Annual Report 2023 Entire Book - Flipbook - Page 164
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47% work as, or are training to become, or plan to become, a teacher at either primary or post primary
level.
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Broad self-rated comparisons between pre and post levels of competency in the target language indicate,
as hoped, significant improvements overall.
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95% of respondents indicated that they would recommend the scheme to others
Languages Connect Summit
In preparation for the Languages Connect Summit, PPLI engaged with many of the embassies and cultural
institutes represented in Ireland to support their awareness of and attendance at this large-scale event.
On the day, a range of embassies and cultural institutes sent delegates to support the event and to learn
more about the status of language learning in the Irish education system.
Leaving Certificate Language Promotion
PPLI continued to collaborate with the embassies of Brazil, China, Lithuania, Poland, and Portugal to
disseminate information relevant to supporting the embedding of their respective languages within the Irish
education system. PPLI and these embassies collaborated to promote awareness of heritage language
information sessions for parents and students.
Pilot Language Upskilling Courses for primary school teachers
In light of the publication of the Primary Curriculum Framework introducing the teaching of modern foreign
languages in a redeveloped primary curriculum, PPLI piloted a variety of language upskilling courses aimed
at primary teachers. PPLI actively engaged with cultural institutes (Alliance Française, Goethe Institut, Istituto
Italiano di Cultura, and Instituto Cervantes) for the provision of courses, and acted as the liaising agent
between the course providers and the teachers.
Impact:
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As a result of working with the cultural institutes and embassies in 2023, PPLI has assisted in developing
greater mutual understanding of how to effectively support language learning
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Assistance has been provided to the citizens of all countries participating in the FLA scheme
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Schools that were unable to source a Spanish teacher were able to acquire a teacher through the Visiting
Spanish Teacher scheme
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Competitions provided opportunities for students to engage in language learning immersion abroad
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Embassies and cultural institutes were able to engage with language educators at the Languages Connect
Summit
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Collaboration and partnerships ensured that opportunities for dissemination of important information
was maximised
Next Steps:
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Continue to meet regularly with relevant embassy and cultural institute representatives to discuss context
and progress and develop further appropriate collaboration
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Seek to leverage opportunities to develop more language capacity in schools and in society by
encouraging more uptake in the English Language Assistant scheme
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Continue to explore how to better support and leverage the FLA scheme for language education in
Ireland
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- PPLI ANNUAL REPORT 2023 -