Italian

In the Playroom

Home App toolkit Italian App 1

App 1 overview

In the Playroom

The Polyglots in the Playroom is an exciting place filled with characters, animation, play-based learning experiences and surprises. Children exploring The Polyglots in the Playroom are exposed to Italian language through greetings, introductions, farewells, likes and dislikes.

Language learning features

  • Repetition: Italian language is repeated in meaningful contexts, providing many opportunities to hear the language.
  • Visual cues: visual cues and gestures are aligned with spoken language to reinforce and emphasise meaning. The app uses the interactive functionality of the tablet.
  • Production: children have opportunities to produce the language. The learning experiences encourage children to mimic and play with Italian sounds, words and short phrases.

Cultural references

Language learning experts emphasise the importance of linking language to culture. To inspire children’s curiosity about Italian culture, the learning experiences feature cultural items and characters from Italy.

Unique learning experiences

Each community is unique. Teachers may find a variety of ways to apply the learning experiences in The Polyglots in the Playroom apps to a particular child, group of children, preschool, school or community.

Links to the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and Australian Curriculum

Each of the learning experiences in The Polyglots in the Playroom is aligned to the EYLF and the Australian Curriculum: Languages, for Foundation to Year 2. Teachers can use this data to support planning or print the outcomes for children’s portfolios from Groups and Outcomes in the Educator dashboard.

Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)

Belonging

‘Children belong first to a family, a cultural group, a neighbourhood and a wider community.’ (EYLF)

All children have the right to belong. This is reflected in the cultures and relationships of the characters in The Polyglots in the Playroom. This app provides imaginative play experiences that parallel children’s own experiences of playgrounds and other favourite places. In this space, characters are portrayed as belonging to a community, just like children do.

Being

‘Childhood is a time to be, to seek and make meaning of the world.’ (EYLF)

When using The Polyglots in the Playroom, children can explore and expand their understanding of the world. They can take time, perhaps several weeks, to investigate other ways of being.

Becoming

‘Children’s identities, knowledge, understandings, capacities, skills and relationships change during childhood.’ (EYLF)

When children engage with the apps, they can broaden their knowledge, understandings, capacities and skills. With tablet technology, the apps expose children to Italian language and culture and provide for many other learning experiences.

Australian Curriculum

General capabilities - Intercultural Understanding

Reflecting on culture and cultural diversity - Explore the influence of cultures on interactions 

Students are supported to reflect on how their cultural identities relate to others and how others’ cultural identities relate to them.

Engaging with cultural and linguistic diversity - Communicate responsively

Students are supported to learn to tailor their communication in a range of contexts, demonstrating sensitivity and respect for cultural and linguistic diversity. They use their understanding of this diversity to keep communication open, flexible and focused on constructive processes and outcomes.

Navigating intercultural contexts - Adapt in intercultural exchanges

Students are supported to apply their learning in a range of interactions, using their understanding of culture and cultural diversity, and skills in perspective-taking and empathy.

Resources

Resources to extend ELLA into your playspaces.

Tap to see more Tap to see less

Have a question or need some help?

Contact the ELLA helpdesk

[email protected] 1800 468 303 (9 am – 4 pm AEST, Mon–Fri)