1. NCCA Review of Languages in Post- Primary Education 11th May 2007

2. NCCA Review of Languages Silvia Bertoni

3. 3 Background  Review process started in late 2003 (Modern Languages + English and Gaeilge)  Publication of Languages in the Post-primary Curriculum: a discussion paper (2003)  Survey and on-line questionnaire  Two invitational seminars (2003 and 2004)  Seminar with language committees (September 2004)  Call for submissions  At the same time publication of Inspection of Modern languages: Observations and Issues (DES, 2004)

4. 4 Purposes  Initiating a discussion on languages in post- primary education  Eliciting views from all those involved in language education  Identifying issues to be addressed

5. 5 Report of the First Phase (Spring 2005) Some points for discussion:  Need for a language policy  An integrated language curriculum  Irish as a mother tongue and as a second language  Practices in language teaching and learning  Assessment of learning and proficiency in languages  Extent of engagement with the CEFR and the ELP

6. 6 Good practice  Commitment  Use of active learning strategies (group work, etc)  Planning of well-structured lessons  Engagement of language assistants  Planning for mixed-ability teaching  Use of textbooks and authentic materials  Sensitive correction of student errors

7. 7 Issues  Large use of examination rehearsal techniques  Narrow range of teaching strategies  Level of dependency on texts  Balance between experiential learning and analytical learning  Scope for greater use of the target language  Scope for more explicit development of learner autonomy

8. 8 Work to-date  Board of Studies and Course Committees  Common agenda and syllabus framework  Statement of Learning Outcomes  Embedding the Key Skills in the curriculum  Incorporating use of ICT in the current syllabus

9. 9 N ext steps  Alignment with European developments –Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages –European Language Portfolio (ELP): school- based project (junior cycle)  Review of current assessment arrangements