Author: Hugh Nagle

Publication of the Intercultural Guidelines to Primary Education

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

Journée internationale du professeur de français 2020 – Invitations

Chers Collègues,

A l’occasion de la Journée Internationale du Professeur de Français 2020 qui aura lieu le 26 novembre prochain, l’ambassade de France, en collaboration avec le LFI, la FTA, ADEFFI ainsi que les Alliances françaises de Cork et Dublin, organisent un webinaire qui sera introduit par monsieur Vincent Guérend, ambassadeur de France en Irlande.

Quatre professeurs sélectionnés ainsi que des professionnels de l’éducation se rassembleront afin de partager leurs expériences en rapport avec le thème de cette année « Créativité et Numérique : Le prof de français derrière son écran en Irlande ». L’objectif sera de discuter des nouvelles pratiques de classe induites par la pandémie et l’enseignement à distance. Les professeurs invités présenteront chacun un outil numérique.

Comme l’a déclaré le Président de la République Emmanuel Macron, cette journée spéciale est l’occasion de mettre en lumière l’importance de l’éducation dans notre système et de promouvoir le travail essentiel de enseignants de français à travers le monde. C’est avec un immense plaisir que nous vous accueillerons le 26 que nous vous attendons nombreux afin de célébrer cet évènement.

Voici le lien pour vous inscrire au webinaire.

Au plaisir de vous voir pour cette belle journée !

Concours poster 2020-2021

La Francophonie… en lettres

FTA Ireland is proud to bring you its 2nd national poster competition which this year celebrates the 50e anniversaire de la Francophonie. A straightforward, time-efficient competition reflecting the current realities of school in Ireland, in which students are asked to create, decorate and upload un poème acrostiche or acrostic poem formed from the letters of the word ‘Francophonie’.

Click and share the attached links with your students for a brief introduction to the Francophonie:

 

Eligibility: The poster competition is open to Junior and Senior students. The poster must be the unaided, individual work of the student and must not have been submitted for any other competition. One entry per student.

The Poster: The poster should feature the words La Francophonie, 50 ans. Each letter of the word Francophonie will form the first letter of a word associated with, or evocative of, La Francophonie. (eg. Irlande Indépendante, Rebelle, etc. All words suggested should be in French and associated with the spirit of La Francophonie. French words from all French-speaking countries are permitted. While the words La and 50 ans should be on the poster only the letters of the word Francophonie will form part of the acrostic poem.

Content: No bad language, no inappropriate references, no violence and no copyrighted material can feature on the poster.

Criteria: The winning posters will feature the words la Francophonie 50 ans with each letter of the word Francophonie forming the first letter of a word evocative or representative of La Francophonie. The poster should be illustrated in a lively and visually appealing way. The poster will encourage students to learn and appreciate the diversity and the richness of the francophone world.

Submission: Entries must be emailed to administrator@nullfta.ie as a JPG, PNG or PDF. They must be submitted from the student’s school email address NOT his/her personal private email address. Entrants must also complete and email this entry form to administrator@nullfta.ie. Submission of a poster entry in on the understanding that it may be featured on fta.ie with the name of the winning school and the first name of the winning student. No surnames or photos of students will be included.
***Deadline for receipt of entries is Friday Dec. 11th 2020***

Judging panel: The judging panel will be a French language specialist and an art teacher. As many of the teachers whose students submit entries are members of the FTA, no member of the FTA will be on the judging panel. The judges’ decision is final.

Awards/prize-giving:

Meilleur poster / Senior : Winner’s plaque, €60 gift voucher, certificate ,prix francophone

Poster: Prix créativité / Senior : Plaque, €50 gift voucher, certificate, prix francophone

Meilleur poster / Junior : Winner’s plaque, €60 gift voucher, certificate, prix francophone

Poster Prix créativité / Junior : Plaque, €50 gift voucher, certificate and prix francophone

A certificat de participation will be sent to each entrant for inclusion in his/her language portfolio.

Formations en ligne offertes par l’Alliance française de Dublin

Online training with Alliance Française de Dublin – October 2020

In the interests of supporting continuing professional development for post-primary teachers of French, the Department of Education and Skills and the Cultural Service of the French Embassy offer scholarships to attend an online course with the Alliance Française de Dublin. The courses offered have enabled teachers to up-skill themselves both linguistically and pedagogically in addition to affording them opportunities to engage with other Irish teachers of French.

Appel à candidature (Google Form)

Programme (PDF)

Article sur le site internet de l’ambassade.

 

Congrès national de la FTA 2020/FTA National Conference 2020

La santé et la sécurité de nos membres et des amis de la FTA étant ses priorités, le bureau national de la FTA annonce, avec regret, l’annulation de son congrès national prévu pour le 09-10 octobre 2020 à Galway. Elle souhaite à tous un excellent été après ce 3etrimestre si différent des autres et attend le plaisir de vous retrouver en septembre.

The health and safety of our members and of the friends of the FTA being our priorities, it is with regret that the National Executive of the FTA announces the cancelling of this year’s national congress planned for the 9th-10thOctober 2020 in Galway. We wish you a great summer after this very different 3rdterm and look forward to seeing you in September.

Leaving Certificate Calculated Grades

The FTA has been in touch with the Minister of Education, the DES, Inspectorate and other relevant stake holders voicing the concerns of many of our members regarding calculated grading (indemnification from legal action, issuing of clear guidelines, students’ ability to change level, etc). Individual members may wish to contact their own public representatives on these issues.