Gaeilge Locha Riach is looking for a stiúrthóir and ceannairí to run the Irish Summer
June 14, 2012
Gaeilge Locha Riach is looking for a stiúrthóir (director) and ceannairí (leaders) to run the Irish Summer Camp from Monday to Friday over a two week period from 7th to 17th August 2012.
You must have competent Irish. Ceannairí must be 18 years of age or over. For further information please call Ruth, Gaeilge Locha Riach, 091-870718
To apply send CV to: oifig@lochariach.com; or, by post to: Gaeilge Locha Riach, Seanbhóthair na Gaillimhe, Baile Locha Riach (Loughrea), Co. na Gaillimhe.
More information can be obtained the group on www.lochariach.com.
Exam Diary: Irish a thorn in my side, but I love it
June 13, 2012
I may not be a history student, but I do know the Irish language has changed utterly since the days of oppressive British intruders and fiery Irish rebels.
These days, Irish is suffering an entirely different kind of onslaught, not from contemptuous English nobility but from resentful Leaving Certificate students.
Nothing destroys a perfectly good mood like a 40- minute Irish class.
While Irish never has been – and I can safely say, never will be – my favourite subject, as a spoken language, few surpass it in my eyes.
I’ve abandoned civilisation on many an occasion to immerse myself in Irish, detox myself from my mobile phone and willingly engage in activities that, outside the walls of Connemara, would be considered absolutely mortifying.
If the Gaeltacht isn’t valuable life preparation, I don’t know what is.
But, as we are all aware, the influence of the Irish language doesn’t extend much further than our Emerald Isle.
It may not be a particularly significant language on an international level but who among us hasn’t taken pleasure in the bemused faces of French and Spanish onlookers as “ciúnas bóthar cailín bainne” is delivered with the gravity of a death sentence?
The Irish language gives us back some of the charm that pale faces and a propensity for pints distract from.
So why then has it been turned from a widely spoken language into a subject dependent on rote- learning? Irish Paper 2 is centred around Irish literature, filíocht, prós, litríocht breise, and is a thorn in my side!
But whatever differences I have had with Maidhc Dainín or the mind- boggling story of ‘ Dís’ ( still not entirely sure what’s going on there …) were forgotten in the wake of a paper that can only be described as “sound out”.
Of course Lísín in all her self- adoring conceit would make an appearance and noone could begrudge Mártín Ó Díreáin a slot considering his poem was the only relatively enjoyable one on the course.
Day Five of Leaving Cert 2012 over. The joys of French grammar await.
India McGirr is a pupil at Gorey Community School, Co Wexford
www.independent.ie
Olympic effort required but second Irish test ‘ fair’ to all
June 13, 2012
Leaving Cert Irish Paper 2
The theme of the Olympics once again featured prominently in the Leaving Cert Irish higher level exam, as students got to grips with a “fair” paper 2.
Many teachers felt the unseen comprehension text on the life of Irish- American 1912 Olympic gold medallist Jim Thorpe was both interesting and manageable.
This year, candidates coped with changes to the paper – including the introduction of a new question concerning grammar, opinion and the genre of literature.
Robbie Cronin, from the ASTI and Marian College, Ballsbridge, Dublin, felt the opinion piece “was too demanding” for a maximum of 10 marks.
In it, students were asked to say what the text – about the Olympian’s sporting prowess to his final days in penury – revealed about the mindset of the American people and the International Olympic Committee.
ASTI’s Noelle Moran from St Jarlath’s College, Tuam, Co Galway, agreed: “It is a lot to be asking the student’s opinion on something, it is not testing the knowledge of the piece”.
The TUI’s Ruth MorrisseyCasey, a teacher at St Michael’s Community School, Kilmihil, Co Clare, said the second comprehension question featuring journalist Alex Hijman’ visit to Salvador was “harder” with references to oppression, poverty, history and religion.
She said students may have found some words including ‘ aingil choimhdeachta’, meaning ‘ guardian angel’, difficult.
Clare Grealy, of the Institute of Education, Dublin, said the grammar question for both comprehension texts dealt with points most students were familiar with.
Inviting
Teachers felt some of the questions had been anticipated, including the question relating to the story ‘ Hurlamaboc’.
Deeming it a “good paper” overall, Ms Grealy said the poem ‘ An tEarrach Thiar’ was one of the easier ones students encountered on the syllabus.
“The question on images and sounds was particularly inviting,” she said.
Ms Grealy described ordinary level as a “very fair” paper, with the questions and language in the comprehension section featuring stories about RTE sports journalist Evanne Ni Chuilinn and young tennis player Daithi O hEithir far easier than previous years.
The prose featured six short questions rather than following the traditional format of a more general summary type question and Ms Grealy felt it may have proved “helpful” as it gave students a clear structure for their answer.
Ms Moran’s main complaint was that both the prose and poetry questions were “very wordy” for the level.
www.independent.ie
Tricky higher-level questions ‘not contemporary enough’
June 13, 2012
Leaving Cert Irish Paper 2 – Higher and Ordinary Levels
There were some new and tricky elements in the higher-level second Irish paper yesterday, according to Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland subject representative Robbie Cronin.
With the much-maligned Stair na Gaeilge consigned to ancient history, the new-look Irish paper 2 held few surprises, and was deemed fair, although it was not without its problems.
Comprehension, which used to be a part of paper 1, has been moved to paper 2. The pieces chosen divided opinion among teachers – some found them interesting while others felt the texts needed an update.
The first comprehension piece was about an Irish American Olympian named Jim Thorpe who won two gold medals i n the 1923 Olympics.
“I just think that students could be given something a bit more contemporary,” said Teachers’ Union of Ireland representative Ruth Morrissey-Casey, a teacher in St Michael’s Community College in Kilmihil, Co Clare.
“When you look at the kind of subject matter in the ordinarylevel paper, it’s a lot more youthful and interesting than the historyladen pieces that the higher-level students have to deal with.”
Overall, the questions based on the piece were “fair”, Mr Cronin said.
The final question on the piece was a new addition to the exam, and the latter part of it was too taxing, according to teachers.
“For a maximum of 10 marks, students had to say what the text reveals about the mindset of both the American people and the mindset of the IOC [International Olympic Council],” Mr Cronin said.
“It was a very challenging question given the time constraints,” Ms Morrissey-Casey agreed.
Ordinary-level students had a good start with two “very interesting” comprehension passages. One was about sports presenter Evanne Ní Chuillin and the other was about tennis player Daithí Ó hEithir. “They were just very relevant to young people,” Ms Morrissey-Casey said. “They were relevant and accessible.”
The questions and language used were straightforward, said Clare Grealy, Irish teacher in the Institute of Education.
The prose questions, on Hurlamboc, were a departure from previous years.
www.irishtimes.com
Sports themes feature strongly in Irish exams
June 13, 2012
For Leaving Certificate students of Irish, sports themes featured strongly at both levels on their Paper 2 exams.
Robbie Cronin, subject spokesperson for ASTI, said the higher level exam opened with an interesting article about Jim Thorpe, an Irish-American double-gold winner at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm.
Although most questions were fair, he thought an opinion question about the mindsets of the American people and the International Olympic Council was too demanding.
He identified difficult vocabulary in a second piece, an excerpt from journalist Alex Hijmans’ novel Favela, such as words for “natives” and “guardian angels”. He thought the final question was unfairly difficult.
Mr Cronin said the comprehension passages for ordinary level Irish about sports journalist Evanne Ní Chuilinn and tennis player Dáithí Ó hEithir were interesting and the related questions were fair.
For Biology students, the ordinary level Leaving Certificate exam was considered quite fair by TUI subject spokeswoman Margaret O’Neill. She thought the language was a bit more technical than might be expected at this level.
ASTI’s Biology spokes-woman Ciara O’Shea said most higher level students would have been pleased. She thought part of an ecology question about introducing an exotic species to a new environment was quite challenging, as was the interpretation of a graph in relation to photosynthesis, but a full question on the nervous system was welcome.
Business studies was examined in the morning for Junior Certificate students, with those choosing higher level facing a second paper in the afternoon.
TUI Business Studies representative Ivan O’Callaghan said both morning exams were challenging enough.
ASTI subject spokesperson Pat Morris said yesterday afternoon’s exam was probably no trouble for higher level candidates with their work well done, saying it included an interesting question on credit sales and bad debts.
www.irishexaminer.com
Did you miss Scléip on Raidió na Gaeltachta? Listen back to the programme online!
June 13, 2012
Scléip is the national talent competition catering specifically for Irish-medium and Gaeltacht post-primary schools. The competition began in 2005 and it has grown steadily since then. The aim of the competition is to encourage pupils attending Irish medium secondary schools to use their Irish through the various performing arts by giving them the opportunity to take part in a innovative and exciting event.
Raidió na Gaeltachta recorded the regional heats and final of Scléip 2012 and we are delighted to announce the broadcast dates of the 5 programmes:
- Leinster Heat: 9th June 9.00 am
- Munster Heat: 16th June 9.00 am
- Ulster Heat: 23rd June 9.00 am
- Connaught Heat: 30th June 9.00 am
- Final: 7th July 9.00 am
Congratulations again to the winners and their schools and many thanks to Fiachna Ó Braonáin and his team at Raven Productions who recorded the competition this year on behalf of Raidió na Gaeltachta.
Coláiste Lurgan – Muid lán le bród na hÉireann
June 13, 2012
The rise of An Ghaelscoil
June 13, 2012
An Foras Pátrúnachta and Gaelscoileanna Teo., will hold 2 public meetings at the end of the month to discuss 2 new gaelscoils that will open in Dublin in 2013.
The meetings will take place in Stepaside, Dublin 18, and Tallaght, Dublin 24, and will provide information regarding the new schools to both local communities.
Both schools are due to open in September 2013 under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta.
The schools are part of a scheme announced by Minister for Education and Skills Ruairí Quinn in March 2012, which will see 16 primary schools open in the year 2012-2013 nationwide, 4 of which will be gaelscoileanna.
As well as gaelscoileanna in Stepaside and Tallaght, a new gaelscoil will also open in Knockacarra, Galway, in September 2013 and Gaelscoil Chuilinn in Mulhuddart, County Dublin is due to open in September of this year.
The 2011 Census showed that the number of Irish speakers in Ireland has risen by 7.1%, an obvious factor in the rising demand for local gaelscoileanna.
Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, General Secretary of An Foras Pátrúnachta, the largest single patron for Irish-medium schools, said, “the new Gaelscoileanna will greatly add to these areas and will satisfy the huge demand there for Irish-medium education.”
The public meetings will take place at the end of June and people from the local communities, parents and volunteers are all invited to take part. Representatives from both organisations, An Foras Pátrúnachta and Gaelscoileanna Teo., will be on hand to answer any questions and provide information on the benefits of sending your child to a gaelscoil. Parents will also be given the opportunity to pre-register their child for enrolment in the new gaelscoileanna.
The first meeting will take place in Stepaside on Tuesday, 26th June 2012, in Bewley’s Hotel,
Central Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18 at 8.00pm.
The meeting to discuss the new gaelscoil for the Firhouse/Oldbawn area will take place on Wednesday, 27th June 2012, in the Malsron Hotel, Whitestown Way (N81), Tallaght, Dublin 24 at 8.00pm.
Both meetings are open to the public.
For more information contact: Caitríona Bairéad, 01-6294110, caitriona@foras.ie; or Clare Spáinneach 01- 853 5193, cspainneach@gaelscoileanna.ie.
Widely divergent views on fairness of questions
June 13, 2012
Exams Daily – Leaving Cert Irish: It was a rocky start for some, a breeze for others.
The views of teachers of Leaving Cert Irish at both levels were mixed. Some thought the ordinary-level paper the more difficult. Others disagreed.
The higher-level paper was “not a good start”, according to Clare Grealy of the Institute of Education. The essay titles were, she said, “uninteresting, unimaginative and, in a several cases, unreasonable”.
However, Robbie Cronin of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland described the paper as “f air”. An essay title, “The dilemma in the health service – My solution”, split opinion.
“This type of essay required knowledge of the health service,” Ms Grealy said. “Even through English this essay would challenge students to have an insight into something that they probably have not encountered directly.”
Mr Cronin did not take issue with the health service topic. “The essays offered variety, although there was no sign of the much expected essay on the Olympics or the importance of sport,” he said.
“If students were adequately prepared and took their time with it they would have been fine,” said Teachers Union of Ireland representative Ruth Morrissey.
While there was one question on a sporting topic, it required students to imagine interviewing the president of the GAA.
“That might have thrown some students. A lot of people would have found that very challenging,” Ms Morrissey said.
One essay title, “The worthiness of this school”, raised eyebrows. “Would students be inclined to name their school?” Ms Morrissey asked. “It may somewhat undermine the premise of candidate anonymity,” Ms Grealy agreed.
“The ordinary-level students felt harder done by than those at higher level,” said Mr Cronin. However, he pointed out that the paper was topical and fair in the most part.
Ms Morrissey described the paper as “very accessible”.
“There was a wide choice of titles and the language used was such that the students were well able to interpret it,” she said,
The exam consisted of an aural exam followed by a written composition section. This was the first year for this type of paper, with the aural exam and the essay titles on the one paper.
“The aural component of the exam seemed to be okay,” said Ms Grealy. “However, students would have been distracted as they would have had an opportunity to review the essay titles before the aural commenced.”
www.irishtimes.com
Teacher views on both levels mixed
June 13, 2012
Exams Daily – Leaving Cert Irish: It was a rocky start for some, a breeze for others.
The views of teachers of Leaving Cert Irish at both levels were mixed. Some thought the ordinary-level paper the more difficult. Others disagreed.
The higher-level paper was “not a good start”, according to Clare Grealy of the Institute of Education. The essay titles were, she said, “uninteresting, unimaginative and, in a several cases, unreasonable”.
However, Robbie Cronin of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland described the paper as “f air”. An essay title, “The dilemma in the health service – My solution”, split opinion.
“This type of essay required knowledge of the health service,” Ms Grealy said. “Even through English this essay would challenge students to have an insight into something that they probably have not encountered directly.”
Mr Cronin did not take issue with the health service topic. “The essays offered variety, although there was no sign of the much expected essay on the Olympics or the importance of sport,” he said.
“If students were adequately prepared and took their time with it they would have been fine,” said Teachers Union of Ireland representative Ruth Morrissey.
While there was one question on a sporting topic, it required students to imagine interviewing the president of the GAA.
“That might have thrown some students. A lot of people would have found that very challenging,” Ms Morrissey said.
One essay title, “The worthiness of this school”, raised eyebrows. “Would students be inclined to name their school?” Ms Morrissey asked. “It may somewhat undermine the premise of candidate anonymity,” Ms Grealy agreed.
“The ordinary-level students felt harder done by than those at higher level,” said Mr Cronin. However, he pointed out that the paper was topical and fair in the most part.
Ms Morrissey described the paper as “very accessible”.
“There was a wide choice of titles and the language used was such that the students were well able to interpret it,” she said,
The exam consisted of an aural exam followed by a written composition section. This was the first year for this type of paper, with the aural exam and the essay titles on the one paper.
“The aural component of the exam seemed to be okay,” said Ms Grealy. “However, students would have been distracted as they would have had an opportunity to review the essay titles before the aural commenced.”
www.irishtimes.com
