New website: Aboriginal Languages Network, Port Augusta

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The Aboriginal Languages Network is a team of teachers and Aboriginal language and culture experts in Port Augusta, South Australia, and is working on language revitalisation and materials development for threatened languages spoken in northern South Australia. Mohamed Azkour at Augusta Park Primary School in Port Augusta, has developed a website of Aboriginal language materials for Adnyamathanha, Arabana and Pitjantjatjara, all spoken in Port Augusta and points north. The materials presented were developed by him and Greg Wilson of the South Australian Department of Education and Children’s Services (DECS) with input from local teachers and community members.
The online materials include:

  • background information on each of the three languages
  • teacher resources that can be downloaded and printed
  • interactive games and quizzes
  • equipment and dozens of resources available locally for teacher use, including CD-ROMS, DVDs, videos, books, posters and other materials

The website is particularly useful for Arabana, Pitjantjatjara, Yankunytjatjara and Adnyamathanha language programs, but will be of interest to others wanting to explore language learning materials and outcomes. I personally found the website design with its heavy use of Adobe Flash 10 and many animated headings a bit off-putting, but I expect children will find it encapsulates an engaging and fun approach to learning.

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