A world of opportunities

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A world of opportunities

• Languages on Social Care programmes
• Imelda Cooke

2
Overview

• Background Towards a national standard
• AIT situation languages offered and why
• Ireland in a European context
• European programmes
• Work/placement opportunities
• Useful contacts

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Languages in AIT

• Elective
• Years 1 and 2 Cert.
• Years 1 to 4 of BA
• French post- Leaving Cert.
• German ab initio and plc
• Spanish ab initio

4
Why languages?

• The limits of my language mean the limits of my
  worldLudwig Wittgenstein

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Personal development

• Broadens your experiences, expands view of the
  world
• Fosters understanding of relation between
  language, culture, human nature
• Encourages respect for other peoples
• Exposes you to modes of thought outside of native
  language
• All important in Irelands multi-cultural
  society
• Enables our students to compete in an
  international arena

6
Intellectual benefits of language learning

• Offers new insights into native language
• Develops ones ability to think logically and
  creatively
• Improves communicative skills, both oral and
  written
• Allows direct access to literature/books/films/son
  gs in original language

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Why French?

• Second most frequently taught language after
  English
• The official language of 28 countries
• Spoken on five continents
• French and English are the two global languages
• The official working language of many
  international organizations (NATO, UNESCO,
  European community etc.)

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Why German?

• Key language in the European Union
• Gateway to the rapidly growing markets of Central
  and Eastern Europe
• Germany is the US's largest European trading
  partner
• Widely used as a business and scientific language
  in Europe, Russia, and parts of Asia

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Why Spanish?

• Most commonly used foreign language spoken in the
  US
• Dominant language spoken in 21 countries on five
  continents
• Fifth most widely spoken in the world, used by
  300 million people
• Approximately 17.5 million people (10 of the US
  population) speak Spanish

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Ireland in the European Union

• Enlargement 450million Europeans
• Importance of language skills for communicating
  and free movement
• 2001 European year of languages
• Barcelona 2002
• 2003 European commissions action plan

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Action plan

• Primary schools initiative
• European language portfolio a language passport
  which can be described according to common
  criteria.

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European mobility programmes

• The hope of a nation lies in the proper
  education of its youth.
• Erasmus

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Socrates Erasmus programme

• Erasmus Action on higher education.
• teachers exchanges
• joint development of curricula
• language courses
• thematic networks between depts/faculties across
  Europe
• preparatory visits
• ECTS recognition of study abroad

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Who can apply?

• Open to nationals of the EU countries
• EEA countries(Iceland, Lichtenstein...)
• Associated countriesHungary, Romania,Czech
  republic,Poland,Slovak republic,Estonia, Latvia,
  Lithuania, Bulgaria,Slovenia.
• Through International office in ITs by Nov 1
  every year.

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Leonardo da Vinci programme

• Aim to use transnational cooperation to improve
  quality, foster innovation, and promote the
  European dimension of vocational and training
  systems and practices.

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Who can apply?

• Vocational training establishments, centres and
  bodies at all levels, universities.
• Research centres and institutions
• Undertakings including SMEs and the craft
  industry
• Chambers of commerce
• Social partners
• Local and regional bodies and organisations
• Non profit making organisations
• Voluntary bodies and NGOs

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Mobility for young people and trainers

• a. Transnational placement projects
• For students, young workers and recently
  qualified persons, and people in initial
  vocational training.
• b. Transnational exchange projects
• Targeted at trainers, occupational guidance
  specialists or mentors.
• c. Study visits

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Work/placement opportunities

• Study visit- 1200e per person for 1 week. Prepare
  the placement.
• Placement categories
• Funds available
• International dimension to education and training

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Work/placement opportunities

• FRANCE
• English language assistant
• Scholarships Connaissance de la France, French
  Embassy.

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Charities in France

• Restos du Coeur
• Samu Social
• Les petits freres des pauvres
• Larmee du salut
• FACTS
• AFVP
• The American cathedral in Paris
• Handicap international

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Working with children

• Animateur de mini-club
• Pre-schools
• Assistant de service social

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Multi-cultural IrelandRefugees and asylum seekers

• Application procedure
• - 84 question questionnaire
• - Interview at the Asylum division of Dept of
  Justice
• Unaccompanied minors
• Language tuition.
• School attendance
• Medical requirements

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Useful links

• Parlez-vous français?
• Sprechen-Sie Deutsch?
• Hablas español ?
• Merci de votre attention!
• Go raibh maith agaibh!