Good news for 2nd level students and teachers alike! If you’re handy with your French verbs, and a pro at ordering paella on your holidays, there might be a few bob available to help you with your studies. Ahead of the shifting climate surrounding Brexit, the Government has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the importance of foreign languages. There’ll be funding made available for teachers who want to upskill as well as funding to help students avail of school language exchanges. This will be topped off with themed events and a snazzy new website. Zer gut.
Additional Funds for Students
A pot of €15,000 will be made available for schools, which will contribute towards exchange costs such as flights and scholarships for students who would not otherwise be able to participate, or for other needs that the school identifies as contributing towards language learning on the exchange.
Foreign Languages: Training Opportunity for Teachers
Post-primary language teachers can apply for funding to upskill in a foreign language. The scheme enables existing language teachers to train in a language they are not currently teaching (but are qualified in). The scheme is available to all post-primary schools with the aim to increase and diversify the uptake of languages learned. The Department are also developing postgraduate courses, aimed at training existing language teachers to teach in another language.
Website Launch
This campaign was developed to stress the benefits and opportunities that learning foreign languages brings to students personally, professionally, societally and culturally. It will include a series of videos of Irish people, who use a foreign language that they have learned in their work, focussing on the benefits of languages for careers. Videos of industry experts highlighting the importance to Ireland and to the business of having multilingual staff will also be hosted on the new website, www.languagesconnect.ie.
TY Student Event
An event for transition year students called #ThinkLanguages will take place in Dublin Castle on 20 November, with talks and practical workshops to help transition year students engage with learning foreign languages and understand the possibilities that are open to people who speak foreign languages.
For more information on ‘Languages Connect’, Ireland’s Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education visit www.education.ie
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