#ThinkLanguages FAQs

#ThinkLanguages FAQs

FAQs

#ThinkLanguages is an annual TY event, facilitated by Languages Connect that looks to highlight the many cultural, personal and career benefits of modern foreign languages. It takes languages out of the books with a great mix of live and pre-recorded workshops, a fun interactive nationwide quiz, inspiring speakers and lots more! This year it is expanding to a week-long format from Monday 27 November to Friday 1 December 2023. Find out more here

Take the time to check out the #ThinkLanguages page and watch some of the videos from previous years to get an understanding of what is involved. If you wish to take part this year you must register and can do so here. You will then receive an event starter pack with a planning handbook that will take you through the steps involved in planning your school’s event. A number of resources are also available to download here which will assist you with getting started.

All registered schools must submit a completed registration form by Friday 29 September. Completion is essential to finalise your registration to #ThinkLanguages and determine supports provided. It is also necessary live workshop allocation. You can access the Registration form here

Check out our Top Tips Videos that give teachers and students advice, tips and tricks on how to best run #ThinkLanguages in their school.

This is totally up to you and your school! #ThinkLanguages can be as big or as small as you want it to be, depending on your individual school context. We suggest dedicating a full day during to celebrating foreign languages during the week of 27 November to 1 December, but you can choose a model which works best for your students.

When planning, use our support materials, check in with our dedicated Facebook group and give yourself plenty of time for brainstorming, deciding on event content and preparing for the big day.

#ThinkLanguages is an event for Transition Year students in registered post-primary schools. The resources we supply, including any live workshops allocated to  to schools, will only be provided for TY students. However, it may be possible to extend the celebrations beyond TYs in other ways e.g. getting students with other languages from another year to help with workshops and other relevant activities.

#ThinkLanguages will take place nationally during the week of 27 November – 1 December and all pre-recorded workshops, interactive quiz and opening ceremony will be available for these dates. We want TY students across the country to celebrate together during the same week to create a national buzz around language learning. Resource Packs will only be available to schools with events during that week. #ThinkLanguages partners – the Irish Film Institute, Business in the Community and Third Level Institutes are also celebrating #ThinkLanguages that week with a range of exciting movies, talks and activities.

If your school is unable to have an event that week but wants to plan a #ThinkLanguages event, our downloads are available for support and our pre recorded workshops and Opening Ceremony will also be available for use.  

Yes, Languages Connect will provide online support, a starter pack and event management kits to all registered schools. These include a planning handbook, student task cards posters and sign up sheets. 

A mix of supports including a pre-recorded opening ceremony, interactive quiz and online workshops, and the chance to have a live workshop at your school will also be made available to registered schools. This year, our partners will also have a number of activities and resources available for the week of #ThinkLanguages

Promotional material for use on the day will also be provided to all schools registered to take part in #ThinkLanguages week. 

Languages Connect will be providing a very exciting Opening Ceremony for schools to kickstart their day with. It includes insights from inspiring speakers whose language skills have enriched their lives in many ways! Make sure to include it in your event schedule. A link to access this will be shared in the week before the event.

We will be hosting an interactive national quiz for #ThinkLanguages during the week of 27 November – 1 December. 

• The fun quiz lasts 30 minutes and is a mix of languages and culture trivia.
• It is opt-in and will run twice daily at 10.00am and 2.00pm
• Registered schools can enter as many teams as they wish but may only enter once. We recommend teams of four. Each team will need access to a device with internet connection to participate.
• More instructions and the link to join will be shared in the week prior to the event.

Many of the third level institutes nationwide are celebrating #ThinkLanguages with us this year with a number of options on offer to schools. Perhaps some TYs can take part in an on campus workshop, or you may wish to have a student ambassador visit your school and speak about their experience studying languages. Find out more of what’s on offer and how to reach out to your local HEI here 

There will be a wide selection of 30-minute pre-recorded workshops available for schools to include in their days’ festivities. With 25 to choose from including Portuguese and Capoeira, Spanish and Tapas and Danish and Design they will be a great addition to any schedule. Check out the full list of workshops here. All links will be available the week before the event.

If you invite guest speakers and explain you are organising a school event, they may be happy to take part without charging a fee.

Languages Connect will be sending live workshop facilitators to some registered schools and will cover this cost. Unfortunately, only the cost of allocated live workshops can be covered by Languages Connect – if you organise a workshop directly, you will be liable for any fees required.

We suggest keeping the workshops to 30 minutes to help you coordinate your day with the recorded workshops which are all 30 minutes long. This will keep all the students interested and give the opportunity to explore many different languages.

Preliminary packs will be sent to all registered schools – these include the Teacher Planning Handbook with lots of helpful tips for planning your event. There are also posters for display in the school to start building momentum for the day. There is also a host of supports available here to help plan a great #ThinkLangages event at your school, including a handy Planning Tracker with key dates and tasks captured. Full Event Packs with fun resources and prizes for participating students will be sent out to all registered schools in early November. You can also reach out to the #Thinklanguages support team at thinklanguages@ppli.ie with any queries you may have. 

We have teamed up with some great partners this year who are offering an assortment of activities that can be included in your #ThinkLanguages festival lineup. Let your students see languages come alive beyond the school gates! Click here to see what amazing opportunities our partners are offering this year!

Yes, we will have some material, including promotional posters and out handbook, available in Irish and to download here

Follow our social media channels and use the hashtag #ThinkLanguages. We also recommend you becoming a member of our dedicated Facebook group where you will get all the latest updates as well as have the opportunity to discover what other teachers are doing for their festival of languages and culture. You can also ask questions from teachers who have been involved in the past and perhaps get some inspiration! Join now here.

#ThinkLanguages is a national Irish TY event, supported by Languages Connect in conjunction with the implementation of Languages Connect, Ireland’s Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education 2017-2026

 Registered participants for #ThinkLanguages receive planning guides, support materials and resources for planning their local event.

To enter this year’s Champion Team Competition, each school team simply have to fill out their their festival lineup, providing details about their day and schedule and and submit it to thinklanguages@ppli.ie by Friday 10 November . Only one team / one entry per school is permitted. Find out all about this year’s competition here