Text size

Folúntas: Post le Dowtcha Puppets

November 23, 2015

Sorry, this entry is only available in Irish.

(Gaeilge) Oibrí Cúram Leanaí

November 23, 2015

Sorry, this entry is only available in Irish.

Bilingual kids have multiple advantages, no matter what the languages are

November 23, 2015

We live in a world of great linguistic diversity. More than half of the world’s population grows up with more than one language. There are, on the other hand, language communities that are monolingual, typically some parts of the English-speaking world.

In this case, bilingualism or multilingualism can be seen as an extraordinary situation—a source of admiration and worry at the same time. But there are communities where bilingualism or multilingualism are the norm—for example in regions of Africa. A Cameroonian, for example, could speak Limbum and Sari, both indigenous languages, plus Ewondo, a lingua franca, plus English or French, the official languages, plus Camfranglais, a further lingua franca used between anglophone and francophone Cameroonians.

On a smaller scale, we all know families where bilingualism or multilingualism are the norm, because the parents speak different languages or because the family uses a language different from that of the community around them.

How difficult is it for a child to grow up in such an environment? And what are bilingual children capable of? Well, they are capable of quite a lot, even at a very young age. They can understand and produce expressions in more than one language, they know who to address in which language, they are able to switch very fast from one language to the other.

Noses for grammar

Clearly we are talking here of a range of different skills: social, linguistic and cognitive. Social skills are the most known: bilingual children are able to interact with speakers of (at least) two languages and thus have direct access to two different cultures.

But they also have linguistic skills, some very obvious, such as understanding and using words and expressions in different languages. A less obvious aspect is that bilingual children have a raised awareness for how language “works.” For example, bilinguals are better than monolinguals of the same age at pinpointing that the sentence “apples growed on trees” is bad, and “apples grow on noses” is fine, but doesn’t make sense.

Less known are the cognitive skills developed by bilinguals, an issue of great interest for research at the moment, as seen, for example, in work by Ellen Bialystok and colleagues. Probably due to the practice of switching languages, bilinguals are very good at taking different perspectives, dealing with conflicting cues and ignoring irrelevant information. This skill can be applied to domains other than language, making it an added value of bilingualism.

Is it worth it?

What if one of the languages is not a “useful” one because, for example, it does not have many speakers (for example, Cornish)? Is it worth exposing the child to it? The linguistic, social and cognitive advantages mentioned above hold, independently of the specific languages. Any combination of languages has the same effect.

A common worry is that trying to speak two (or more) languages could be too strenuous for the child. But there is no need for concern: learning to speak is more similar to learning to walk than it is to learning a school subject. Learning to speak is genetically programmed. The brain is certainly able to cope with more than one language, as research and experience shows.

There could be a practical problem, though, in providing enough exposure to the languages. The stress is then on the parents to ensure the opportunity to interact with speakers of the languages in question. Bilingualism is not genetic: having parents who speak different language does not guarantee a bilingual child.

Code-switching is cool

Another frequent worry is that of the child learning two half languages, short of the “proper” version of either of them. One may, for example, hear bilinguals—children and adults—using words or expressions from two or more of the languages in their linguistic repertoire in a single sentence or text, a phenomenon known as code-switching.

Often people assume that the main reason for doing this is a lack of sufficient proficiency in one of the languages, such that the speaker cannot continue in the language they started in. They also often assume that the choice of the words from one language or the other is random. Far from it. Code-switching is common among bilinguals and, contrary to popular belief, it follows grammatical rules.

Research has shown regular patterns in code-switching, influenced by the languages concerned, by community norms and by which language(s) people learn first or use more frequently. Very often, code-switchers are very highly proficient in the languages concerned. Code-switching also follows social rules: bilingual children only use it if they know the interlocutor knows the “other” language.

Additionally, if asked for clarification, they know if they have spoken too quietly or used the wrong language, and only switch in the latter case. Both bilingual children and adults have a range of reasons, including sociolinguistic reasons to code-switch. Code-switching can be cool!

All typically developing children will learn one language. To learn more than one they need the opportunity and the motivation. Growing up with more than one language is an asset well worth the investment.

http://qz.com/543919/the-incredible-ever-growing-multi-faceted-value-of-being-bilingual-in-our-global-economy/

No school refusal for children based on religion – State agency

November 19, 2015

School admission laws should be changed to ensure no child is refused a school place on the basis of their religion, the State’s human rights advisory body has told the Government.

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has recommended that existing laws be changed in order to eliminate discrimination in school admissions against children of minority faiths or no faith.

The recommendations are contained in the State body’s observations on the new Admissions to Schools Bill (2015), which is due to go before the Oireachtas shortly for debate. Some 96 per cent of primary schools are controlled by religious patrons, including 90 per cent by the Catholic Church.

The National Council for Special Education said while many secondary schools have inclusive admissions policies, it was disappointed there were still barriers to opening special classes, even in cases where they were clearly needed.

Early Childhood Ireland chief executive officer Teresa Heeney: says vital supports such as speech therapists, psychologists and occupational therapists are needed.

In its observations, the commission says the new legislation provides a vital opportunity to revise a clause in the Equal Status Acts which permits schools to discriminate on the basis of religion.

It says jurisprudence regarding the European Convention on Human Rights, criticism by regional and international human rights bodies and a lack of diversity of schools for both minority faith and non-faith children underscores the need for change.
While the Constitution protects the right to denominational education, the commission says the new Bill could still comply with the provision by providing case-by-case exemptions – to be granted by the Minister for Education – where it is proved to be essential to maintaining the ethos of the school.

Circumstances
It says further detail in relation to the operation of this derogation could be stipulated in regulations, emphasising the “very exceptional circumstances” in which it would be permitted.

Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan is to place the admissions Bill before the Oireachtas in the coming weeks.

Ms O’Sullivan has signalled support for setting aside 10 per cent of school places for the children of past pupils, down from a 25 per cent quota suggested by her predecessor, Ruairí Quinn.

The commission, however, recommends that such a rule should be prohibited on the basis that it could discriminate against families without historical ties to a school, as well as migrants and other minorities.Another recommendation is that schools ensure general religious classes – outside faith formation – should avoid “indoctrination”.

School gives land to other patron
Ireland’s oldest Catholic secondary school, St Kieran’s College Kilkenny, has provided a site to a non-denominational patron for two other schools in the city.

The site has been handed over by St Kieran’s to the Department of Education and Skills, which has granted funding for new buildings on the campus to accommodate 350 secondary pupils.

The two schools are Kilkenny Vocational School, which has been located on the St Kieran’s campus since 1979, and Coláiste Pobal Osraí established in 1991. Both are run by the Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board.

The patron of St Kieran’s and Bishop of Ossory Séamus Freeman said that the move would “further guarantee a greater educational choice for parents and students in the surrounding area”.

(Gaeilge) Folúntas: Coláiste Cois Life, Baile Átha Cliath

November 19, 2015

Sorry, this entry is only available in Irish.

Huge rise in Mid Ulster Irish school enrolments

November 19, 2015

The rise of Mid Ulster’s gaelscoils is dramatically changing the face of local education, according to the latest figures from the Department of Education.

Enrolments at some of the Irish language medium schools in the local district has increased five-fold in the past three years, the highest rate in Northern Ireland.

The number of pupils attending Cookstown’s Gaelscoil Eoghain has jumped from 13 in 2013, to 67 this year, while pupil numbers have doubled at Gaelscoil Aodha Rua in Dungannon, from 31 in 2013 to 67 this year.

St Joseph’s Grammar, Donaghmore added an Irish Medium Stream in 2010, which has also proved popular with local parents.

Coalisland’s Gaelscoil Uí Neill has the largest enrolment of the Irish medium schools in Mid Ulster, and the third highest in the North, with 189 pupils in total.

According to the figures, there are currently 467 pupils in the district’s Irish primary schools, with 256 in Coalisland and Dungannon’s schools, 67 in Cookstown’s and 144 in Magherfelt’s.

The number of Northern Irish pupils being taught through Irish has almost doubled in the last 10 years to just under 5,000 – 830 are in secondary education.

72% of all Irish-medium primary schools are independent, outside of the controlled or Catholic-maintained sector and have pupils from Catholic, Protestant and other backgrounds.
International research shows that bilingual pupils have a greater tolerance of other cultures, something which is most relevant to the principles of shared education.

Research commissioned by the Department of Education for Northern Ireland (Deni) has indicated that Irish-medium children were more open to cultural diversity.

Proponents of Irish-medium education says it offers a system which improves children’s skills in English and Irish, making them more tolerant while also providing the skills to learn further languages with greater ease.

However, in spite of the hike in enrolments many of the schools still have empty desks to fill, with a total of £1.5million spent last year on Mid Ulster’s Irish medium schools. Of the five Irish speaking schools in the local area, only one is above the minimum enrolment number.

http://www.tyronetimes.co.uk/news/tyrone-news/huge-rise-in-mid-ulster-irish-school-enrolments-1-7072824#ixzz3rvf6kMEQ

TD and former Minister disappointed for gaelscoil after school funding news

November 19, 2015

Former MEP, Minister and TD Pat “The Cope” Gallagher and Deputy Thomas Pringle, have responded with disappointment to the recent announcement that Gaelscoil na gCeithre Máistrí will not be getting any school funding until 2019.

Many Donegal schools have now been informed that they will receive Capital Grant Programme funding in 2016, such as Glenswilly National School, but the gaelscoil wont see a cent for years, despite the fact that they have already obtained planning permission.

The site the gaelscoil has permission to build on is owned by the Department of Education and is fully serviced with water, sewerage and electricity facilities. Deputy Pringle said, “Despite the many representations I have made on the school’s behalf and the urgent need for permanent accommodation, the school has not been granted the much needed funding to allow building to commence.”

He continued to say, “It’s clear the Government lacks a balanced approach to investment in education. I don’t know how a school that has been in temporary accommodation for 17 years with pre-fab classrooms for several of those years is not prioritised under this new programme.”

Pringle believes that the government has a lot of making up to do after years of under-investment in Donegal’s schools. “This should have been reflected in the programme through a timely and tailored funding schedule targeting the accommodation needs of schools like Gaelscoil Máistrí,” he concluded.

Pat “The Cope” Gallagher also thinks that the school is at a “major disadvantage” due to the lack of a proper building. He said, “Now that the decision in principle has been taken, every effort must be made to bring the commencement forward.”

(Gaeilge) D’fhéadfá iad a thógáil i bpluais agus d’fhoghlaimeoidís Béarla…

November 19, 2015

Sorry, this entry is only available in Irish.

(Gaeilge) Foláireamh tugtha maidir le fógra na Roinne Oideachais faoi bhunú Ghaelcholáiste Mhaigh Nuad

November 19, 2015

Sorry, this entry is only available in Irish.

Huge rise in Mid Ulster Irish school enrolments

November 19, 2015

The rise of Mid Ulster’s gaelscoils is dramatically changing the face of local education, according to the latest figures from the Department of Education.

Enrolments at some of the Irish language medium schools in the local district has increased five-fold in the past three years, the highest rate in Northern Ireland.

The number of pupils attending Cookstown’s Gaelscoil Eoghain has jumped from 13 in 2013, to 67 this year, while pupil numbers have doubled at Gaelscoil Aodha Rua in Dungannon, from 31 in 2013 to 67 this year.

St Joseph’s Grammar, Donaghmore added an Irish Medium Stream in 2010, which has also proved popular with local parents.

Coalisland’s Gaelscoil Uí Neill has the largest enrolment of the Irish medium schools in Mid Ulster, and the third highest in the North, with 189 pupils in total.

According to the figures, there are currently 467 pupils in the district’s Irish primary schools, with 256 in Coalisland and Dungannon’s schools, 67 in Cookstown’s and 144 in Magherfelt’s.

The number of Northern Irish pupils being taught through Irish has almost doubled in the last 10 years to just under 5,000 – 830 are in secondary education.

72% of all Irish-medium primary schools are independent, outside of the controlled or Catholic-maintained sector and have pupils from Catholic, Protestant and other backgrounds.
International research shows that bilingual pupils have a greater tolerance of other cultures, something which is most relevant to the principles of shared education.

Research commissioned by the Department of Education for Northern Ireland (Deni) has indicated that Irish-medium children were more open to cultural diversity.

Proponents of Irish-medium education says it offers a system which improves children’s skills in English and Irish, making them more tolerant while also providing the skills to learn further languages with greater ease.

However, in spite of the hike in enrolments many of the schools still have empty desks to fill, with a total of £1.5million spent last year on Mid Ulster’s Irish medium schools. Of the five Irish speaking schools in the local area, only one is above the minimum enrolment number.

www.tyronetimes.co.uk

« Previous PageNext Page »