Workshops for parents, educators & communities
Our outreach and koha to communities involved in our research and professional development includes workshops in the community, in early childhood services and in schools. In addition, this web site also provides resources so that communities can use for their own ‘pop up’ workshops. Within these workshops we have found it to be important to encourage participants to share their challenges and solutions for raising children with two or more languages. Intentional strategies that encourage children to engage orally with their languages and cultures benefit us all.
We’d like to thank everyone who has participated - Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourouka ora ai te iwi (Whakataukī)
Raising Children bilingually
These two workshops were for parents and caregivers in East Christchurch who speak a language other than English. Our emphasis was on Pasifika languages, though speakers of other languages were welcome to attend.
Motivating children to speak a home language
In September 2016 our second a workshop was held at the University of Canterbury for parents and carers on Motivating reluctant children to speak a home language. The participants were invited to share their ideas for increasing the input children get in the minority language, and increasing the children’s need to use the language.
Parents and carer problems in raising children bilingually
At our third parent and carer workshop on raising children bilingually on 3rd November 2016, we asked participants to share problems they have experienced on post-its and pass them to the front.