Bulletin

Issue: April 2004

News

Happy 30th Birthday to La Trobe University Language Centre

They're out there speaking English—around 60,000 of them from more than 50 countries - thanks to the La Trobe University Language Centre which is celebrating its 30th birthday in 2004.

Birthday celebrations started on 12 March with a lunch for more than 300 past and present students at the Bundoora Centre.

Today the Centre concentrates on teaching English - but until 1999 it also taught up to 15 foreign tongues such as Spanish, French, German, Hungarian and Portuguese, as well as the Australian deaf language, Auslan.

Hence the title is the Language Centre rather than the English Language Centre.

The main part of the Centre is at La Trobe University's campus in Bundoora but in 1995 a 'branch' opened at La Trobe University Bendigo. Over the three decades, hundreds of teachers have been employed, some at the Bundoora campus for around 25 years.

The Centre has co-operative arrangements with 32 universities worldwide, which send students to learn English. Its website receives more than 50,000 hits per month.

Adult Migrant Program Co-ordinator, Mr Marc Brierty, says that the Centre not only teaches students English but also helps them appreciate Australia and its culture.

'A major way to do this is to organise home stays for students who become part of local families while they formally study English,' he said.

A major function of the Centre in recent years has been the English language preparation for students who then go on to study in undergraduate and postgraduate courses at La Trobe University.

It also caters for large groups from overseas institutes.

Early this year, it participated in the University's first Australia Connect program in which 63 Korean students from Yonsei University, Seoul, and Daejeon University, Daejeon, spent from three to five weeks studying English. An innovative feature of this program was the appointment of mentors from residents of La Trobe University's Menzies College - where the Koreans stayed - ensuring that each visitor had a personal guide and friend.

While different styles of programs are available according to the needs of groups or individuals, the average stay of a student is 15 weeks. The average class size is 12 students with a maximum of 16 to 18 per class.

The main course, ELICOS (English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students), is offered with different levels and needs. These include General English, English for Further Studies, English for Business and Certificate II in Professional Communication (Internship).

An important course is the Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA). This is a full-time intensive course of four weeks with components including language teaching methodology, English language awareness and supervised teaching practice. Internationally-recognised as the world's best initial teacher training course in ELTA, the course is regularly monitored by Cambridge University ESOL Exam Unit to ensure that high standards are maintained throughout the world.

A number of other specialised courses are available including English for Adult Migrants. Two other celebratory events are planned for later in the year. One is placing a time capsule containing daily records, photos of staff and students and memorabilia in a large rock outside the Centre in June. It will be reopened in 2034 - the 60th Anniversary.

The third event will be a more formal 'black tie' gathering at Melbourne Museum in November attended by current staff and university dignitaries.

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