The comic book came to life at Languages Alive!

I brought French and Belgian comic book literature to life at the Languages Alive School Holiday Program on July 12!

Languages Alive is a program of engaging and interactive language and cultural experiences for Reception to year-6 students.

I had an absolute hoot with the children using comic books and drama as the communication medium incorporating the Stanislavski Technique bringing the French comic book to life.

During my classes at Languages Alive, students entered the exciting world of la bande dessinée franco-belge (French and Belgian comic book literature) and acted out and created a collective comic book adventure in the French language. 

Appreciative thanks to the School of Languages for including my lessons in the program.

Up, Up, and away!

Thanks to everyone I spoke with at my expo site at the Adelaide Showgrounds on June 4!

The Mega Toy Fair attracted thousands of visitors on day one of the weekend-long pop culture event.

Special thanks to mi amiga, Noelia Carvajal from the School of Languages for visiting the expo during the cross-promotion of the fast-approaching July 'Languages Alive!' school holiday program. I look forward to presenting la bande dessinée franco-belge at the event next month!

Time to Inspire!

Appreciative thanks to Professor Ghil'ad Zuckermann of the University of Adelaide for including me as a lecturer on the topic, Revivalistics, semester one 2022.

The course explores Revivalistics, a new trans-disciplinary field of enquiry surrounding language reclamation, revitalization and reinvigoration. It studies comparatively and systematically the universal constraints and global mechanisms on the one hand, and local peculiarities and idiosyncrasies on the other hand, apparent in revival attempts across various sociological backgrounds, all over the world.

Today's lecture presented the findings of a field trip aimed at immersing a group of children learning Barngarla (an Indigenous language) as part of a trilingual linguistic program I coordinate at an Educational centre in Adelaide's Northern Suburbs. 

In an Australian first, the children travelled to Port Lincoln in the Eyre Peninsula region of South Australia to undertake a cross-cultural exchange with the Barngarla People.

A Fantastic exhibition opening!

I had an absolute hoot presenting excerpts of my thesis investigations to the greater Adelaide community during my exhibition of comic book linguistics at the Adelaide Comic and Toy Fair.

The exhibition presented visitors with an investigation of the linguistic context, stereotypes, representations, and controversies in early comic book literature and children's stories.

The comic book is a powerful medium for relaying a political or a social message to a readership of any age. By presenting a variety of media, and popular sources including period-specific comic book literature created in France and Belgium, as well as comic strips and children's books from the United Kingdom and the Americas, this exhibition permits the viewer to examine the linguistic, contextual, representational and stereotypical elements in early comic book literature while reflecting on the controversies surrounding their publications.

Special thanks to Noelia Carvajal Balbin from the School of Languages for attending the Cross-promotion for the School of Languages Languages Alive Holiday Program during the exhibition's run.

Teaching the Teachers!

I conducted a workshop about cultural awareness to a most receptive and enthusiastic group of teachers as part of their yearly staff professional development program.

Interacting with people from other cultures enriches your outlook on life. Reflection of your differences and your similarities help you view life through the eyes of many others in a global community.

When you learn about other cultures, you establish new methods of thought and solve problems from a different perspective.