{"id":491,"date":"2026-08-25T12:10:47","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T02:10:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/montessoriminds.vic.edu.au\/hoppers-crossing\/about\/food-menu-2\/"},"modified":"2026-08-28T14:11:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T04:11:11","slug":"language-program","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/montessoriminds.vic.edu.au\/hoppers-crossing\/language-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Language Program"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u2014<\/span> \u2014 Early Learning Languages Australia (ELLA) \u2014<\/div>

Language Program<\/em><\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
We participate in Early Learning Languages Australia (ELLA), a play-based language program for preschool-aged children, and are supported by a team of bilingual and multilingual educators who bring language and culture into everyday learning.<\/div><\/div>
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Book a centre tour<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div>
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\"ELLA<\/span><\/div>
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About ELLA<\/em> <\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"early Early Learning Languages Australia (ELLA) is an Australian Government initiative that offers a play-based approach to introducing a new language to preschool-aged children. It uses interactive, age-appropriate apps designed to spark genuine interest in a new language and culture, rather than formal instruction.<\/p>\n

As with all areas of our program, participation and engagement will look different for every child, and progress in language learning varies from child to child.<\/p><\/div>

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Ask us about the program<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div>
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Program details<\/em> <\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Initiative\n<\/div><\/div>
Early Learning Languages Australia (ELLA)<\/div><\/div>
Approach\n<\/div><\/div>
Play-based, app-supported language learning<\/div><\/div>
Age group\n<\/div><\/div>
Preschool-aged children<\/div><\/div>
Current language\n<\/div><\/div>
Mandarin, in our Kindergarten Program<\/div><\/div>
Framework\n<\/div><\/div>
Delivered alongside the EYLF v2.0<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Why we introduce language early<\/em> <\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Dr Maria Montessori described a \"sensitive period for language\" in the early years \u2014 a window when many young children tend to absorb new sounds, words and language patterns with particular ease and enjoyment. This is part of the Montessori philosophy that underpins our approach.<\/p>\n

We share this as background to our program rather than as a promise of any individual result. Every child is different, and the pace and extent of language learning will vary from child to child and cannot be guaranteed.<\/p>\n

Broadly, educators and researchers associate early exposure to language learning with benefits that may include supporting literacy skills, memory and concentration, problem-solving, social and emotional development, and an appreciation of other cultures \u2014 though, as with all developmental areas, individual outcomes are not guaranteed and will differ between children.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

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Our current language offering<\/em><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Mandarin is currently taught within our Kindergarten Program, delivered by an early childhood educator working alongside our kindergarten teaching team.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
01<\/span> \u00b7 Kindergarten Program<\/div>
Mandarin<\/div>
\nIntroduced through play-based, age-appropriate activities as part of our Kindergarten Program's language learning component.<\/div><\/div>
02<\/span> \u00b7 Daily practice<\/div>
ELLA app activities<\/div>
\nInteractive ELLA app-based activities are used to introduce vocabulary and language concepts in a playful, engaging way.<\/div><\/div>
03<\/span> \u00b7 Everyday learning<\/div>
Culture & connection<\/div>
\nLanguage learning is woven together with conversations about culture and community, supporting a broad sense of identity and belonging.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Our multilingual educators<\/em> <\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Our educator team includes bilingual and multilingual staff who bring a range of languages into our centre. This diversity supports an inclusive environment where children's own languages, cultures and backgrounds are recognised and valued.<\/div>
German\n<\/div><\/div>
French\n<\/div><\/div>
Mandarin\n<\/div><\/div>
Arabic\n<\/div><\/div>
Vietnamese\n<\/div><\/div>
Hindi\n<\/div><\/div>
Punjabi\n<\/div><\/div>
and more<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Educator language capabilities may vary over time as our team changes. Please contact the centre directly to confirm current staff language capabilities relevant to your family.<\/div><\/div>
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Part of a broader, quality-assured program<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Our language program sits alongside our wider curriculum, which is delivered in line with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF v2.0) and assessed against the National Quality Standard (NQS).<\/div>
Explore our curriculum<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div>