Minister for Education Norma Foley TD invited expressions of interest from English-medium and Irish-medium primary schools and special schools to participate in a new language sampler module.
The proposed language sampler allows schools identify a modern foreign language of their choice, or Irish Sign Language (ISL). Schools will be supported by Post-Primary Languages Ireland (PPLI) in providing a six-week sampler module. The module will take place over a six-week period towards the end of the first term of the 2022/2023 school year.
What are the benefits of the scheme?
- Generates awareness among pupils of the range of languages used by their peers, in their schools and communities.
- Supports greater inclusion and appreciation of diversity
- Encourages uptake of foreign languages at post-primary level
- Provides opportunities for increased levels of collaboration among the school community with regard to the celebration of languages and cultures
- Informs future developments in the area of MFL and ISL in the Primary Curriculum Framework.
Who is it for?
This sampler module is targeted at pupils in 3rd to 6th class for up to 1 hour per week within the normal school timetable. It will be open to schools to participate on a voluntary basis. Schools will have the autonomy to determine the language they wish to introduce to the children and to secure a language tutor e.g. language teacher/language assistant from a post-primary school /a member of the school/wider community who is fluent in the target language.
Scoil Mhuire was chosen to participate in the language sampler module and our pupils are studying French this year under the instruction of Madame Uta Duggan.
