At Maryland Care and Early Education we promote the acquisition of a second language from age 3 years up to 5 years of age.
Our 3 year olds learn basic concepts and words in Spanish such as;
- Colours
- Counting 1-5
- Greetings
- Animals
- Emotions
The ELLA Program
Our 4 and 5 years olds take part in the Early Learning Languages Australia (ELLA) Spanish program. This program consists of 7 Apps that focus on different language concepts in Spanish.
The preschool children also engage in a language group time that reinforces the concepts they are learning each month. Concepts include:
- Introductions
- Colours
- Counting
- Greetings
- Names of fruit, animals, objects and people
- Patterns
- Following directions
- Tracking
- Visual and audio discrimination
What are the benefits of teaching a second language?
- They become an effective communicator.
- They develop the ability to listen to and identify sounds in words (an important skill in learning to read and write).
- They can understand social patterns and interpret the speakers meaning and communicate to a wider audience.
- The learn to block out distractions. A study from York University in Toronto found that exposure to 2 languages gave the children a cognitive advantage in blocking out unnecessary stimuli.
- Boost creativity and problem -solving skills. This is due to increased mental alertness necessary to switch from one language to the next. This is thinking laterally.
- Memory, critical thinking and concentration is increased.
- Personal. A child’s confidence, self- esteem, resilience, persistence and tolerance for others increases.
- Vocational. Your child’s career opportunities will be greater in an increasing globalised market.
- Promotes cultural awareness and tolerance. These children generally are more accepting of differences, realise that everything is learnt rather than innate, which is also a way to combat prejudices from an early age.
Learning a second language through the ELLA program supports the National Quality Standards
- Promotes a sense of agency 1
- An assessment tool 1.2.1
- Supports intrinsic and gross motor development 2.1,2.2,2.3
- Children’s learning and development is assessed for future planning1.2
- Supportive friendships between children and educators 5.1.2
- A feeling of belonging 5.1.1
- A sense of pride and agency 1.1.6
- A flexible environment for every child 3.1.3
- Freedom of choice 5.2.3
- Thoughtful reflection, informed practices relevant to children 4.2.2
References: https:/www.ella.edu.au
