PPLI Annual Report (2019) - Flipbook - Page 32
Audit of Foreign Languages Provision in Post-Primary Schools 2017
(Action 2.A.2)
As a result of this audit, a Language Upskilling Scheme was created for Teachers qualified in a language but
not currently teaching it (see below).
Delivery of MFL Teacher Languages Upskilling Scheme (Action 2.A.3)
Action Progress
The MFL Teacher Languages Upskilling Scheme Phase 2 opened in September 2019 as a continuation of
Phase 1 in 2018-19 and will run until May 2020. The upskilling scheme aims to upskill MFL teachers qualified
in a language which they are currently not teaching or are not teaching to full capacity. It provides one
pathway for schools to expand their provision of languages and to introduce new languages to the
curriculum using existing teachers. The scheme covers curricular languages including French, German, Italian,
Japanese, Russian and Spanish.
Impact
A total of 67 teachers were granted funding in 2019. Of the 67 successful applicants 36% were for French, 33%
for Spanish, 27% for German and 6% were for Italian upskilling. The upskilling scheme has provided
meaningful and tangible support to teachers who provided evidence of increased language proficiency and
CEFR levels.
Seven schools were able to introduce a new language and offer more languages to students (Spanish,
German, Italian). In schools where the target language was already being taught the school was able to
expand language provision or use additional teachers to deliver the subject.
Gaining confidence in the target language was rated as the most positive outcome for teachers, followed by
improving their CEFR level, both of which are likely to result in improved outcomes for students in these
language classrooms.
Next Steps
PPLI will investigate the nature of shortfalls in registration criteria encountered by unregistered MFL teachers
with a view to funding courses that would enable these teachers to meet such shortfalls.
Research will then be done on the availability of relevant courses in the HEIs.
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