Early Learning Languages Australia (ELLA) program
The Polyglots: Japanese
Information for primary school educators
ELLA is a fun, digital, play-based language learning program for children in preschool. The aim is for children to recognise the different sounds and concepts of a language other than English through the introduction of words, sentences and songs in age-appropriate experiences and practices. Early experience in language learning is an important platform for encouraging language learning in the later years of education.
Preschools involved in this project have chosen one of the available languages to incorporate into their educational program. The ELLA apps are designed to provide children with early language learning experiences and are aligned to the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the Australian Curriculum (Foundation to Year 2).
The ELLA apps
- The ELLA apps are designed to be engaging and educational.
- The design and development of the ELLA apps was guided by experts in languages, early childhood and technology.
- Children play together as they explore the apps, sharing ideas and helping each other.
- Learning experiences within apps are play-based and draw on the interests and activities of young children; for example, a sandpit, cooking experiences, art activities, building and role-play.
- Educators and children learn together – an effective and collaborative learning method.
What are the benefits for children of participating in ELLA?
There are many benefits to learning another language in the ELLA program.
- Children expand their knowledge of how language works and apply these skills to other literacy tasks such as listening carefully to sounds in words. These skills will be used when children learn to read and write.
- Language learning increases memory, concentration and critical thinking skills.
- Children use social skills when they play with the apps. They share the tablets and their knowledge, and they interact and help each other.
- The apps provide opportunities for children to increase their digital skills.
- The apps create opportunities to celebrate culture and diversity, to share home languages, and to strengthen links between families and the preschool.
- The skills and understandings developed through ELLA can be extended in children’s language learning experiences at school, whether this be continuing with the same language or transferring to a new language.
The ELLA program is funded by the Australian Government and managed by Education Services Australia.
Want to find out more? Visit the ELLA website
Key Japanese language included in the ELLA apps
Each of the ELLA apps engages children in play-based activities in different contexts to provide meaningful opportunities to hear and use language. There are also many cultural elements included in the apps.
Below is a brief description of each app and some of the key words and phrases that children are introduced to.
App 1: The Polyglots in the Playroom
When exploring The Polyglots in the Playroom, children become familiar with language relating to greetings, introductions, farewells and expressing likes and dislikes.
Through engaging with App 1, children will begin to develop skills to:
- sing the ‘Hello’ song in Japanese
- say some simple greetings in Japanese. For example:
Japanese phrase Transliteration English translation こんにちは Konnichiwa Hello またね Mata-ne See you later もしもし Moshi moshi Hello (on the phone) - introduce themselves in Japanese. For example:
Japanese phrase Transliteration English translation わたしは (name) Watashi wa (name) desu. I (used by girls) am (name). ぼくは (name) Boku wa (name) desu. I (used by boys) am (name).
App 2: The Polyglots at the Beach
The Polyglots at the Beach provides a playful environment and opportunities to explore the language of colours.
While playing above and below the water, children are encouraged to interact with the language of colours, sea creatures and expressions of preference.
Through engaging with App 2, children will begin to develop skills to:
- name some colours in Japanese. For example:
Japanese phrase Transliteration English translation あお Ao Blue みどり Midori Green オレンジ Orenji Orange ピンク Pinku Pink あか Aka Red きいろ Kiiro Yellow - express some likes and dislikes in Japanese. For example:
Japanese phrase Transliteration English translation あか が すき！ Aka ga suki! I like red! みどり が すきじゃない！ Midori ga sukijanai! I don’t like green!
App 3: The Polyglots at the Birthday Party
The Polyglots at the Birthday Party is an opportunity to explore the language of numbers through counting candles, singing songs, making cakes and saying how old children are.
Through engaging with App 3, children will begin to develop skills to:
- count to ten in Japanese
Japanese phrase Transliteration English translation いち Ichi One に Ni Two さん San Three し Shi Four ご Go Five ろく Roku Six しち Shichi Seven はち Hachi Eight きゅう Kyuu Nine じゅう Jyuu Ten - say how old they are in Japanese. For example:
Japanese phrase Transliteration English translation わたしは (number) さい。 Watashi wa (number) sai. I (used by girls) am (age). ぼくは (number) さい。 Boku wa (number) sai. I (used by boys) am (age). - say happy birthday in Japanese
Japanese phrase Transliteration English translation たんじょうびおめでとう！ Otanjoubi omedetou! Happy birthday!
App 4: The Polyglots at the Zoo
The Polyglots at the Zoo features animals in an open-range zoo and introduces children to words for foods and drinks, and phrases for being able to say they are hungry and thirsty, for asking politely and saying thank you.
Through engaging with App 4, children will begin to develop skills to:
- name some fruits in Japanese. For example:
Japanese phrase Transliteration English translation りんご Ringo Apple バナナ Banana Banana オレンジ。 Orenji Orange いちご。 Ichigo Strawberry
- say I’m hungry/thirsty in Japanese
Japanese phrase Transliteration English translation おなかがすいた。 Onaka ga suita. I’m hungry! のどがかわいた。 Nodo ga kawaita. I'm thirsty! - say thank you in Japanese
Japanese phrase Transliteration English translation ありがとう Arigatou Thank you - make simple requests in Japanese. For example:
Japanese phrase Transliteration English translation ジュース をください。 Juusu o kudasai. Can I please have some juice?
App 5: The Polyglots at the Circus
The Polyglots at the Circus takes children to the magical space of a circus, providing them with the opportunity to experience language related to parts of the body.
Through engaging with App 5, children will begin to develop skills to:
- name some body parts in Japanese. For example:
Japanese phrase Transliteration English translation あたま Atama Head ゆで Ude Arm ひざ Hiza Leg あし Ashi Feet - say some parts of the face in Japanese. For example:
Japanese phrase Transliteration English translation め Me Eyes みみ Mimi Ears くち Kuchi Mouth はな Hana Nose - say something hurts in Japanese. For example:
Japanese phrase Transliteration English translation あたま が いたい。 Atama ga itai. My head hurts. - use some adjectives in Japanese. For example:
Japanese phrase Transliteration English translation おおきい Ookii Big ちいさい Chiisai Small
App 6: The Polyglots at the Park
The Polyglots at the Park features games and activities that encourage children to actively engage in learning verbs and adverbs relating to actions.
Through engaging with App 6, children will begin to develop skills to:
- respond to some simple instructions in Japanese. For example:
Japanese phrase Transliteration English translation ِِあるいて Aruite! Walk! おどって Odotte! Dance! - use some adverbs in Japanese. For example:
Japanese phrase Transliteration English translation はやく Hayaku Fast/quickly ゆっくり Yukkuri Slow!
App 7: The Polyglots in the Town
The Polyglots in the Town provides an opportunity for children to use familiar language developed through apps 1–6 in a range of experiences in the town.
Through engaging with App 7, children will begin to develop skills to:
- name some shapes in Japanese. For example:
Japanese phrase Transliteration English translation さんかく Sankaku Triangle しかく Shikaku Square まる Maru Circle - recognise the meaning of some words written in Japanese
- say goodbye in Japanese
Japanese phrase Transliteration English translation さようなら Sayounara Goodbye またね Mata-ne See you later
Connections with the Australian Curriculum for Japanese
The ELLA apps provide an engaging and enjoyable resource to support children in the initial stages of learning Japanese.
The statements below are taken from the Achievement Standards of the Australian Curriculum for Japanese. They capture some of the elements that children will have learnt by the end of Year 2 – after three years of learning Japanese at school.
The ELLA apps provide opportunities for children to engage with the following statements from the Australian Curriculum. Children’s abilities and levels of achievement will be influenced by a range of factors.
- Children interact with the educator and their peers through play- and action-related language.
- Children use formulaic expressions and appropriate gestures in everyday interactions such as exchanging greetings and farewells, for example, こんにちは、さようなら、また あした.
- Children use visual, non-verbal and contextual support, such as pictures, gestures, facial expressions and props to make meaning of simple texts.
- When listening to simple repetitive spoken texts, children identify key words such as names or numbers of objects or people, and demonstrate comprehension by actions, drawing or labelling.
- Children present information about themselves and favourite things at word and simple sentence level, using formulaic and modelled language.
- Children describe people and objects using adjectives to indicate colour, shape and size, for example, あかい り んご、おおきい、まるい.
- Children mimic Japanese pronunciation, intonation and rhythm through shared reading and singing.
ELLA is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and is managed by Education Services Australia. © 2018 Commonwealth of Australia, unless otherwise indicated. This material, other than Commonwealth trade marks in The Polyglots characters and The Polyglots logo, may be used in accordance with the Creative Commons BY-NC 4.0 licence, unless otherwise indicated.
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Education Services Australia Limited ABN 18 007 342 421
Level 5 440 Collins Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia
www.esa.edu.au Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +61 3 9207 9600 ELLA helpdesk: 1800 468303