PPLI Audit of Foreign Languages - Flipbook - Page 64
Heritage languages
• Some students with parents as native speakers take European languages as additional subjects outside of school
in Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate. It will not be possible to do so and report in Junior Cycle now due to the
max of 10 subjects and the impossibility of completing CBA.
• We do not have that many students whose mother tongue is not English. Some have done exams in their mother
tongue. We have applied for the use of a dictionary for them but generally they are quite happy to work away
on their own.
• An increase in our allocation would go some way towards enabling us to provide for foreign language students
who are exempt from Irish and currently sitting at the back of Irish classes.
• The Department of Education does not to date offer / promote funded opportunities for heritage language
lessons for students in DEIS schools during school time or after school. This is a pity as there is a significant
increase in the numbers of students who would benefit from heritage language lessons.
• Technology is the best way to make resources for developing language skills in additional languages. For students
to study an additional language in class contact time they would currently loose an Option if not Irish exempt.
They prefer to cover lessons outside the classroom and maintain 3 Options at LC. Employing teachers in an
additional heritage language would help is conditional TC recognition was allowed for that purpose.
• Regarding e-learning in a heritage language: it is our experience that students do not recognise the need to study
the language that they are orally proficient at. Invariably, it's a shock that they struggle at the time of the State
Exam. I don't feel that they would sign up for blended learning.
• There is very good support in Galway for students learning Russian. However this is not always accessible for our
students as they live 50Km from Galway.
Resources/CPD
• As we are in a gaelscoil, the resources for mfl teaching through Irish are few and far between. It would be great
if more resources were made available. Currently no 1st year French book through Irish.
• There is an on-going gap in the provision of in-service to teachers of MFL. While efforts are being made to
address it recently there is a huge need to support maintenance and development of one's MFL language skills.
• A greater amount of CPD is required in languages. I have already attended the Teachers Bootcamp in the Alliance
Française in Dublin which was really worthwhile. As a married woman with a young family, it is no longer feasible
for me to take part in two week courses in France/Italy as would have been the case in the past.
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Audit of Foreign Languages Provision in Post-Primary Schools 2017
Post-Primary Languages Initiative February 2017 Draft Report
