We are least likely in the EU to know other languages but curriculum changes for younger pupils may help change that
: the introduction of foreign languages for pupils from third class to sixth class. But after a century of teaching Irish and English, are primary schools ready?
Where feasible, schools are encouraged to nominate a teacher on staff to deliver the module, but visiting tutors or members of the wider school community are permitted to teach. O’Toole says the Say Yes To Languages programme has been a good stepping stone. There is strong enthusiasm among staff and students, but she is aware of the challenges ahead.
“We hear lots about levels of Irish maybe not being great at primary,” O’Toole says. “ makes children see how good their Irish is. If you’re starting a new language and looking at the basic self-introduction, numbers and colours – all of a sudden, the children see ‘wow, I can say all of that as Gaeilge’.
“Among primary teachers, there is that base of knowledge there,” Ms Desmond says. “I’ve seen ideas about networking and people employing for Spanish and that. I’m thinking, ‘why?’ The skills must be there within the staff. Improving the learning environment for those pupils is part of Karen Ruddock’s work as director of Post-Primary Languages Ireland, a unit funded by the Department of Education that introduced the Say Yes To Languages programme.
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