MANDARIN CHINESE
Confey College in association with
National University of Ireland, Maynooth
CHINESE: SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT…..

China’s position in the world changing rapidly

China to overtake USA as largest economy


Companies worldwide keen to do business in
China
All indications are that these trends will continue
CHINA & IRELAND

Relationship is developing rapidly

Visit of Vice -President Xi in Feb 2012

Visit of Taoiseach to China in March 2012

Multiple announcements in relation to economic
projects
CHINESE: BENEFITS FOR YOUR CHILD
Being among the first students in Ireland to
study world’s most spoken language
 Acquiring knowledge of ancient culture
 Acquiring ability to speak Mandarin Chinese
 Possibility of taking Chinese at Third Level
 Enhanced employment prospects

CHINESE AND IRISH EDUCATION
Importance of introducing Chinese into schools is
recognised at government and official level
 Considerable barriers to achieving this
 Currently Chinese is not an examination subject
for Junior or Leaving Cert
 Dept of Ed intends revamping Junior Cert and
reducing number of exam subjects to 8
 Minister has encouraged schools to begin this
process immediately

CHINESE AND IRISH EDUCATION
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment
launched a Transition Year module last May
 NCCA plan to have a Mandarin Chinese module
incorporated into the new Junior Cert for 2017.
 First school to offer Chinese was Loreto, Bray, in
2008. Loreto offers Chinese classes as an afterschool activity.
 A number of schools now offer Chinese as an
after-school subject or as a TY module

CHINESE AND NUI MAYNOOTH
Opened Confucius Classroom 2009 – affiliated to
the Confucius Institute in UCC
 Supported by NUIM Language Centre
 Confey College teacher recruited in China and
paid for by UCC
 Commitment to providing teacher for three years
 Assistance with sourcing textbooks and materials
 Assistance with administration of exams

CHINESE IN CONFEY COLLEGE
First school to offer Chinese as a Junior Cycle
subject
 Students take Chinese as one of their two option
subjects:
 Art, Business, Computers, Home Economics,
Mandarin Chinese Metalwork, Music, Tech.
Graphics, Woodwork
 Chinese will not be part of the Options Sampling
in September
 Chinese will be studied in addition to French or
German

CHINESE IN CONFEY COLLEGE
Students do graded, age-appropriate exams,
Youth Chinese Tests
 Chinese is more challenging than a European
language
 School is recommending that students
considering Mandarin Chinese should have above
average academic ability and application
 Initial agreement with NUIM is for three years
so at this point we cannot give any undertaking
in relation to the subject continuing beyond 2016

CHINESE: TERMS & CONDITIONS
We are asking for a commitment from students
and parents to stay with the programme for the
three years
 We are asking for applications to be returned to
the admin office by Friday 11th April
 We are offering 24 places
 In the event of more that 24 students seeking a
place we will assess the applications and may
contact parents to discuss the application.
 If there is still over-subscription places will be
allocated by means of a lottery

AND FINALLY…..
In 2011 Chinese tourists outspent tourists from
US in Brown Thomas. BT now looking for retail
staff with knowledge of Mandarin
 PWC recently looking to recruit ‘Chinese aware’
staff
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