Please click here for Language Links Issue 12: 
Language Links 12
Please click here for Language Links Issue 13: langlinks13
Please click here for Language Links Issue 14: langlinks0106
Please click here for Language Links Issue 15: langlinks15
Please click here for Language Links Issue 16: Language Links 16
Please click here for Language Links Issue 17: language_links
Please click here for Language Links Issue 18: language_linksfinal
Please click here for Language Links Issue 19: language_links_may_08
Please click here for Language Links Issue 20: language_links_dec_08
Please click here for Language Links Issue 21: language_links_2009
Kid’s Corner
• Pupils send in examples of poems/stories /posters/songs they have done in class
• 6th class students do a survey with 5th class students about food/hobbies. Record their findings
• Pupils write reports of their trip to the target country/ a cartoon/a film they have seen
• Pupils may send in samples of letters/E-mails they have sent or received from their pen pals
Celebrations and Seasonal Events
• Research national holidays/festivals for the term. Compare these to Irish festivals. Host a cultural day/week
• Invite a guest speaker to the class. Write a report on the event
• Integrate the target language into special school events – School Centenary, Green Flag ceremony, Sports Day etc.
Ideas for the classroom
When doing these tasks, adapt them according to the particular topic chosen for that edition of the newsletter
• Have a competition to make the best flashcards for different topics. Encourage students to use colour and images
• Take photos of the language corner and posters they have designed on the different topics of the curriculum
• Each student has to interview someone who has been to the target country. Everyone has to bring three new facts to the class and share them. Make a poster of the most amazing new facts
Projects and Cross Curricular Links
When doing these tasks, adapt them according to the particular topic chosen for that edition of the newsletter
• Make a collage about the target country. Each student has to bring in 2/3 images from the country and stick them on a giant poster in the class
• Pupils attend a music/dance or art event. Students then write a report on their experience
• Pupils do projects about their target country – famous people, food, music etc.
• Pupils visit a local supermarket and find products from their target country
• Pupils take photos of role play/drama activities they have done • Pupils interview their language assistant, highlighting the main cultural similarities and differences they have discovered
Teacher’s Corner
• Write a report of a language course that you have attended that you would recommend
• Send in details of your school (name and contact E-mail address), if you wish to set up a correspondence exchange in Ireland or abroad
• Post details of upcoming cultural events/language courses that other teachers might be interested in attending
• Send in website addresses/ new materials etc. you have found useful
• Briefly describe activities that have worked well in the classroom
• Write an article describing your personal language/cultural experiences. This can be from the perspective of a Principal/Teacher/Language Assistant/Past Pupil
The Language Teacher can:
• Look over previous editions of Language Links with the pupils and class teacher at the start of the year. Brainstorm ideas together. Have specific aims for the term ahead. Remember to focus on the theme of that particular edition
• Pin your aims/ideas in the language corner in the classroom to remind you of your goals
• Choose different roles for pupils in the class for each term: photographers/editors/writers etc.
• Pin samples of pupils’ work in the language corner as the year goes on
The Class Teacher can:
• Brainstorm cross – curricular project ideas with the pupils and add them to the language corner
• Show a display of samples of the pupils’ work sent to the newsletter and previous publications of Language Links at Parent – Teacher meetings
• Display appropriate work in the language corner in the classroom
• In subjects such as Geography/History/Art/Sport, focus on a topic/person from the chosen country and allocate projects to the pupils
The Principal can:
• Put a copy of Language Links on display in the staff room
• Have a Language Links display board in a prominent part of the school. Pin up previous editions of the newsletter. Show samples of work sent to the publication
• During assembly congratulate a pupil/class, if work has been published
• In a letter to parents, include the website link (www.mlpsi.ie ), so that parents can be informed and read the newsletter online with their child at home
Guidelines for submissions
In an effort to assist schools who wish to submit work for inclusion in the newsletter, guidelines have been produced by the MLPSI team.
Each edition focuses on specific themes. Selected work will be published in the newsletter and/or on the MLPSI website.
Items are chosen in acknowledgement of a student/s’ innovation, creativity and best practice methodologies used in the classroom.
All materials for publication can be sent to the National Coordinator at the Kildare Education Centre or to your Regional Project Leader.
Please refer to guidelines for entering your submissions.
Bear in mind which edition (December or May) you wish the article to be published in. Send in articles regarding festivals/celebrations accordingly.
Keep a copy of all work sent in for your records, as this work cannot be returned.
Please click here to download the Guidelines for submissions
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