Erasmus+ Upskilling Opportunities
Erasmus+ Upskilling Opportunities
Erasmus+ funding provides an invaluable opportunity to offer further professional development options to support primary teachers, as they prepare for the enactment of modern foreign languages as part of the redeveloped Primary School Curriculum. These opportunities are for all primary teachers registered to teach in Ireland. Funding is provided by the European Union via Léargas, the National Agency for Erasmus+ in Ireland.
The opportunities are designed to build teachers’ language confidence, develop plurilingual and intercultural awareness, and strengthen the skills needed to support language learning in primary classrooms. Teachers can use each experience to address their own professional learning needs.
There are three categories of professional development opportunities:
- Job Shadowing
- Language Courses
- Professional Learning Events.
The sections below explain what each of the three categories involves.
Job shadowing gives teachers the opportunity to undertake funded, one-week stays abroad focused on observing colleagues teaching modern foreign languages in their schools. Host schools are selected for their commitment to facilitating structured and supported classroom observations.
- Typically take place during term time.
- Trips typically run from Sunday to Saturday, with observations taking place from Monday to Friday.
- Selected schools are based in France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
- Support provided to successful applicants prior to departure.
Designed in collaboration with partners based in the Erasmus+ area, these courses help teachers enhance their proficiency through a one week-long language course (in-person). They also give participants opportunities to discuss teaching practice and ideas with teachers from other countries.
- Typically take place during school holidays.
- Trips typically run from Saturday to Saturday, with activities taking place from Sunday to Friday.
- Currently offered in French, German, Italian and Spanish.
- Courses are for non-beginners, with proficiency entry levels ranging from A2.1 to B1.2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
- Include organised cultural activities.
- May include visits to local primary schools.
- Include classroom resources and teacher collaboration opportunities.
PPLI/Languages Connect will organise seminars, conferences and other professional learning events open to registered teachers, with opportunities to attend in person and online. Erasmus+ funding will enable international experts to come to Ireland and contribute to these events.
- Organised during term time.
- Events can take place on weekdays or during weekends.
- Provide an international perspective and opportunities to share experiences and good practice from other jurisdictions.
- Bring together representatives from Irish schools, affording opportunities to share practice.
Find out more and register
To explore currently available opportunities and register, consult our regularly updated opportunities file . It contains information about the available options and their registration links.
To learn more and stay up-to-date with these opportunities:
- Check this page regularly for updates.
- Subscribe to our newsletter for notifications.
- Follow our social media channels for the latest information.
For further information, please contact primaryupskilling@ppli.ie
