Annual Report 2023 Entire Book - Flipbook - Page 127
These events also provide the opportunity for the team to meet other exhibitors and to engage with them in
relation to the Languages Connect Strategy and relevant PPLI resources and supports.
At both events, the Languages Connect stand provided readily accessible information leaflets on the
importance and relevance of languages and leaflets for students, parents, and guidance counsellors to
support discussion at the stand and for attendees to take away. On many occasions, all members of the team
were deep in conversation with students while other students waited patiently to engage with Languages
Connect, creating impressive queues. Students also appreciated the array of fun language-related items
available to support the messaging, including branded bags; badges in different languages; pencils; and
language fold-outs in nine different languages, packed with phrases, games, fun facts and more.
Members of the PPLI team and Languages Connect student ambassadors discussed Languages Connect
resources and supports and gave guidance on the role of languages at Senior Cycle, third level and beyond.
The student language ambassadors were close in age to the students and were able to discuss options at a
peer-to-peer level. Each member of the team drew on personal experiences to support conversations and
provide real-life experiences to students, having all studied and used a language within their diverse studies
and early careers.
Impact:
•
Increased awareness of Languages Connect resources and supports among key target audiences –
approx. 30,000 in attendance over five days of Higher Options and School Summit.
•
Increased awareness of the role of languages in college and career choices
•
Increased knowledge amongst students of the avenues for studying different languages at Senior Cycle
and beyond.
Next Steps:
•
Maintain presence at relevant student events in 2024
•
Build on relationships with partners including the Department of Foreign Affairs to display and promote
Languages Connect literature on their stands at events
•
Ensure all relevant information is readily available for target audiences in print format to enable sharing
with an audience beyond those who attend the events
- PPLI ANNUAL REPORT 2023 -
127
