Modern Languages at St Oliver's N.S.

St. Oliver's National School is included as a member of the modern languages in primary schools pilot programme. The target language is French. Structured French lessons take place in 5th and 6th classes for 1.5 hours per week.

The aims of the modern language teaching at St Oliver's N.S. are to :

• foster positive attitudes of self confidence, self esteem and enjoyment
• develop awareness of target language and other languages
• develop child's awareness, appreciation and respect of other cultures, particularly those linked with the target language.

The structure of the programme consists of 3 strands :

1. communicative
2. competence
3. language and cultural awareness.

There are 4 strand units :

• listening,
• speaking
• reading
• writing

A visiting teacher, Mdm Helene Olivier-Courtney teaches the programme to the 5th and 6th classes. Each class is taught for 90 minutes per week, broken into 2 x 45 minutes. The coordinator of the programme is Maria O'Connell.

A communicative approach is used in the methodology and a variety of activities are undertaken : language games, projects, songs , writing to pen-pals, story telling, role play , dictionary work etc.

There is a good variety of materials available in the school all of which has been recommended at the in-service days for the MLPSI attended by Mme Olivier- Courtney and Ms. Maria O'Connell.