Annual Report 2023 Entire Book - Flipbook - Page 82
Japanese Language
2,436 Students
Action 2.A.6
2.C.1
2.B.3
17 Teachers
26 Schools
3 Saturday Classes
Overview:
PPLI provides Japanese language classes in post-primary schools and offers Japanese Leaving Certificate
Saturday classes in Dublin, Cork and online. PPLI employs 17 Japanese teachers and supports the teaching of
Japanese in an additional 5 schools through the additional allocation scheme. Classes include Junior Cycle
short courses, TY language modules and Leaving Certificate courses.
Main Aims:
•
Diversify languages provision in the school curriculum
•
Provide students with the opportunity to access a lesser-taught language not available in most schools
•
Provide an opportunity for students to access a Leaving Certificate language subject not available in their
school through the provision of Leaving Certificate Saturday classes in Dublin, Cork and online
•
Increase the uptake of Leaving Certificate Japanese
•
Create opportunities to interact with Higher Education Institutions that provide Japanese
Activity:
PPLI works with schools to introduce and expand Japanese language classes, with classes provided in 26
post-primary schools in 2023. PPLI’s Japanese Language Advisor provides CPD and support to the Japanese
teachers and Japanese Foreign Language Assistants. Some PPLI Japanese teachers have been able to bring
their students on trips to Japan, a deeply enriching experience for the students. Several PPLI teachers
combine regular classes with fun Japanese activities such as a Japanese dining experience, watching
Japanese cinema, Japanese-style lunch box competitions or origami, and these activities are very popular
with students.
In 2023, three new schools joined the programme in Dublin and Roscommon. 22 students also joined the
new PPLI Japanese online Saturday class.
In 2023, PPLI also collaborated with Experience Japan Taiko and the UCD Centre for Japanese Studies to
organise a Japanese drum (wadaiko) workshop tour that visited seven schools in Dublin, Cork, Ennis, and
Wexford. In August, the UCD Centre for Japanese Studies held a Nihongo (Japanese) summer camp for Senior
Cycle students which was supported by PPLI.
More recently, Japanese is being supported in 13 primary schools participating in the ‘Say Yes to Languages'
module for 2023/24. Additionally, language upskilling and workshops are being provided to 12 class teachers.
These class teachers are engaging in a pilot upskilling program which is being facilitated by a PPLI Japanese
Language Advisor. With this initiative, PPLI is empowering teachers to enhance their existing skills, enabling
them to provide the best possible learning experience for their pupils.
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- PPLI ANNUAL REPORT 2023 -
