Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 November 2022
106. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education the steps that she is taking to promote the learning of foreign languages among Irish students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57655/22]
View answerI can advise the deputy that ‘Languages Connect – Irelands Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education’ aims to increase and diversify the range of foreign languages taught and learned across the education system: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/52f94d-framework-for-consultation-on-a-foreign-languages-in-education-strat/
Post Primary Languages Ireland (PPLI) is fully funded by my Department (circa €5m in 2022) and is charged with implementation of a wide range of actions in the Languages Connect. Its Annual Report sets out many of the achievements to date: https://ppli.ie/about-us/
Implementation of the strategy is overseen by the Foreign Languages Advisory Group (FLAG) which was established in early 2018. Members of FLAG include relevant government departments and agencies, representatives from the education sector, parents, industry and language experts and the Students Union. Terms of Reference and minutes of meetings are available on the website at the link above.
There are also two working groups, one at primary level (FLAG P) concerned with the “Say Yes to Languages” sampler module, and a second at post primary level (FLAG PP) concerned with a range of actions in post primary schools. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has responsibility for the promotion of foreign languages at third level.
An interim review of the strategy is currently being commenced and a follow up implementation plan 2023 – 2026 will be developed.
Some of the key achievements to date under Languages Connect include:
- Introduction of 4 new leaving certificate (LC) curricular languages in September 2020: Mandarin Chinese, Lithuanian, Portuguese and Polish bringing the total number of Modern Foreign Languages available at LC to 11: (also French, Spanish, German, Italian, Russian, Japanese and Arabic)
- These 4 languages were examined for the first time in summer 2022 and the following LC sits are recorded: Mandarin Chinese: 291 Lithuanian: 191 Polish: 824 Portuguese: 145.
- In accordance with the Nice Treaty, students are able to sit a Leaving Certificate non-curricular examination in any EU Language. In 2022, students sat a leaving certificate examination in 24 non-curricular languages in addition to the 11 curricular languages.
- A proposal to include foreign languages in the Primary Languages Curriculum is contained in the draft Primary Curriculum Framework
- Roll out of the “Say Yes to Languages” sampler programme to senior classes at primary level. Circa. 700 schools are expected to participate in the second year of the programme (22/23) using 16 different languages including ISL and Ukrainian.
- Introduction of the #thinklanguages event for TY students – promoting the uptake of foreign languages for senior cycle. In November 2022, 15,000 students from 180 school participated in the 5th annual #thinklanguages event.
- Increase in the number of Foreign Language Assistants from 110 to 180.
- Introduction of the Visiting Spanish Teacher (VST) programme on a pilot basis (2 VSTs in 21/22 and 3 VSTs in 22/23)
- Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) programme for Foreign Languages run in conjunction with PPLI and Maynooth University.
- New upskilling programme for Spanish teachers in UCC
- Publication of intercultural guidelines, designed to support schools in responding to the intercultural dimension of the modern classroom and to promote home languages.
- Ukrainian as a Non-Curricular Language will be developed by the State Examinations Commission. The first examination will be available for students sitting the Leaving Certificate in June 2025.
