The table below has examples of cultural elements in the apps. Also included are some ideas for extending cultural understanding and awareness.
Implementing ELLA
What are the cultural elements in the apps?
| Category | Examples from the 13 languages |
| Cultural images, colours, patterns and designs | balloons, balls, kites, statues, posters, plates and tablecloths |
| Flora and fauna | animals (panda, orangutan, camel, poodle, gecko, wild boar, llama); flowers (cherry blossom, jasmine); trees (olive, oak and yuzu) |
| Characters - the Polyglotsn | ational dress |
| Characters - whimsical | talking snail, dragon, kokeshi, Aladdin, ninja, Pinnochio |
| Characters - occupations | baker, acrobat, dancer, opera singer, mime artist, actor |
| Music/sound | musical instruments, songs, radio music |
| Food | sushi, pomegranate, rambutan, noodles, chickpeas, wasabi, macaron, fig, crepe, dragonfruit, satay, date, candied hawthorn, kebab, pineapple, taco, watermelon, crostata |
| Cultural behaviours | animated gestures for characters' greetings, gift-giving and gift-receiving |
| Environmental text | written language on signs, public buildings, the airport, restaurants, playing cards and books - most with audio clues |
| Live action video | children playing games from cultures of languages |
The following are some ideas from preschools and schools that have participated in ELLA:
- Cook food from the culture of the language or from the culture of families in your community.
- Grow vegetables (for example, a Chinese vegetable garden).
- Provide art experiences from the culture (for example, painting Japanese blossoms, investigating French art styles, copying writing styles).
- Include the apps in or alongside relevant areas of the service. For example, a tablet with the ‘Make a cake’ learning experience (App 3) can be placed in home corner. ‘Colour and create’ (App 2) could be placed on a drawing table.
- Make or provide colour or number games to extend the concepts in the apps.
- Provide props and visual stimuli in block or creative areas, such as pictures of architecture, statues and artwork.
- Investigate celebrations, festivals and special events.
- Learn songs and dances.
- Incorporate the language and concepts from apps intentionally when transitioning and during routines. For example, use the language to refer to the colours of children’s clothing to disperse for routines (App 2), count the number of children (App 3), or discuss fruit names at mealtimes (App 4).
‘We provide visuals eg greeting words, colour cards, number cards, etc. We also use morning greetings during group discussions and transitions. We sit with children whilst engaged with apps and discuss what they are doing, listening to, attempting to repeat’
Have a question or need some help?
Contact the ELLA helpdesk
[email protected] 1800 468 303 (9 am – 4 pm AEST, Mon–Fri)