Foreign Language Upskilling Programme for Primary School Teachers

Spanish Language & Culture (Level A2.1) 

This module is designed for students with basic knowledge of the language (A2 CEFR), such as the ability to introduce themselves or others in Spanish and discuss likes, dislikes, and travel preferences. Over the course, students will engage in individual and collaborative work on small projects to develop their language competence in personally relevant topics, such as shopping, daily habits, food, and everyday transactions (e.g., ordering in a restaurant or making a purchase in a shop). Additionally, students will enhance their ability to talk about present, future, and some past experiences. Through these activities, they will develop intercultural awareness and acquire transferable skills for lifelong learning.

Spanish Language & Culture (Level A2.2)

This module is designed to enhance your comprehension, communication, and interaction skills, helping you develop language competence for discussing present, future, and some past experiences. You will also consolidate your knowledge of the past through various topics, such as historical events, personal achievements, biographies, and changes in a city over time. Through these activities, you will not only improve your language abilities but also begin to develop intercultural awareness while gaining transferable skills for lifelong learning.

Spanish Language & Culture (Level A2+) 

This module marks the 1st of the intermediate modules in Spanish. Throughout the semester, students will perform individual and collaborative tasks to develop their confidence and competence in spoken production and oral interaction in the target language while reinforcing their listening and writing skills. Students will develop skills that will help them source and critically evaluate cultural information about Spanish-speaking cultures and produce spoken and written texts directed to both Irish and Spanish-speaking audiences to raise awareness of cultural differences.

Spanish Language & Culture (Level B1.1) 

This module marks the second of the intermediate modules B.1.1. Throughout the semester, students will perform individual tasks and a small collaborative project to develop their confidence and competence in the target language to introduce opinions and viewpoints about different matters e.g. leisure, cinema and TV, health issues, consumer products, inventions among others.

Spanish Language & Culture (Level B1.2) 

This module marks the third of the intermediate modules B.1.2 Throughout the semester, students will perform individual tasks and small collaborative projects to develop their confidence and competence in the target language to express emotions, opinions and judgements about different topics e.g. prediction for the future, social issues, cultural values, and emotions.

French Language & Culture  (Level A2.1) 

This is an elementary module of French. Throughout the module, you will revise the basics of French language. Using games and fun activities you will develop your confidence in using the language in real communicative situations.There will be a focus on speaking skills while introducing you about the culture of the French speaking world. Adapted or authentic texts will be employed .

French Language & Culture (Level A2.2)  

This module is design for student who have a good knowledge of the basics in French.  The focus will be on developing your language skills while deepening your understanding of cultural diversity. Both adapted and authentic materials will be used to support your learning.You will practice key language functions such as expressing opinions, discussing personal experiences, making comparisons, and giving advice. Grammar topics will include the passé composé and imparfait for narrating past events, the future tense for discussing plans, pronouns for sentence fluidity among others.

French Language & Culture (Level B1.1)  

This module is designed for students who have completed their Leaving Certificate and wish to improve their oral skills. Through individual tasks, you will build confidence and competence in expressing opinions and viewpoints on various topics, such as leisure, cinema and TV, health issues, and the environment.You will also begin developing intercultural competence by exploring French-speaking countries, learning about their diverse expressions and accents. The focus will be on enhancing your language skills while deepening your understanding of the cultural diversity within the French-speaking world, introduction to the subjunctive for expressing opinions and uncertainty.

French Language & Culture (Level B1.2)

Building on the foundations of B1.1, this module further develops your oral and intercultural communication skills, encouraging more in-depth discussions and nuanced expression in French. You will refine your ability to present and defend opinions, engage in debates, and express hypotheses on a range of topics, including leisure, media, health, and global issues. At this level, you will work with authentic materials to enhance your comprehension and adaptability to different accents and registers within the Francophone world. You will also deepen your intercultural awareness by critically reflecting on cultural differences and similarities. Grammar topics will include refining the use of past tenses (passé composé, imparfait, plus-que-parfait), introducing more complex sentence structures (relative pronouns, conditional clauses), and expanding the use of the subjunctive for expressing emotions, doubt, and necessity. This module will help you move toward greater fluency and spontaneity in conversation..

The A2.1 module is an elementary-level course designed to reinforce the basics of the German language. Through interactive games and activities, students will build confidence in real-life communication while gaining insights into German-speaking cultures. The focus will be on speaking skills, using both adapted and authentic texts.

The A2.2 module is intended for students with a solid foundation in German. It emphasizes further language development and a deeper understanding of cultural diversity. Students will practice key language functions such as expressing opinions, discussing personal experiences, making comparisons, and giving advice. Grammar topics include the past tenses (Perfekt and Präteritum), the future tense, and pronouns for sentence fluidity.

The B1.1 module is aimed at students who have completed their Leaving Certificate and want to enhance their oral skills. Through individual tasks, students will gain confidence in expressing opinions on topics like leisure, media, health, and the environment. They will also begin developing intercultural competence by exploring German-speaking countries and their linguistic diversity. The module introduces the subjunctive mood for expressing opinions and uncertainty.

The B1.2 module builds on B1.1 and fosters advanced oral and intercultural communication. Students will engage in in-depth discussions, debates, and hypothesis-making on topics such as leisure, media, health, and global issues. They will work with authentic materials to improve comprehension and adaptability to different accents and registers. The module also deepens cultural awareness through critical reflection on cultural differences and similarities. Grammar topics include refining past tenses (Perfekt, Präteritum, Plusquamperfekt), complex sentence structures (relative pronouns, conditional clauses), and an extended use of the subjunctive mood. The focus is on achieving greater fluency and spontaneity in conversation.

There is no formal examination in this programme. Your progression to the next level will be based on the completion of an E-portfolio, assessment of your language skills, and engagement in independent learning activities.

Portfolio 

A portfolio is an individual piece of work in which you show evidence of regular practice between seminars, ability to reflect on cultural experiences (e.g. in the Languaculture Space), and on your ability to reflect upon your learning. 

Language skills

Your reading, written, oral and listening skills will be assessed through a variety of tasks or project you will complete in your module.  

Participation in independent learning activities. For example those organised in the LanguaCulture space

How can I register in the programme?

You can register for the programme by emailing salis.office@dcu.ie.

In the subject line, include the programme name, Foreign Language Upskilling Programme for Primary School Teachers, along with the language of your choice (French or Spanish).

Once the registration period closes, you will receive a confirmation email verifying your successful enrollment in the course.

I am interested in taking a language but I am unsure if I have the right  level to register for.

You can write to  salis.office@dcu.ie. and they will address your query to the relevant language tutor.

What will happen if I can't attend the course?

If you are unable to attend the course, you will lose your deposit and will not receive a certificate.

Do I have to pay for these language classes?

No, you don’t have to pay! These classes are fully funded by the Department of Education and are completely free of charge. Your deposit will be fully refunded once you complete the course.

Do I need to follow the sequence of the five levels of the programme to progress in the language of my choice?

No, your level of proficiency is the result of many different experiences you had learning that language both in the classroom, but also outside the classroom e.g you may spend time in countries where the language is spoken, attend special courses, or have other opportunities to use the language during your holidays, or with friends and family. All these factors may change your level of proficiency at any stage. If you are unsure about your level, you should have your level assessed by the relevant language tutor.

Do I have to sit an exam?

No, there is no formal examination. Yet, learning languages as practising sports needs training. Will you play a match of your favourite sport without training first? Probably not, since your performance will not be the same. It is the same when you are learning a language, you need to practise first to perform well. For this reason, you will need to show evidence of your practice throughout a portfolio.

What would happen if I fail? 

There are no failures in this course. We all learn at a different pace, and an intensive summer course can be a lot to keep up with. If you find it challenging, don’t worry—you’re always welcome to take the course again in the future.