Post-Primary Context - Languages Connect

Languages Connect

Languages Connect is Ireland’s Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education 2017-2026 and was developed in the context of the Action Plan for Education 2016-2019, which aims to make Ireland’s education system the best in Europe within the next decade.

“Knowledge of foreign languages is essential for Ireland’s cultural, social and economic welfare. The European Framework of Key Competences for Lifelong Learning (2007) recognises the ability to communicate in a foreign language as one of the key competences needed for personal fulfilment and development, active citizenship, social inclusion and employment. In learning a foreign language, a learner opens not only career opportunities, but also the opportunity for cultural engagement and understanding.”

Goals

The Languages Connect Strategy sets out four overarching goals:

Improve language proficiency by creating a more engaging learning environment.
Diversify and increase the uptake of languages learned and cultivate the languages of the new Irish.
Increase awareness of the importance of language learning to encourage the wider use of foreign languages.
Enhance employer engagement in the development and use of trade languages.

Languages in Post-Primary Schools

At Post-Primary level, students are able to study French, Spanish, German and/or Italian for the Junior Cycle. They can also study Chinese Language and Culture as a short course for the Junior Cycle.

In Senior Cycle, students can choose from a list of curricular language subjects: French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Ancient Greek, Arabic, Hebrew Studies, Latin and Russian. These subjects can be studied for the Leaving Certificate.

As and from September 2020, students have the opportunity to study Lithuanian, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, and/or Portuguese as curricular language subjects with the first exams in 2022. The three new European language subjects are designed for students with an existing knowledge of those languages, while Mandarin is aimed primarily at non-native speakers.

The State Examinations Commission also provides examinations in a range of subjects in the language area referred to as the non-curricular EU languages. These are languages which do not appear as part of the normal school curriculum but which students may opt to be examined in if they meet certain criteria. Chief among these conditions are the requirements that candidates for these examinations:

Be from a member state of the European Union
Speak the language in which they opt to be examined in as a mother tongue
Have followed a programme of study leading to the Leaving Certificate
Be taking Leaving Certificate English

Another condition is that candidates may undertake examination in one non-curricular language subject only.

Examinations are offered in the following subjects:

Latvian, Romanian, Slovenian, Modern Greek, Finnish, Estonian, Slovakian, Swedish, Czech, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Danish, Dutch, Croatian and Maltese.

Further Supports

PDST Modern Foreign Languages

The PDST is the country’s largest single support service offering professional learning opportunities to teachers and school leaders in a range of pedagogical, curricular and educational areas. In terms of Modern Foreign Language supports, the PDST offers support at Senior Cycle through school support visits, a national MFL Alive conference which takes place annually and Autumn/Spring workshops supporting the use of innovative teaching methods and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) supports for teaching and learning languages.

Junior Cycle for Teachers Modern Foreign Languages

Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT) is a dedicated continuing professional development service supporting schools in their implementation of the new Framework for Junior Cycle (2015). It does so through the provision of appropriate CPD for teachers, and the provision of effective teaching and learning resources in Modern Foreign Languages.

Scoilnet resource collection for Modern Foreign Languages

Scoilnet is the Department of Education (DE) official portal for Irish education. Originally launched in 1998, the website is managed by PDST Technology in Education on behalf of the DE. Scoilnet collaborates with practising teachers to maintain and manage the content on the website and houses a wide variety of resources in terms of Modern Foreign Languages.

Post Primary Languages Ireland (PPLI)

Post-Primary Languages Ireland (PPLI) is a dedicated unit providing expertise and support for foreign languages education in Ireland, predominantly at post-primary level. It provides support to teachers in areas such as exploring the potential of using Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) to support and reinforce language learning. In 2020, the new specifications for Chinese, Polish, Lithuanian and Portuguese were published by the NCCA. PPLI is responsible for the training and deployment of teachers for these new languages as outlined in the implementation plan of Languages Connect.

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