Transcript Language policy & Language Planning In Ireland

Language policy & Language Planning
In Ireland
A report from the Royal Irish Academy Committee for
Modern Language. Literary & Cultural Studies
Introduction
On 2nd February 2006 a conference was held by
the Royal Irish Academy committee to discuss the
need for and role of a language policy for Ireland.
Modern language for modern
Ireland
• Since the beginning of 1990s the population is linguistically and
culturally more heterogeneous than at any previous stage in the
country’s history.
• A strategy for promoting multilingualism and multiculturalism .
• Ireland should aim to be a genuinely bilingual country
• The European Union is committed to developing based upon
knowledge ,the EU’s objective of becoming the most competitive
knowledge-based economy in the world by the end of the decade
• Learning other languages contribute to this goal by improving
cognitive skills and strengthening learner’s mother tongue skills
including reading and writing
• Ireland cannot afford economically and culturally to become a
monoglot nation of English speakers
The Irish context
• changing cultural and linguistic environment in
Ireland against a backdrop of decreasing uptake
of languages at third level
•Between 2oo1 and 2005 a steady decline in
the number of people sitting Leaving Certificate
examinations in foreign language and Irish at
High Level
The Conference
 The Aim
 To explore what are considered to be the key elements of a
language policy
The ideas look not just at modern foreign languages but also
at the position of the Irish language
The concept of lifelong learning and to the need for
proficiency in languages not merely for economic but also for
social and cultural reasons in modern Ireland.
The Conference
Fundamental issues:
• From language policy to language planning
• The challenge for Europe
• Modern foreign languages and multiculturalism
• The case for modern languages in further and higher
education in Ireland
• Strategies curricula in the Irish context
• The role of the education system maintenance of Irish
Language policy for Ireland
•The need to develop a national strategy for
very sound economic and cultural reasons
•Developing of language education and
skills in both native and foreign languages
An advisory body
•Planning and policy development
•Overseeing research
•Initiating relevant research to underpin longterm planning
•Monitoring broader language issues
•Representing Irish interests in international
debate
•Fostering awareness of the economic benefits
that multilingualism brings to society
Implementation of current policy
•The European policy of Mother Tongue + 2 should be
included in the secondary school curriculum
•The development and roll-out of existing foreign language
pilot scheme across a wider range of schools through out the
State should take place
•Increased levels of teaching through the foreign language
should be encouraged
Social change and new demand on
teachers
•Respecting for other cultures and societies
• the fast growing field of ESOL
•A system of accreditation for interpreters
Teacher proficiency
•Students entering training college to learn a foreign
language
•A dedicated language teaching degree should be instituted
in the State
•A Language in science at third level should be encouraged
•Increased investment in post graduate work in language
would be welcomed
•The acquisition of at least one language in addition to
English and Irish
•Improvement in the attainment of pupils in Irish at Leaving
Certificate level
•Trainee teachers of Irish should spend an extended period
•Irish media networks contribute to better success in
language learning
Methods and approaches to teaching
•Bilingual and immersion approaches to the language
curriculum are acceptable to parents
•The council of Europe frame work to facilitate common
approaches
•Innovative approaches are demanding and are only likely to
succeed .The assessment process should not be allowed to
impede the introduction of new approaches
•Information and Communication Technology has been
successfully introduced in language teaching
The challenge from Europe
•To increase diversification in the languages taught at primary
and secondary level.
•Focusing on the rights and minorities and their languages
•The international Covenant on Social, Economic , Cultural and
linguistic rights
•Immigrant groups do not benefit from the new EU measures
on plurilingualism and multilingualism
The language policy and
business
•There is a clear need for languages in business
•Learning goals foe languages must be flexible
•Different levels of competence may be
required by different personnel
•The numbers of high quality language courses
for adults should be made available .
Parents and politicians : the way
forward
•Parents play an important role in supporting
and influencing subject choices at all levels of
schooling
•Politicians from all parties must be involved
in the ongoing discussion
RECOMMENDATIONS
National strategy
• developing native and foreign languages
•National advisory body
Language at primary level
•Teachers must acquire another language
•Refresher programs for teachers
•Developing pilot scheme for foreign language teaching
•Progression in language learning
•Using native speakers
RECOMMENDATIONS
Language at secondary level
•Developing the skills of language teachers must be
fostered
• the EU policy of mother tongue + 2 must be
implemented
•A broad spectrum of languages must be accessible on
the school curriculum
Language at third level
•Dedicating language teaching degree
•Spending a significant abroad to acquire the linguistic
skills
•Language in science
•Funding for post graduate
•Funding bands for language teaching
RECOMMENDATIONS
Fostering Irish
•Strategies
•Policy
Beyond school and university
•Promoting language skills in the community
•Standardization of qualifications for
interpreters
• language rights including the right to learn
and use sign