Annual Report 2024 - Flipbook - Page 119
Collaboration with Embassies and Cultural Institutes
Action: 3.A.5
Overview:
PPLI regularly collaborates with representatives from the embassies and cultural institutes to identify needs
in the context of particular languages, to investigate relevant resources and mobility opportunities to
support teachers and students, and to explore synergies which support and promote the importance of
learning foreign languages.
Main Aims:
•
Explore synergies and opportunities for collaboration, e.g. in the areas of language upskilling and mobility,
the FLA and ELA schemes, #ThinkLanguages, and Culture Night
•
Increase awareness of the importance of language learning
•
Identify locations where there is a level of interest and demand for heritage language supports
•
Provide support to citizens from countries that participate in the Foreign Language Assistant scheme
•
Participate in international events aimed at language educators
•
Disseminate supports provided by PPLI
Activity:
Language Teaching and Learning Support and Resources:
•
The Embassy of Japan supported PPLI with an application to the Japan Foundation for continuation of the
secondment of a dedicated Japanese language advisor who continues to be in place.
•
PPLI supported the Embassy of Japan with organising a programme of school visits, with Ambassador
Maruyama visiting a total of 46 schools during his two-year tenure in Ireland.
•
PPLI supported embassies and cultural institutes with induction for Foreign Language Assistants and
visiting staff e.g. in addition to input at the national induction for FLAs hosted by the Department of
Education, PPLI provided post-induction support for French FLAs at an event hosted by the French
Embassy. PPLI also provided staff induction and information to visiting staff at the UCC and University of
Galway Confucius Institutes.
•
PPLI facilitated the Visiting Spanish Teacher Scheme, an agreement between the Department of Education
(DoE) in Ireland and the Ministry of Education and Culture of Spain (MECS) that aims to address the
shortage of qualified Spanish teachers in Ireland.
•
PPLI took part in discussions with embassies on further opportunities for teacher exchange e.g. with the
Korean Embassy on how challenges could be overcome.
- PPLI ANNUAL REPORT 2024 -
119
