Language in the Primary School Curriculum: Research papers
Effective language teaching: a synthesis of research
Watch a presentation summarising the findings | The NCCA has published a commissioned desktop study Effective Language Teaching: a Synthesis of Research. This study identified practices that are considered effective for second language learners in contexts similar to primary schools in Ireland. The report also includes additional general principles for effective language teaching drawn from descriptive qualitative research. Download the complete report Effective Language Teaching: a Synthesis of Research. (PDF, 882KB) |
Click on the links below to find out more about the findings.
The main themes that emerged in the synthesis of research were
Additional general principles for language teaching described in the report are
Teachers have to make rapid, complex decisions all the time in the classroom. This research report provides one source of knowledge which can contribute to the teacher’s decision making in class. It indicates which of the many possible instructional practices that might be implemented at any time have had a demonstrable positive impact on primary school children's second and foreign language learning in the past. This could help validate practices that the teacher is already using, or make a case for others in a repertoire of instructional choices. In addition, it may prompt the teacher to revise or modify his or her underlying language learning theory.