PPLI Annual Report 2020 - Flipbook - Page 38
Diversication of the range of languages on offer (2.A.6)
Curriculum Languages: Chinese (2.A.6, 2.C.1)
Chinese in Leaving Certicate (2.A.6)
Action Progress
It was an exciting and adventurous year for schools that initiated the implementation of LC Chinese. PPLI
visited schools that expressed such interest and carried out discussions and evaluations in relation to the
vision and planed for implementation. With different experiences, backgrounds and ethos of schools, tailored
roadmaps were laid out to cater for the different needs of schools. A small number of schools established the
LC Chinese curriculum which built on their success in running the Chinese language programmes
throughout the years, while some other schools decided to further prepare students with a new TY Chinese
language programme with the aim of initiating the LC programme in the following year. Eleven schools in
total were involved.
To support schools with the provision of qualified Chinese teachers, PPLI carried out research and established
temporary criteria for teachers of LC Chinese. The teaching opportunity drew great interest among existing
and potential teachers. Through a competitive recruitment process, six teachers were chosen from over a
hundred applicants. PPLI provided further CPD and mentoring for the new Chinese teachers.
Other than the support for formal schooling, PPLI also worked on the support for LC Chinese learners in
different contexts. 35 Irish and heritage students of Chinese were studying the curriculum in the Saturday
classes organised by PPLI.
To support heritage learners and teachers in Chinese complementary schools, PPLI organised an information
session in October 2020 to explain the LC Chinese curriculum specification and familiarise teachers with the
CEFR benchmark. A total of 42 teachers, from public, private and complementary schools, visiting teachers
and academics from Confucius Institutes, students and teacher candidates in higher education and scholars
in Chinese and Asian studies across the country, joined the session and are now working together to form a
community of Chinese teachers to better support each other and the students.
Impact
Student Feedback (from the LC survey)
About the classes
About the teachers
“I enjoy being able to speak parts of a language
“The teacher helps us relate the things we learn in
that no one else in my family can.”
class to real life.”
“The classes were very interactive.”
“The teacher is really sweet and funny, extremely easy
to learn from and are patient with me and the rest of
“I like learning the actual language (characters).”
the class.”
“The grammar is surprisingly simple.”
“I like how the teacher comes to one of us at a time
and takes the time to work with us all.”
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