Language
Acquisition in Early
Childhood
Education
language diversity &
multilingualism
Benefits
Improved cultural
awareness
promote intercultural
understanding &
respect.
Improved
communication skills
learn to understand &
navigate different
linguistic & cultural
contexts.
Improved cognitive
development
enhanced problemsolving skills
better memory
retention
Disadvantages
Difficulty with language
acquisition
difficult to develop
proficiency in all of the
languages
Communication
misunderstanding
Potential language
delays
experience delays in
language development
confusion between
languages
Languages in Australia
Various Aboriginal
languages
Unique grammar,
vocabulary, and cultural
significance
Presevation and
revitalization initiatives
Aboriginal
Pitjantjatjara
Tiwi
Warlpiri
Wiradjuri
Kriol
Aboriginal Music
The Tagulaylay
The Sambotani
The Talindaw Diverse languages from
other countries
Mandarin
Spanish
Italian
Korean
English (official
language)
100 languages of
children
Children have the
ability to express
themselves and explore
more than one way to
communicate their
thoughts and feelings
(Edwards et al, 2011)
different forms of
expression
art
music
movement
drawing
painting
sculpting
dancing
singing
writing
speaking
Epigenetics
Nurture (Vygotsky)
environment
learning from others
slang
Nature (Chomsky)
biological
stages of speaking
cariosity The arts as
communication
How babies start to
learn language?
Reggio Emilia approach
(Edwards et al, 2011)
Responsive interactions
Observation
Play games
Exposure to different
languages
capacity for listening
and reciprocal
expectation
Factors
Age development
combination of innate
abilities (Self
perception)
even before birth (hear
and respond to sounds
outside the womb)
Emotional & Social
context
engaged in positive
interactions with adults and
when language is used in
meaningful ways, eg. during
play / daily routines.
Social interaction
imitate the sounds and
words they hear and
receive feedback from
those around them
exposure to language in
their environment
recognize patterns and
rules in the language
they are hearing, eg.
word order & sentence
structure.
Customs or habits
Various modes of
communication
Non-verbal
communication
facial expressions
posture
eye contact
touch
hand movements
Visual communication
social media
Facebook
Instagram
signs
maps
drawings
graphic design
Verbal communication
face-to-face
telephone
via Skype or Zoom
Written communication
Listening active listening
Theoretical
perspectives of
language development
and learning
Noam Chomsky
(Nativist/Innatist)
Children’s innate ability
of learning language
Jean Piaget (Cognitive) assimilation and
accomodation
Jerome Bruner
(Interactionist)
innate abilities +
interaction with others
Vygotsky (Sociocultural)
learning through socialinteraction
Cognitive
developmental
psychology.
people build knowledge
from their experiences
and through
interactions with the
environment.
Piaget believes
cognition happens
before learning.
”language development
occurs in tandem with
cognitive development,
and is developed
through
activity“ (Fellowes &
Oakley, 2014)
Vygotsky sees cognitive
development enables
children to learn
language