Press release
Minister Foley publishes Languages Connect Interim Review Report and Implementation Plan to 2026.
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Minister for Education Norma Foley TD today (28 March) published the Interim Review Report and Implementation Plan to 2026 for Languages Connect – Ireland’s National Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education 2017-2026.
As outlined in the report, some of the key achievements of the strategy to date have been:
• The introduction of four new foreign language subjects for Leaving Certificate (Lithuanian, Mandarin Chinese, Polish and Portuguese);
• Implementation of a new specification for Modern Foreign Languages for Junior Cycle;
• The increase in the number of Foreign Language Assistants coming to our schools from 110 to 181;
• Progress on the introduction of foreign languages at primary level;
• Roll out of the Say Yes to Languages sampler module at primary;
• Inclusion in the awareness raising campaign also called Languages; Connect of the formation of language ambassadors and the #Thinklanguages event for TY students with 15,000 participating in the week long event in November 2023;
• Funding for school exchanges, school libraries, and language upskilling for teachers and;
• A system of additional allocation to incentivise diversification of the languages curriculum.
The introduction of modern foreign languages for senior classes at primary level on a phased basis from September 2025 is a key action in the Languages Connect Implementation Plan to 2026. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment is developing the curriculum and a draft is currently available for public consultation until 7 June 2024.
The development of the new curriculum is being informed by learning from key initiatives including the Say Yes to Languages eight-week sampler module for primary school pupils. Some 1,210 primary schools are now participating in this third year of the programme which supports them to introduce either a Modern Foreign Language of their choice or Irish Sign Language (ISL). Learning upskilling is being piloted under this programme as part of the longer-term planning process.
Minister Foley said:
“Language is one of the key means by which we think, express our thoughts, communicate and connect with others. The teaching and learning of foreign languages is a key priority for Government and their introduction into the primary curriculum is a very welcome development, with the potential to create positive opportunities for individuals, society and the economy. It gives me great pleasure today, therefore, to publish the Languages Connect Interim Review Report and Implementation Plan to 2026.
“Since the Languages Connect was introduced in 2017, it has guided significant progress in the teaching and learning of foreign languages in Ireland including through the introduction of four new subjects for Leaving Certificate and a new specification for Junior Cycle. It has also raised significant awareness around the benefits of learning languages.
“I was pleased to welcome Transition Year students from across the country to the Department of Education in January for the final of the #ThinkLanguages competition which took place on #ThinkLanguages week in November. The students who took part showed great enthusiasm for learning foreign languages and demonstrated the many benefits they can bring to us all. The publication of the Implementation Plan to 2026 will help to ensure that more students can share in these opportunities.”
Actions in the Implementation Plan to 2026 include:
• Increasing opportunities for language upskilling for teachers
• Further increase the number of foreign language assistants in our schools
• Promote mobility opportunities for students and educators including through Erasmus+
• Review of Junior Cycle Foreign Language short courses and exploration of the potential diversification of Foreign Language options at Junior Cycle level.
• Increase participation in the Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach to teaching and learning languages across the continuum of education
• Provision of further supports for language teachers qualified outside the Republic of Ireland
• Enhance collaboration with foreign embassies and the enterprise sector in relation to language learning
• Continue to raise awareness and promote the benefits of language learning including associated transversal skills
Modern foreign languages will be introduced in senior classes (3rd to 6th class) at primary level on a phased basis from September 2025. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is in the process of developing the curriculum which will consist of a language awareness model for 3rd and 4th class building on the languages in the classroom and language competence will be added in 5th and 6th class. The draft MFL curriculum is currently available for public consultation until the 7th June 2024: Consultation 2024 - NCCA
The introduction of modern foreign languages may involve interim arrangements for some schools including, for example, working with visiting tutors (foreign language assistants, post-primary teachers, private providers etc) to support schools in the initial stages. It will also involve the development of resources by PPLI and Oide. Detailed planning is currently underway with regards to school supports, resource development, teacher training, CPD and language upskilling.
The Say Yes to Languages module sets out to give teachers and pupils a taste of what it means to integrate additional languages alongside English and Irish.
In this context, Say Yes to Languages aims to:
- Generate awareness among pupils of the range of languages used by their peers in their schools and communities, including Irish Sign Language, which may help to support greater inclusion and appreciation of diversity in society
- Encourage uptake of languages at post-primary level
- Provide opportunities for increased levels of collaboration among the school community with regard to the celebration of languages and cultures
- Support implementation of Languages Connect – Ireland’s Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education 2017 – 2026
The foreign languages chosen by schools over the three years of the Say Yes to Languages programme have included: Arabic, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Lithuanian, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Tamil, and Ukrainian.
A dedicated area of the Languages Connect website hosts all content relating to the module over the three terms of the school year, including a list of the over 1,200 participating schools. The teaching and learning resources are accessible from the website and are also available in Irish, thanks to collaboration with An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta & Gaelscolaíochta (COGG). A frequently-asked questions area provides clarification for recurrent queries.
Training sessions are provided by Post-Primary Languages Ireland (PPLI) to all teachers/tutors delivering the module, while information sessions are also facilitated for hosting teachers and other school representatives. Awareness-raising packs are also sent out to all participating schools to complement the teaching resources.