Early Learning Languages Australia (ELLA) Program 2017 Program Information

November 2016, v2.0

Contents What is ELLA? _______________________________________________________________________ 2

Educator and family experiences _______________________________________________________ 2

Benefits of learning a language with ELLA ________________________________________________ 3

About the apps______________________________________________________________________ 4

Program support ____________________________________________________________________ 6

Program funding and management _____________________________________________________ 7

The ELLA program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training and is managed by Education Services Australia. © 2016 Commonwealth of Australia, unless otherwise indicated. This material may be used in accordance with the Creative Commons BY 4.0 licence, unless otherwise indicated.

The ELLA program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training and is managed by Education Services Australia. © 2016 Commonwealth of Australia, unless otherwise indicated. This material may be used in accordance with the Creative Commons BY 4.0 licence, unless otherwise indicated.

What is ELLA? ‘It has been one of the best learning experiences of my 25-year teaching career. I am in awe daily of how quickly the children learn and have loved this learning.’ – Educator at trial preschool, 2015

ELLA is a fun, digital, play-based language learning program for children in preschool. Children learn one of seven languages – Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese or Spanish – through fun applications (‘apps’). The apps have been specifically designed for preschool children, and come with a suite of support services such as a helpdesk, forum and newsletters. Educators do not need any background in the language to run the program.

ELLA is available free to all Australian preschools, on the basis that preschools must meet the program eligibility criteria (see Participation Requirements) and ‘bring their own’ devices. Preschools in disadvantaged areas can apply for a support payment of $500 to help purchase tablet device/s for the program. Although preschools may participate in ELLA using one device per class, previous program participants have reported optimal learning outcomes using one device per five children.

Educator and family experiences ELLA was trialled in preschools across Australia in 2015–16. Participating educators spoke of the benefits:

‘Amazing experience, so glad to have been a part of it.’

‘The children are mimicking Indonesian words very quickly and picking it up easily. Words, sentences, phrases or sounds, it doesn’t matter. They’re happy to say it all and LOVE IT! They use it during mealtime quite often: if one child starts, the rest will join in and then all of a sudden we have an Indonesian class. They switch between two languages as they play.’

‘They love saying hello and goodbye in the language. We have heard most children using it.’

‘We regularly hear children singing songs form the apps such as the heads-shoulders song, colours, the greetings – they say the fruit names and when using the apps you can hear them repeating the names. Parents say they hear them at home using the language.’

– Educators at trial preschools, 2015

Families in the trial reported children using the language at home, and out and about: ‘We travelled overseas and my child was doing cannon-balls into the swimming pool counting in Japanese to 10 before jumping in the pool. The Japanese tourists were highly excited that he could do that at 4 years of age.’

‘I took him to a Lebanese restaurant, and he ordered his drink in Arabic (like the character does in the app, I think), and he used thank you and bye. And the waiter said his pronunciation was very good. Amazing.’

‘[My child] comes home keen to apply new words that he has learnt at school in the home context. He is even teaching his 2-year-old sister to count in French. He often describes things in French.’

– Families at trial preschools, 2015

The ELLA program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training and is managed by Education Services Australia. © 2016 Commonwealth of Australia, unless otherwise indicated. This material may be used in accordance with the Creative Commons BY 4.0 licence, unless otherwise indicated.

Benefits of learning a language with ELLA

Benefits for children Language learning is most successful when children have regular and frequent experiences of the target language. The ELLA apps create fun learning experiences that engage children, and enable them to explore and learn at their own pace.

Children who participate in ELLA:

• are introduced to words, sentences and songs in a language other than English• have opportunities to recognise sounds and concepts of the language• gain language experience and practice appropriate for their age• enjoy play-based language learning experiences through apps on tablet devices• have opportunities to engage with the cultures of people who speak the language• gain ICT skills through using the tablet devices• have opportunities to develop foundation skills, for example in colours, counting and greetings.

ELLA also encourages development of cognitive and social skills such as self-regulation, turn-taking, sharing, collaborative learning and care for property.

Benefits for educators ‘Learning the language together is great for teacher/child relationships – It’s wonderful for the children to see the adults learning and fosters true collaboration. It empowers the children. We both respect each other’s knowledge.’ – Educator at a trial preschool, 2015

Educators have reported benefits for them too, including: • increased confidence in incorporating language learning and digital technology into their

programs• increased focus on multiculturalism in their programs• opportunities to learn language alongside children in a collaborative way• entry points for family and community members to share their cultures at the preschool.

The ELLA program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training and is managed by Education Services Australia. © 2016 Commonwealth of Australia, unless otherwise indicated. This material may be used in accordance with the Creative Commons BY 4.0 licence, unless otherwise indicated.

About the apps Each preschool selects one of seven languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese or Spanish. Over the year, the preschool downloads and uses the series of seven apps for that language. Each app has a different language focus, building on the language from the previous apps.

App 1: The Polyglots in the Playroom In The Polyglots in the Playroom, children explore fun learning experiences such as a rocket ship, maze and sandpit. As they play, they also learn language for greetings, introductions, farewells, likes and dislikes.

App 2: The Polyglots at the Beach In The Polyglots at the Beach, children explore the language of colours as they drive a submarine, make creative beach-themed pictures, feed fish and more.

App 3: The Polyglots at the Birthday Party The Polyglots at the Birthday Party replicates the fun and playful environment of a children’s birthday party. This app gives children opportunities to explore the language of numbers while making a cake, playing hide-and-seek and enjoying an egg-and-spoon race.

The ELLA program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training and is managed by Education Services Australia. © 2016 Commonwealth of Australia, unless otherwise indicated. This material may be used in accordance with the Creative Commons BY 4.0 licence, unless otherwise indicated.

App 4: The Polyglots at the Zoo Children enjoy interacting with animals in The Polyglots at the Zoo. As children make juice, feed animals and sort fruit, they are introduced to new language relating to fruit and drinks, as well as feelings, requesting and thanking.

App 5: The Polyglots at the Circus The Polyglots at the Circus takes children into a magical space of performers and performance. Children experience language related to body parts as they take part in fun activities such as face-painting, helping out with first aid, and training clowns.

App 6: The Polyglots at the Park The Polyglots at the Park encourages children to be active and playful. Children explore action words through fun experiences such as ‘follow the leader’ and making a movie.

App 7: The Polyglots in the Town The Polyglots in the Town encourages children to observe the environment and interact with it using familiar language from apps 1 to 6. In this app, children make pizza, become shopkeepers and create building structures.

The ELLA program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training and is managed by Education Services Australia. © 2016 Commonwealth of Australia, unless otherwise indicated. This material may be used in accordance with the Creative Commons BY 4.0 licence, unless otherwise indicated.

Program support As well as the apps, ELLA comes with a suite of program support.

Family App

Families can download the free Family App for iPad and Android to learn more about the ELLA program. The Family App offers: • information about ELLA and its benefits• key language learned in the apps• an opportunity to try one of the learning experiences• ideas for encouraging language learning at home.

Educator App

Educators can download the free Educator App onto tablets and mobiles, iOS and Android. The Educator App offers: • background information on the ELLA program• information on language and culture• a sound library of the language and songs in the apps• practical advice on implementing ELLA.

Early Childhood Liaison Officer and staffed helpdesk An Early Childhood Liaison Officer is available to support services to implement ELLA. A staffed helpdesk is available 9–4 weekdays (AEST) to answer questions.

Language and culture overview information Information sheets provide background information about the language and culture in the apps.

Posters and newsletters Printable posters are available to promote ELLA at your preschool. Regular newsletters keep you informed and offer tips for how to make the most of ELLA.

Facebook group and forum Share your ideas about implementing ELLA with other educators around Australia.

Educational reporting and ‘I can’ statements • Educational reporting: Educators can monitor each child’s participation and engagement with

ELLA, and see how that information aligns with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)and the Australian Curriculum. The apps provide reporting for each child, and this reportingcan be used to inform planning and to share children’s learnings with their families.

• ‘I can’ statements: Printable ‘I can’ statements can also be used to share children’s learnings,and to celebrate their achievements.

The ELLA program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training and is managed by Education Services Australia. © 2016 Commonwealth of Australia, unless otherwise indicated. This material may be used in accordance with the Creative Commons BY 4.0 licence, unless otherwise indicated.

Program funding and management ELLA is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training and is part of the Australian Government's commitment to reviving language study in Australia.

Following a very successful trial in 2015–16, the Australian Government Department of Education and Training is providing $5.9 million to make ELLA nationally available to all preschools from 2017.

Education Services Australia manages the delivery of ELLA on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Education and Training.