Supporting Bilingualism, Multilingualism and Language Learning in the Early Years

Program details

Program description

Supporting Bilingualism, Multilingualism and Language Learning in the Early Years is an online professional learning resource by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority for educators to support children’s rights to maintain their family and/or heritage languages, while acquiring English as an additional language.

Learning activities include scenarios that provide educators an opportunity to reflect on and engage with the theory of supporting children and their families in bilingual and multilingual contexts, linked to the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) Practice Principles.

Detailed costs

Not applicable.

Implementation considerations

Target audience: educators.

Program/practice descriptions and details: supporting Bilingualism, Multilingualism and Language Learning in the Early Years contextualises linguistic diversity as a defining feature of Victoria, and foregrounds the significance of Victorian Aboriginal Languages, and the history of colonial and immigrant languages. It sets out theoretical perspectives of bilingualism, multilingualism and language learning, including the cognitive advantages of bilingualism.

Accompanying this resource is a series of videos featuring Carolina Cabezas-Benalcázar, Researcher and Early Childhood Professional and Melodie Davis, Executive Director, fka Children’s Services. The videos provide an introduction to and overview of the new practice guide.

Program adaptability: the resource is accessible online.

Staffing: services should consider the cost of backfill in determining the cost of accessing this resource.

VEYLDF alignment

Item uses these practice principles

• Reflective practice
• Partnerships with families

Item responds to these sub-outcomes

Not applicable.