PRE-SCHOOLERS in the Redlands are using an app to learn languages including Chinese as part of a federal program.
As part of another program, funded by an Education Queensland grant, students and adults are learning Indonesian at Cleveland District State High School.
Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham said the government was offering more than 300 pre-schools access to the expanded pilot of the Early Learning Languages (Ella) program and the language learning app Polyglots.
The students would be able to study Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian, French or Arabic.
“Initiatives like this languages app will be vital to helping our children take advantage of the ‘Asian Century’ and the new opportunities our economic transition presents,” Mr Birmingham said.
Bowman MP Andrew Laming said in the Redlands the program was offered at Bay Island Early Learning and Care, Sheldon College Kindergarten and Waterloo St Early Education Centre.
“Seeing and hearing young children counting, following recipes and singing in a language that isn’t their native tongue, you understand how engaging this app is and why it has had such positive feedback from kids, educators and families.”
The minister said an evaluation of a pilot of the Ella program in 41 schools last year was positive.
Mr Birmingham said he expected the app would help turn the tide on the decline of language study in schools.
The Indonesian lessons offered at Cleveland High School are for students at the school, primary students for any school and their parents and community members of any age.
Head of the languages department at the school Kylie Venamore said the lessons take on a conversational approach and include cultural activities such as learning Indonesian songs and dances, puppetry and creating a batik-style design.
Ms Venamore said school already had partnerships with Indonesia having done two study tours to Borneo and with a third planned for next year.
“This led to a compelling need to deliver Indonesian language studies to maximise education opportunities around our growing Indonesian relationships,” she said.
“The lessons are conducted by an experienced and enthusiastic Indonesian teacher who is passionate about enhancing awareness of Indonesia in the Australian community.”
There are three one-hour lessons offered at the school on Monday afternoons.
For information on the Indonesian lessons at Cleveland, phone Ms Venamore on 3824 9269 or email kvena4@eq.edu.au
