Italian

In the Town

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App 7 overview

In the Town

The Polyglots in the Town features places and activities commonly found in Australia. Children are encouraged to observe the environment and interact with it using familiar language from apps 1 to 6, and also new language introduced in this app. Italian culture is represented in objects from earlier apps, and in new objects in this app's playspace and learning experiences.

Language learning features

  • Repetition: Italian 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. Some of the cultural items can be found in other apps.

Unique learning experiences

Each community is unique. Teachers may find a variety of ways to apply the learning experiences in The Polyglots in the Town 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 Town 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 Town. In this app, children are reunited with familiar characters and objects from the preceding apps. The characters are portrayed as belonging to a community, just as the children do.

Being

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

The Polyglots in the Town provides play experiences that parallel children’s own experiences of urban environments, shopping and other experiences in this context.

Becoming

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

These elements are enhanced through children’s exposure to Italian language and culture.

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

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Have a question or need some help?

Contact the ELLA helpdesk

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