Press Release
Date: Wednesday 17 June 2009 (NR/09/09)
ATENCIÓN! Primary pupils show linguistic flair at launch of new web resource
The Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) today launched a web based resource to support primary teachers in developing and integrating language teaching in the classroom as part of the NI Curriculum. Each section of the colourful website contains animated stories and rhymes in French, German, Irish and Spanish and allows children to listen to them enhancing their ability to use the language they are learning.
Pupils from 5 primary schools demonstrated their linguistic flair at the launch by performing several rhymes and stories featured on the website.
Speaking at the launch event, CCEA’s Director of Education Strategy, Richard Hanna commented:
Learning a second language can provide a meaningful context for learning about other cultures and people. It helps reinforce and enrich the work done in The World Around Us and Personal Development and Mutual Understanding as part of the NI Curriculum. Schools can also use language learning to build on international links and to provide opportunities for developing ICT skills through e-mail and video conferencing.
The performances from the schools here today demonstrate the benefits of early language learning. To see such confidence from children so young is inspiring.
Mrs Ann McQuiston, Languages Advisor with SEELB, guest speaker at the event commented:
Today’s wonderful performances by the children have demonstrated the many advantages that language learning has for not only the pupils, but also their teachers and parents. Early language learning enhances the children’s self-esteem and builds new skills that support other aspects of the curriculum.
The Primary Languages website can be viewed at www.nicurriculum.org.uk
Additional Information
The primary schools that attended and presented at the launch were:
Ballymacward Primary School - Lisburn, County Antrim
Bunscoil Bheanna Boirche - Castlewellan, County Down
Millisle Primary School - Millisle, County Down
Millennium Integrated Primary School - Saintfield, County Down
Whitehead Primary School - Carrickfergus, County Antrim
Richard Hanna, Director of Education Strategy at CCEA, with pupils from Ballymacward PS, Bunscoil Bheanna Boirche IM PS, Millisle PS and Millennium IPS.
Whitehead PS pupils put on an entertaining performance in German of ‘the three little pigs’ story.
Media enquiries to Ruth Maguire on (028) 9026 1216, Mobile 07796947993. E mail rhmaguire@ccea.org.uk
ENDS
Note to Editors
CCEA is the Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment.
CCEA places learners and those who have a concern for their educational and personal development at the forefront of its thinking. CCEA's mission is:
"To enable the full potential of all learners to be achieved and recognised"
What we do
CCEA is a unique educational body in the UK , bringing together the three areas of curriculum, examinations and assessment.
Advising Government – on what should be taught in Northern Ireland ’s schools and colleges.
Monitoring Standards – ensuring that the qualifications and examinations offered by awarding bodies in Northern Ireland are of an appropriate quality and standard.
Awarding Qualifications
– as Northern Ireland’s leading awarding body we offer a diverse range of qualifications, such as GCSEs, including the new GCSE Double Award specifications in vocational subjects, GCE A and AS levels, Entry Level Qualifications, and Graded Objectives in Modern Languages.
- CCEA also offers a range of Awards and Certificates in Education, Training and Skills (ACETS) targeted at learners who want to get
the knowledge, understanding and skills needed
to hit the ground running in the world of work.
