Children in fourth, fifth and sixth classes at Lissivigeen National School have been broadening their linguistic horizons through learning French language in recent weeks.

It’s all thanks to a Department of Education programme called ‘Say Yes To Languages’.

The programme aims to give children in the senior classes a ‘taster’ of a modern European language in school time over eight weekly one-hour sessions.

They learn the language through an active approach which includes games, video, drama, music, French songs and rhymes.

In addition to learning greetings, numbers, colours, body parts, days of the week in French, the children also become aware of the geography and culture of France, thereby linking in with many other subject areas of the primary school curriculum.

Furthermore, the ‘Say Yes To Languages’ programme also aims to raise the children’s awareness of other languages and cultures in their surroundings, which is a very constructive means of awakening their curiosity and heightening their acceptance and inclusion of the many people from other countries who now live cheek by jowl with us in our beautiful town.

The teacher who delivers the programme to the children is Mrs Miriam Long or Madame Long, as she now prefers to be called! Miriam was a member of staff at Lissivigeen until her retirement in 2020.