More than 80,000 children in 2500 preschools across Australia will take part in Early Learning Languages Australia (ELLA) program to learn a second language. 

This includes the extra 20,000 children chosen to participate in ELLA in 2018. 

ELLA involves interactive applications and tablet devices, and uses digital, play based program to engage preschool children. 

Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said that ELLA has received positive feedback from educators and parents, allowing Australia to continue with the program and expand. 

“When you see firsthand how quickly children embrace the program it’s clear how valuable it can be for preschools wanting to introduce languages or even supplement the teaching they’ve already got in place,” Minister Birmingham said. 

“Exposure to another language and culture can have significant benefits on children from a young age- it expands their horizons and opens up exciting opportunities around the world when they reach the workforce,” he added. 

The Swinburne University of Technology has conducted an independent evaluable of ELLA and found that it has a positive impact on children’s engagement in learning about different languages and cultures, and is also linked to better English and problem solving skills. 

The $15.7 million program includes nine languages such as Hindi, Modern Greek, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, Indonesian, Japanese, Italian, and Spanish.