PPLI Spotlight on Schools Ukrainian - Flipbook - Page 2
Spotlight on Schools - Let's Speak Ukrainian
Let’s Speak Ukrainian
Aine O’Donnell / Pearl Heneghan, Summerhill College, Sligo
In the context of Ukrainian students joining our school, this project aimed to welcome the students by encouraging
the staff and students to learn some Ukrainian. Students were encouraged to take on the challenge of learning
Ukrainian over a period of 8 weeks using Duolingo.
To manage the numbers involved in the event and to give incentive to all year groups, we divided prizes into three
sections: Junior House, Senior House, and Teachers. Each week there were prizes awarded for the highest ‘XP’ scores
(experience points gained through language learning on the app), and of course there was a teacher vs students
competition to keep everyone motivated!
What were the aims of the project?
The aim of this project was:
● to help welcome students coming from Ukraine to the school
community by learning some words and phrases in their native
language.
● to bring awareness to the school community about the language
spoken by our new students and to highlight some of the linguistic
challenges they may be faced with in a new country with a different
language.
● to help raise funds for Rapid Response Ukraine, a local charity
helping Ukrainian families settle in the community and deliver
medical supplies to the front line.
How did you organise it?
Phase 1: Getting Started
Teachers set up a Let’s Speak Ukrainian google classroom, Duolingo classroom, and a link for donations. We shared
details of the project, how to enter, and where to donate, with students and staff during tutor time, over the school
intercom, and on social media sites. We then gathered a range of prizes for all categories.
Students made posters with key details to promote the project as well as sharing details of the project on their own
social media accounts and at home. The wider school community were encouraged to get involved by donating and
sharing details of the event.
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