Entire Annual Report (2) - Flipbook - Page 49
Progress in 2021
In 2021, PPLI employed six qualified ex-quota teachers supporting the Mandarin Chinese provision for over
1400 students in 20 schools nationwide. Chinese curriculum is being introduced and established through
various programmes in schools, including short courses and full courses in Junior Cycle, Transition Year
Chinese programme and Leaving Certificate Chinese curriculum.
Saturday Leaving Certificate Chinese online
PPLI has been piloting an online model for the Saturday Leaving Certificate Chinese class with a small cohort
of 5th year students. The short-term goal is to address equity of provision. It provides a functioning course for
students who live in areas with no subject provision in schools, no face-to-face class and no qualified
teachers. The long-term goal is to look at the potential of implementing and integrating suitable technology
and pedagogy in a new teaching and learning context. This could improve the quality and efficiency of
provision.
Facebook community
PPLI maintains a Chinese teachers Facebook group, where teachers share experiences, information and keep
up-to-date with developments in the field. The group’s 89 members include teachers in public, private and
complementary schools, visitors from cultural institutes and lecturers and researchers from higher education
institutions.
Community of Practice
In 2021, PPLI organised four language-specific communities of practice (CoP) for Chinese teachers. These
were aimed at visiting tutors and newly qualified teachers, so they could get familiar with the CoP format and
engage with the wider MFL teacher community. More teachers joined and welcomed the Chinese CoP.
At the same time, Chinese teachers became more active in public events and training organised by the PPLI
and beyond.
Sharing knowledge
PPLI helped to share knowledge in multiple ways throughout 2021, including:
•
Speaking at conferences on Chinese language education at all levels
•
Providing subject development training for visiting teachers and academics
•
Supporting early career researchers in understanding the pedagogy and technology that benefits
Chinese language teaching and learning
Impact
•
Chinese teachers have developed substantially in their pedagogy for teaching and learning,
comprehension and application of the subject specification and guidelines
•
Awareness-raising within and beyond their classrooms in schools
•
Collaboration with colleagues of Chinese and other languages in PPLI and their schools
•
Researching and road mapping Initial Teacher Education so that migrant teachers can qualify and help
meet demand for a sustainable supply of qualified teachers
Next steps
•
Assist qualified PPLI teachers to register with the Teaching Council
•
Continue to research establishing suitable educational programmes for qualifying Chinese teachers
•
Continue to research the potential of an online model of LC Chinese provision
•
Continue support for Chinese teachers in PPLI and beyond through community engagement
- PPLI ANNUAL REPORT 2021 -
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