This article is from page 26 of the 2008-06-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 26 JPG
MULLAGH National School has maintained its French connection again this year, as its pupils con- tinue to learn French from a native speaker.
Taking over the role of ensuring these west Clare students have a third language is Monsieur Frederic Charrier.
Mullagh National School has been included in the Department of Edu- cation and Science Modern Lan- guage Initiative for the past number of years and, as part of this, French is taught to pupils in the school.
Last year Swedish born Hulda Schorling taught French to the pupils in Mullagh while she lived in rural west Clare, miles away from the busy streets of Paris where she studied.
School Principal Sean McMahon is
aware of the added dimension these young French-speaking teachers bring to the school.
‘The school has been fortunate this particular year to avail of an EU Lin- gua language initiative. This Europe- an community programme promotes teacher mobility throughout the EU as well as helping children learn the language of their fellow Europeans from a native speaker,’ he said.
Since September 2007 Monsieur Charrier has taken over the baton from Ms Schorling and has been teaching French to the pupuls.
He has also immersed himself in life in Mullagh and is enjoying the experience.
The young Frenchman has a partic- ular love for the traditional music so often heard in the area, as well as the rural landscape that surrounds him in his temporary new locale.
“The children and staff in return have welcomed Frederic into their school community and shared not only his native language but also French cuisine, games and litera- ture. They are, however, particularly proud of the recent Munster victory over French club Toulouse,’ said Mr McMahon.
Under the Department of Educa- tion and Science Modern Language Initiative, the progressive Mullagh National School is a pilot school for the teaching of French.
Pupils in Mullagh have embraced the opportunity to learn French, expanding not only their language skills but also their understanding and appreciation of other European GI TRE Kone
Arising from this project Mullagh National School has also got involved in a Leargas sponsored Comenius
Project facilitating international teaching through a Comenius Lan- guage Assistantship.
This is aimed at giving future teach- ers the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the European di- mension to teaching and learning, to enhance their knowledge of foreign languages, other European countries and their education systems and to improve their teaching skills.
It was in this capacity Ms Schorling taught in Mullagh.