Background
After an extensive selection process, Donvale ELC has been selected by the Victorian Government to deliver a Bilingual Kindergarten Program in Mandarin starting 2024!
The Department of Education is supporting this initiative to increase the diversity of children’s language skills, build stronger local communities and prepare children for an increasingly connected world.
Children from all backgrounds will benefit from this program by deeply learning about the value of embracing other languages and cultures. Learning in Mandarin also provides an opportunity for children to strengthen their cultural identity and boost their self-esteem.
Experts have found that language education plays a vital role in children’s development – increasing their reading and writing skills, and helping children to think, explore and problem solve.
We are excited to be one of the few kindergartens in Victoria to be chosen to deliver this program, which comes at no additional cost to families!
More information can be found here: https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/bilingual-kinders-connecting-kids-world
About the program
Building on from our Early Childhood Language Program, the Bilingual Kindergarten program will be delivered by degree-qualified language teacher with native Mandarin speaking proficiency. They will be an above-ratio teacher to provide children in the Green Room (4-year-old kindergarten group) with the opportunity to learn in Mandarin for 12 hours each week.
To help children develop their language skills, we will incorporate language learning into everyday play-based kinder activities such as singing, dancing, painting and storytelling.
As always, we aim to provide consistent learning for your child as they move up in rooms each year, in order to best build upon their learning foundations.
Therefore, educators from other rooms will also be encouraged to engage in learning experiences with children in their home language (if applicable) from time to time, to begin building their awareness of other languages and cultures.
Our educators come from a diverse range of backgrounds and speak many languages including Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Thai, Arabic, Farsi, Turkish, and Italian.
背景
经过广泛的筛选过程，Donvale 幼儿园成功地被维多利亚州政府和教育局选中，从 2024 年开始提供普通话双语幼儿园课程！
教育部的这一举措支持和提高儿童语言技能的多样性，建设更强大的当地社区，并帮助儿童为日益互联的世界做好准备。
维多利亚州来自不同背景的孩子都将从这个课程中受益，深入学习和了解其他语言和文化的价值。学习普通话还为孩子们提供了加强文化认同和增强自尊心的机会。
专家发现，语言教育对儿童的发展起着至关重要的作用，比如提高他们的阅读和写作能力，思考、探索和解决问题的能力。
我们很高兴成为维多利亚州为数不多的能够提供这个双语课程的幼儿园之一，该计划无需向家庭收取额外费用！
更多信息请访问：https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/bilingual-kinders-connecting-kids-world
关于该课程的说明
在DONVALE幼儿园活动课程的基础上，双语幼儿园课程将由具有学位资格且母语为普通话的语言教师授课。他们将作为一名超出师幼比例的老师，为Green Room（4岁幼儿园班级）的孩子们提供每周12个小时的普通话学习机会。
为了帮助孩子们发展语言技能，我们将语言学习融入到日常的以游戏为基础的幼儿园活动中，如唱歌、跳舞、绘画和讲故事。
我们会一如既往地在您的孩子每年升班级时为他们提供持续的学习，以便最好地奠定他们的学习基础。
因此，我们还将鼓励其他班级的老师经常地用他们的母语（如果适用）与孩子们一起进行学习，以开始培养他们对其他语言和文化的认识。我们的教育工作者来自不同的文化背景，会说多种语言，包括普通话、粤语、越南语、泰语、阿拉伯语、波斯语、土耳其语和意大利语。
