I am delighted to let you know that the primary intercultural guidelines to be implemented as part of the FLS are now complete.
The guidelines were put together by Professor David Little and Dr Déirdre Kirwan and draw on classroom practice and work led by Déirdre, when she was principal of Scoil Bhríde (Cailíní), Blanchardstown. The idea of putting together the guidelines (in the context of Action 2.E.6) arose because their work generated significant international interest but was relatively unknown in Ireland.
The guidelines explain how within the approach of the integrated primary languages curriculum, it is possible to provide for the full inclusion of pupils from immigrant families by encouraging them to make active use of their home languages in the classroom. They demonstrate how all language learning, including the learning of Irish at primary school, is interrelated and contributes to the development of communicative competence and there are plenty of practical examples of how this integrated approach can be implemented.
The main benefit of the intercultural guidelines is that they show how significant advances can be made in primary language education without a requirement to invest special funding or additional resources.
The guidelines are available for viewing or download at the link here.
Many thanks,
Karen Ruddock
Director
Post-Primary Languages Ireland