Early Learning Languages Australia (ELLA) program
The Polyglots: Modern Greek
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 Modern Greek 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 Modern Greek
- say some simple greetings in Modern Greek. For example:
Modern Greek phrase Transliteration English translation Γεια σου! Gia soo! Hello! फΤα λέμε μετά! Ta leme meta! See you later! Παρακαλώ! Parakalo! Hello! (on the phone) - introduce themselves in Modern Greek. For example:
Modern Greek phrase Transliteration English translation Είμαι ο(name) Ime o (name) I am (name) for a boy Είμαι η(name) Ime i (name) I am (name) for a girl
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 Modern Greek. For example:
Modern Greek phrase Transliteration English translation नΚίτρινο Kitrino Blue Πράσινο Prasino Green Πορτοκαλί Portokali Orange Ροζ Roz Pink लΚόκκινο Kokkino Red पΜπλε Ble Yellow - express some likes and dislikes in Modern Greek. For example:
Modern Greek phrase Transliteration English translation Μου αρέσει το κόκκινο! Moo aresi to kokkino! I like red! Δεν μου αρέσει το κίτρινο! Den moo aresi to kitrino! I don’t like yellow!
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 Modern Greek
Modern Greek phrase Transliteration English translation Ένα Ena One Δύο Dio Two Τρία Tria Three Τέσσερα Tessera Four Πέντε Pente Five Έξι Exi Six Εφτά Efta Seven Οχτώ Ohto Eight Εννέα Ennea̅ Nine Δέκα Deka Ten - say how old they are in Modern Greek. For example:
Modern Greek phrase Transliteration English translation Είμαι πέντε χρονών! Ime pente hronon! I’m five years old! - say happy birthday in Modern Greek
Modern Greek phrase Transliteration English translation Χρόνια πολλά! Hronia polla! 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 Modern Greek. For example:
Modern Greek phrase Transliteration English translation Το μήλο To milo Apple Η μπανάνα I banana Banana Το πορτοκάλι To portokali Orange स्ट्रॅΗ φράουλα I fraoola Strawberry
- say I’m hungry/thirsty in Modern Greek
Modern Greek phrase Transliteration English translation Πεινάω! Pinaọ! I’m hungry! Διψάω! Dipsao! I’m thirsty! - say thank you in Modern Greek
Modern Greek phrase Transliteration English translation Ευχαριστώ! Efharisto! Thank you! - make simple requests in Modern Greek. For example:
Modern Greek phrase Transliteration English translation Θα ήθελα λίγο χυμό! Tha ithela ligo himo! I’d like 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 Modern Greek. For example:
Modern Greek phrase Transliteration English translation Το κεφάλι To kefali Head Το χέρι To heri Arm Το πόδι To podi Leg Το πόδι To podi Foot - say some parts of the face in Modern Greek. For example:
Modern Greek phrase Transliteration English translation Το μάτι To mati Eye कΤο αυτ To afti Ear Το στόμα To stoma Mouth नΗ μύτη I miti Nose - say something hurts in Modern Greek. For example:
Modern Greek phrase Transliteration English translation Το κεφάλι μου πονάει! To kefali moo ponai! My head hurts! - use some adjectives in Modern Greek. For example:
Modern Greek phrase Transliteration English translation Μεγάλο Megalo Big Μικρό Mikro 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 Modern Greek. For example:
Modern Greek phrase Transliteration English translation ِِΠερπάτα! Perpata! Walk! Χόρεψε! Horepse! Dance! - use some adverbs in Modern Greek. For example:
Modern Greek phrase Transliteration English translation Γρήγορα! Grigora! Fast/quickly! Αργά! Arga! Slowly!
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 Modern Greek. For example:
Modern Greek phrase Transliteration English translation Τρίγωνο Trigono Triangle Τετράγωνο Tetragono Square Kύκλος Kiklos Circle - recognise the meaning of some words written in Modern Greek
- say goodbye in Modern Greek
Modern Greek phrase Transliteration English translation Τα λέμε μετά! Ta leme meta See you later!
Connections with the Australian Curriculum for Modern Greek
The ELLA apps provide an engaging and enjoyable resource to support children in the initial stages of learning Modern Greek.
The statements below are taken from the Achievement Standards of the Australian Curriculum for Modern Greek. They capture some of the elements that children will have learnt by the end of Year 2 – after three years of learning Modern Greek 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.
Foundation to Year 2 Achievement Standard
- Children interact with teachers and peers through action-related talk and play.
- They introduce themselves (for example, Mε λένε Γιώργο) and exchange greetings and farewells (for example, Γεια σου), and express thanks (for example, Eυχαριστώ).
- They use simple, repetitive language when participating in shared activities and simple exchanges, and respond to simple instructions.
- When speaking, they reproduce distinctive sounds and letters of the Greek language such as γ-γάτα, ρ-νερό, μπ-μπαμπάς, ψ-ψάρι, ου-μου.
- Children identify specific words, such as names of people, places or objects, in simple spoken language (and a few written) texts, and respond to imaginative experiences through singing and performing.
- They present information about themselves, friends (for example, οι φίλοι μου) and possessions, using gestures and modelled language.
- They recognise questions and commands and use short sentences with appropriate word order, verb forms and personal pronouns to communicate about themselves.
- They identify features of familiar texts such as songs.
- They identify words in English that have been borrowed from Greek and vice versa; for example, ‘music’ (μουσική).
- They identify similarities and differences between Greek and their own language and culture.
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