#ThinkLanguages: The University of Limerick Experience (2023 – current)

“#ThinkLanguages: The University of Limerick Experience” is an annual event that welcomes transition year students from secondary schools in the region to the UL campus for a one-day event to participate in language taster classes and cultural workshops. Staff for the School of Modern Languages and Applied Linguistics also visit schools in the locality and beyond to spread the word on the benefits of studying a modern foreign language in Ireland today. It ran for the first time in 2023. 

“#ThinkLanguages: The University of Limerick Experience" aims to promote modern Foreign Language learning in secondary schools with a view to increasing the number of third-level students who choose to include a language. This ties in with Languages Connect – Ireland’s Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education 2017-2026 which aims to increase the number of third-level graduates with modern foreign language competences in order to meet the demands of multinational recruiters amongst other things. 

Post-Primary Languages Ireland (PPLI), a dedicated government unit providing expertise and support for foreign languages education in Ireland

We have received very positive feedback from the schools who participated in the event as shown in the quote from Laura Murphy (Teacher in Villiers): "I just want to say a huge thank you from Villiers for organising such a great event yesterday. I know the amount of time and planning that goes into things like this. Our students really enjoyed the day and took a lot from it. Hopefully they will be back studying languages with you in the future. "