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.
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:
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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, turntaking, 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 facepainting, 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
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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 reporting
can 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.
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.