Annual Report 2024 - Flipbook - Page 76
The choice of language from the participating
schools is illustrated here*:
Teacher/Tutor Training
A total of 13 online information and training workshops were
hosted over the two terms. Some of the MFL and ISL
Number of schools by language
Languages Chosen
No. of Schools
Arabic
1
Dutch
1
French
595
German
114
Irish Sign Language
111
Italian
28
Japanese
9
Lithuanian
1
Mandarin Chinese
5
Polish
10
Portuguese
3
Romanian
4
Russian
2
Spanish
498
Ukrainian
4
teachers/tutors with experience of the module were invited to
contribute to the sessions for new teachers/tutors. They were
also invited to attend dedicated sessions to share good practice
and contribute to the creation of resources, now available
online. The sessions for ISL tutors were prepared and delivered
in collaboration with the Centre for Deaf Studies (CDS) at Trinity
College, Dublin. Over 1,200 attendees took part in the training
and information sessions.
Resource Updates
Language and Languages in the Primary School – Guidelines
for Teachers
In 2024, the publication "Language and Languages in the
Primary School", authored by Dr Deirdre Kirwan and Professor
David Little, was updated. The revised guide addresses the
latest curricular developments in Ireland and assists principals
and teachers in navigating the Primary Language Curriculum.
*Some schools chose more than one language.
The guidelines provide strategies for incorporating the home
languages of English as an Additional Language (EAL) pupils
into classroom activities and integrating Modern Foreign
Language (MFL) education into stages three and four of the
curriculum. They promote a plurilingual approach to the
teaching of languages, including Irish, and offer practical
suggestions for each curriculum stage. A copy of this revised
edition was distributed to all participating schools in 2024.
Language Adventures
PPLI developed a new online resource called “Language Adventures”, which includes suggested activities
aimed at helping schools and teachers to create a positive environment for exploring diverse languages and
cultures. The resource has two main components: one section provides suggestions for enhancing the entire
school environment, while the other focuses on practical and useful ideas for implementation within the
classroom.
Say Yes to Languages videos
During 2024, PPLI partnered with schools involved in
Say Yes to Languages to create videos that bring
activities to life and demonstrate them in action.
These videos highlight the enriching experiences
that participation in Say Yes to Languages offers to
schools, teachers, and students, showcasing how the
module - and MFL education as a whole - can be
seamlessly integrated into everyday practice.
76
- PPLI ANNUAL REPORT 2024 -
