Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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I was interested in Mr. Caffrey's analysis of how it is being taught. We are perhaps moving away from that type of teaching and learning to a more communicative model. There is no doubt that the more one interacts with the language on a daily basis, the easier it is to pick it up and maintain. I have young children who watch television programmes such as "Dora the Explorer" and "Handy Manny", and they are picking up bits and pieces of Spanish just from watching television and interacting. It is probably the way to go. If we are serious about teaching languages that are going to be used beyond education in the workforce, we have to change the way we are teaching and learning them.