The training activities identified by project participants were carefully selected to address their needs in the areas of improved language skills and more effective teaching methodologies. The MFL teachers are keen to equip their students with the skills needed to navigate a transformed geo-political landscape post-Brexit. We need increasing numbers of young people who are mobile, flexible, creative, communicative, outward-looking and Europe-bound. Communicative competence and intercultural awareness will facilitate the transition to European locations for study or work purposes. Improved language skills among the young people of Europe will create greater cohesion, understanding and tolerance. It will help to dismantle prejudices and stereotypes that can lead to social tensions, fragmentation and conflict. Furthermore, the project aims are consistent with key goals of the Department of Education's Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education 2018 - 2026: to improve language skills, to cultivate the languages of the new Irish, raise awareness of the importance of languages and diversify and increase the uptake of languages.
The project "Supporting Language Learners" (SLL) was designed to address specific goals and needs identified in Maynooth Post Primary's European Development Plan. The overarching objective was to improve proficiency in modern foreign languages. A team of MFL teachers came together to consider how best to achieve this goal. The training activities identified by project participants were carefully selected to address their needs regarding improving language skills and developing more effective teaching methodologies. The SLL project team, along with other colleagues in MFL departments are ambitious and remain committed to raising the profile of languages and improving the quality of teaching and learning in their classrooms. In addition to curricular languages, the project aimed to support student engagement with & proficiency in home languages. A key project goal in this regard was to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment where students' motivation will be enhanced to achieve better learning outcomes.