Connection, curriculum and ELLA

St Oliver Plunkett School and St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School  have been participating in ELLA for seven years..Their participation has created valuable opportunities for collaboration, cultural understanding, and shared learning across the school community.

St Oliver Plunkett School and St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School 

Japanese

Written by: Olivia Petkofski

I have been using the Early Learning Languages Australia (ELLA) apps in my early years classrooms for around seven years, and they have become an incredibly valuable part of my teaching practice. While the apps provide an engaging introduction to language learning, their impact extends well beyond simple language acquisition. 

One of the things I value most about ELLA is how easily it connects with other areas of the Australian Curriculum. As a general classroom teacher, I have been able to extend the learning through art projects, gross motor activities, cultural experiences and hands-on challenges. This allows language learning to become a natural and meaningful part of our wider classroom program. 

ELLA has also created wonderful opportunities for collaboration across year levels. Younger students are incredibly proud to share their new language skills with their older buddies, while older students enjoy using their existing knowledge to support and encourage younger learners. Both groups enthusiastically participate in the supplementary activities, creating opportunities for students to learn with and from one another. 

We have also had the opportunity to use ELLA and its related activities alongside visiting Japanese exchange students. These experiences have given our students an authentic way to connect their classroom learning with real people and cultures and have helped build their confidence and excitement around language learning. 

After using ELLA for many years, I have seen how it can inspire curiosity, support learning across the curriculum, and bring students of different ages and cultures together through shared learning experiences.