Celebrating Five Years of Say Yes to Languages!
Celebrating Five Years of Say Yes to Languages!
April 2026 marks the official start of celebrations for five years of the Say Yes to Languages module, recognising the growing interest in foreign language learning in Irish primary classrooms.
Facilitated by PPLI/Languages Connect and funded by the Department of Education and Youth, Say Yes to Languages was introduced to give primary pupils the opportunity to explore a new language in a fun, inclusive and engaging way, while preparing schools for the phased introduction of modern foreign languages under the redeveloped Primary School Curriculum.
To mark the five‑year milestone, the 206 schools that have participated in all five years are receiving special anniversary certificates along with new classroom activities designed to support inclusive, whole‑school celebrations of language learning. All schools, whether they have been involved in Say Yes to Languages or not are encouraged to celebrate the milestone, using the newly created classroom activity available in English and Irish
Since its launch, participation in the programme has grown significantly with over 1900 schools nationwide having taken part over the five years. This includes 466 schools taking part in the first year growing to almost 1,350 schools participating in the module in 2025/2026.
Over that period, the range of languages offered through Say Yes to Languages has expanded from 12 to 15 languages, including French, Spanish, Irish Sign Language, German, Italian, Polish, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, Romanian, Ukrainian, Arabic, Russian, Lithuanian and Dutch. This growth reflects both pupils’ enthusiasm for languages and the linguistic diversity of school communities across Ireland.
Reflecting on the impact of the programme, Dr Francesca La Morgia, Primary Manager at PPLI/Languages Connect, said that Say Yes to Languages “has increased pupils’ awareness of the range of languages used within the school community and has supported inclusion and appreciation of diversity among pupils.”
Looking ahead, applications for the Say Yes to Languages 2026/2027 school year are now open, offering schools the opportunity to take part in the programme or continue their involvement. Schools are encouraged to apply now here