First languages nurtured in Victoria

A new guide for early-childhood professionals to help youngsters maintain their first language, while learning English has been launched by the Victoria Government.

Victorian Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development, Wendy Lovell and Minister for Multicultural Affairs Nicholas Kotsiras launched the Learning English as an Additional Language in the Early Years resource this week.

The resource, to be used with children up to six-years-old, has been developed in partnership with childhood academic Dr Priscilla Clarke OAM, the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and FKA Children's Services. The guide shows how to create culturally inclusive environments and offers practical suggestions to help children learn English while preserving and developing their home languages.

"The ability to communicate fluently in two or more languages is an enormous asset for young people. With the release of this resource, we are helping to lay the foundations in the early years," said Ms Lovell. Nicholas Kotsiras said efforts to help children become multilingual compliments the government's vision for a vibrant and diverse community.

"We know the cognitive, social and community benefits of fostering multilingualism and making sure children maintain their first language is a big step towards ensuring all students in Victorian learn at least two languages," Mr Kotsiras said. Victoria's Coalition government has committed to ensuring government school students from Prep to Year 10 will learn another language by 2025. In addition they have committed to all Prep students in government schools to be learning a language other than English by 2015.

The Learning English as an Additional Language in the Early Years resource will be distributed free of charge to early childhood services across the state. The initiative is part of the Coalition government's $19.7 million funding commitment to languages education in its first term.