On the road with Language in Action!

 

I've been showcasing my new language teaching pedagogy at schools and language teaching associations across Australia, and the response has been remarkable so far, and I was delighted to discover an outstanding report by Naomi Lamb in the latest issue of Contact, the Modern Language Teachers’ Association of the ACT newsletter, highlighting a professional learning masterclass I presented to French teachers in late 2024 (see page extract).

I sincerely thank the MLTA ACT and Naomi Lamb for their recognition and support.

The rollout of Language in Action™ continues across schools and educational institutions throughout this year!

Participating in yearly professional learning events is necessary and catalyses personal growth and empowerment. These events have enhanced my teaching skills and allowed me to adapt the newly acquired pedagogy to my new language teaching program, Language in Action™ masterclasses for schools and universities.

Thank you to all the schools, teaching associations, and convention organisers for your ongoing support!

Lights, camera, japanese language in action!

My speaking tour across South Australia continues, and today was a highlight with a fantastic linguistics masterclass presented to Japanese students at Blackwood Primary School. The positive impact on their language learning was truly inspiring!

Today's masterclass about Japanese animation and Manga was an interactive session in which we discussed the use of language in context, image stereotypes, and representations, followed by a character design and illustration workshop in which the students were guided through the process of creating their characters, adding the target language to the comic strip, and understanding how language is used in the context of their characters' stories.

Linguistics plays a crucial role in language learning by providing insights into the structure, usage, and acquisition of languages. My innovative methodology, Language in Action™, uses sequential art, a form of storytelling using a sequence of images, to enhance second language acquisition. This approach contextualises learning, making it more engaging and memorable, and helps learners actively understand and retain new vocabulary and language structures.

Thanks to the Japanese language department at the Blackwood Primary School for booking me to present to a great group of students!

A beautiful post-presentation testimony!

Stuart A. Blair's Manga Workshop at Blackwood Primary School was exceptional. His deep knowledge of manga, its history, and culture, combined with his engaging and hands-on approach, made the session both educational and fun. The students not only learned how to draw manga but also gained a rich understanding of its cultural significance. Stuart's passion and interactive style made for an unforgettable experience that our students will cherish.

Matt Brown

Japanese Teacher

Blackwood Primary School 

Guest Speaker at Firstival, A festival of firsts!

Thanks to the City of Marion Libraries in Adelaide, South Australia, for the invitation to speak at their festival event, Firstival, presenting excerpts of my thesis investigations of la bande dessinée franco-belge, specifically language, context, and stereotypes in period French and Belgian comic book literature and children's stories.

Stereotypes in comics can significantly impact global society by shaping perceptions and reinforcing cultural norms. My presentation included discussions on stereotypes, highlighting how comics reflect and influence societal views, potentially perpetuating stereotypes or challenging them to foster a more inclusive understanding of diverse cultures.

Special thanks to the Event Organiser, Jess Harris, for this beautiful post-presentation testimony!

I look forward to the next stage of my speaking tour in Canberra!

Lights, Camera... Language in Action!

Today's masterclass at Y-Suites, Adelaide, for university students was fantastic!

I launched my Winter linguistic speaking tour, presenting Language in Action™️ Stuart A Blair, an innovative teaching technique incorporating sequential art, language meditation, and drama in second-language classrooms across age demographics!

Thanks to Y-Suites, Adelaide, for the most vibrant venue!

Thanks to Y-Suites, Adelaide, for this excellent post-masterclass workshop testimonial!

Thanks, Stuart, for coming to Y Suites City Gardens and giving us a wonderful presentation with Language in Action™.

I found Stuart’s workshop fascinating, as he incorporated multiple languages alongside English, making it enjoyable for students of all proficiency levels.

We would love to welcome him back again!

Aki Caddy

YCEP Coordinator, Y Suites City Gardens

Stuart can be booked direct from this website to present at your event!

Indigenous Linguistic Field Trip - June 18 to 20, 2021

Bawoo!

On June 18 to 20, 2021, A long-term project came to fruition with a successful weekend-long linguistic field trip to Port Lincoln.

Port Lincoln and the region of the Eyre Peninsula is the traditional land of the Barngarla People, and is approximately a one hour flight from our home base in Adelaide.

Click on the above image to view a report written by ABC Australia who covered the linguistic field trip!

I planned and coordinated the educational experience in collaboration with the Barngarla Community Members and Professor Ghil'ad Zuckermann, Professor of Linguistics and Chair of Endangered Languages at the University of Adelaide, Australia.

The travelling group consisted of teachers, parents, and their children to undertake a cross-cultural exchange with the native speakers of the indigenous language they are learning, Barngarla.

Barngarla Elders shared their stories and feelings about reconciliation, representation, and the revival of the Barngarla Language (once a victim of linguicide, a language genocide, when all or almost all native speakers of that language die because of natural disasters, wars).

The field trip was a magical, educational, cross-cultural experience for everyone who attended. We extended an arm of friendship to the Barngarla People to join us in Adelaide for further language and culture workshops to develop teachers' and children's target-language skills and to learn more about indigenous culture.

A commissioned painting by local Barngarla artist Jenna Richards was presented to us, commemorating the meeting and cultural exchange.

Upon our return to Adelaide, I created a Language Nest at the Educational Centre, which enjoys regular visits from Barngarla Community Members, presenting unique cultural experiences for the children.