Does anyone know what’s going on with the MLPSI in the end? I hope the Government keep the programme going. I think it is quite short-sighted of them to get rid of a proramme that has done so much for the teaching of languages in the country.

Six core staff as well as 250 teachers are employed by the Initiative which faces the end of its existence at the end of the year. They haven’t even been given the chance to finish out the rest of the academic year. All this to save €2 million, which won’t even be the full saving as many of the staff will have to go onto the dole.

This abolition represents the low regard in which languages are held by the current Minister and underlines the importance of raising the profile of languages in the media and in Irish society in general in as positive a manner as possible. This move effectively means the disappearance of most teaching of modern languages at primary level.

There is a short video has been put together (link also below) which you can sign, comment on and share to show your support.

http://animoto.com/play/4xIoGRfGpE0N11JHmJw8Gg

Please support this, talk about it, consider writing to the Irish Times, blog about it, tweet about it, Facebook it! The more people who are aware of this the better. I am concerned that this is the thin end of the wedge, and we should forestall this by supporting the Primary Initiative in as many ways as possible.

Hopefully, Mr Quinn will make this midwinter a little less bleak for those 250 teachers by reconsidering his actions.

Teachers are always looking for Spanish resources. Please look up http://www.espanolapunto.com . The resources here cover all years of Secondary School and there are great sections there, including model answers to Junior and Leaving Cert papers.

This is your chance to enter the world of blogging, the blogosphere. You can put whatever you want into a blog, whatever it is that grabs you today – a successful lesson? A useful weblink? Your thoughts on how to increase learner motivation in a class? A blog is generally a stream of consciousness so you don’t have to write in any particular way, just make sure it’s language education related for this site, and remember that the world can see whatever you post! Only registered users can make entries though, and students can only post after their teacher has approved the post, so no need to worry about inappropriate content. Let’s make it a vehicle for communication, as language is supposed to be!