Annual Report 2024 - Flipbook - Page 97
Each year, more insight is gained into the supports needed by schools and supplied resources are then
adapted as required. Focus group participants from previous years emphasised the importance of having
support from school management to successfully implement #ThinkLanguages in their schools. As a result of
this, a new resource was added in 2024 - a letter template for teachers to share with senior management
teams to gain their buy-in for running the event. This letter explains the benefits to the students, teachers,
school and wider community, of holding #ThinkLanguages. It was well received, and much of the feedback
received from teachers indicated that this resource was crucial in getting buy-in from school management.
Opening Ceremony
The 2024 Opening Ceremony once again had an inspiring mix of speakers sharing their language learning
journeys and explaining how languages had furthered their careers and enhanced their lives. A new addition
in 2024 was Rebecca Keogh from Enterprise Ireland, whose work helps promote Irish business across Europe.
She emphasised how learning a language opened a world of career and travel opportunities. Ervinas
Merfeldas of Dancing with the Stars, who has Lithuanian heritage, spoke about the benefits of maintaining
his home language and the benefits of studying it for the Leaving Certificate. Online influencer Ciara Walsh,
whose decision to participate in Erasmus resulted in her finding a job and living in Italy, and James Maher, a
senior policy advisor at the European Parliament, provided insights into how languages have impacted their
lives and careers.
National Quiz
The #ThinkLanguages online national quiz ran again in 2024, with 1,635 teams taking part and approximately
6,400 students participating. The quiz, a firm favourite with students, provides students and schools the
opportunity to compete against each other and against the clock in a test of languages knowledge.
The element of competition, both local and national, always adds a sense of excitement. The quiz ran twice
daily each day during #ThinkLanguages Week, giving schools the flexibility to hold it when it suited them
when it suited them.
- PPLI ANNUAL REPORT 2024 -
97
