PPLI Annual Report 2020 - Flipbook - Page 46
Polish and Lithuanian Short Courses (2.B.3, 2.E.9)
Action Progress
A Polish Short Course continues to be taught in six schools in Dublin, Galway and Cork. Lithuanian continues
to be taught in four schools in the Dublin and Monaghan areas.
Covid presented significant challenges in the facilitation of CBAs in addition to the new challenges of the
teaching and learning environment, however PPLI supported teachers with online SLAR meetings in addition
to the transition into online teaching and learning.
Impact
•
Students are supported in their well-being and supported in maintaining their heritage language in
preparation for senior cycle
Next Steps
•
Provide Information sessions to Polish and Lithuanian parents and communities
•
Continue to engage and support schools introducing Short Courses in Polish and Lithuanian.
•
Encourage schools where there is critical mass and where possible to timetable the Short Course in the
regular curriculum
•
Continue to offer CPD for teachers, particularly in the areas of differentiation and UDL.
Online written support for LC students of Lithuanian, Polish and Portuguese
The new initiative to support students wishing to sit Leaving Certificate examinations in Lithuanian, Polish
and Portuguese (the non-curricular languages that are soon to be curricular) continued to operate. This
initiative was directed at 5th and 6th year students without access to classes in their schools and aims to
support the students with support to develop their writing skills. Students registered with PPLI and were
given an e-teacher who provided them with feedback on their written work in preparation for the Leaving
Certificate Examination.
As a result of the cancellation of the Leaving Certificate Examinations, PPLI collaborated with schools to
provide estimated grades for students who had engaged with the support and had provided adequate
evidence of learning to their e-teachers.
In September 2020 registration was opened for 6th year students. Leaving Cert 2021 is the last time these
languages are being offered as non-curricular languages. The initial registration numbers were as follows.
Number of students registered:
Lithuanian
Polish
Portuguese
19
41
14
Impact
•
Schools report that this new development to support students encouraged more students to maintain
their home language and to sit the Leaving Certificate Examination
•
Due to demand, registration was re-opened in January 2020 and an additional number of students
registered.
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