Primary Language Curriculum/ Curaclam Teanga na Bunscoile, 2019
The Primary Language Curriculum (PLC) is the most recent revision made to the Primary Curriculum and outlines a new approach to language teaching and learning in both English and Irish. It has been designed for use in all school settings, both mainstream and special education and in all school contexts - English Medium Schools, Gaeltacht Schools, Irish Medium Schools and Special Schools. Building on the approaches of integration as described in the 1999 curriculum, the PLC makes connections across and within languages and seeks to support the transfer of skills between languages. The PLC supports teachers in creating a child centred environment where playful and engaging learning experiences are active, interactive and enjoyable for all children. It also supports teachers in meeting children at their own level and provides teacher autonomy in allowing students progress at their own rate (PLC, 2019).
Curriculum/ Curaclam
The PLC has the same structure and strands for both languages: Oral Language/ Teanga Ó Bhéal, Reading/ Léitheoireacht and Writing/ Scríbhneoireacht. The rationale, aims, strands and elements of the PLC are detailed in the introductory pages of the curriculum document. As illustrated below, all three strands include the elements of Communicating/ Cumarsáid, Understanding/ Tuiscint and Exploring and Using/ Fiosrú & Úsáid, each of which has its own set of Learning Outcomes.
The Learning Outcomes are broad in nature and describe important language learning in terms of concepts, skills and dispositions. Learning Outcomes afford teachers the autonomy in terms of what the children learn, the sequence and pace at which they learn and the activities and experiences through which they learn. The learning outcomes can be accessed through the six strands on the Language Curriculum home page.
Some of the key structural comparisons between the 1999 and the 2019 curriculum are highlighted in the table below:
Primary Language Toolkit/ Uirlisí Úsáide Teanga:
The Primary Language Toolkit supports teachers in using the Learning Outcomes by providing practical support in planning for, and providing rich language learning experiences for children. The three components of the toolkit are:
Further Support
The PDST provides professional development supports for teachers in the Primary Language Curriculum. The website will provide you with more detail including further supports and resources.
