![Ning Yang, one of the Chinese students who are studying a masters at UCC to quality as teachers of Chinese as a foreign language, with 5th and 6th class pupils at Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers, Farranferris. Picture: Denis Minihane.]()
Ning Yang, one of the Chinese students who are studying a masters at UCC to quality as teachers of Chinese as a foreign language, with 5th and 6th class pupils at Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers, Farranferris.
Picture: Denis Minihane.
Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers, Farranferris, have rolled out the classes in collaboration with University College Cork. Six Chinese students, who are studying for a masters in teaching Chinese as a foreign language, will deliver the classes, with pupils receiving a certificate of completion from UCC.
Adrian Breathnach, principal, and Liadh Ní Riada, MEP at the launch of Chinese language certificate for primary school at Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers, Farranferris, Cork. Video by Denis Minihane.
Mandarin will be the fourth language pupils study in the school, after English, Irish and Spanish.
Principal Adrian Breathnach says that there has been a great response from parents and pupils to the initiative, which was inspired by forward thinking.
“The experts would say that bilingual children have better mental agility and are more open to other cultures.
“I think that languages are great and with emerging trade links with China, Mandarin will be very useful for these children in the future.”
Twenty-four children will take part in the programme.
