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New principals take over at Gaelcholáiste and Borris

July 28, 2011

Two schools in the county will have a new face at the helm this September.  Gearoidín Ní Chonghaile has been appointed as principal of Gaelcholáiste Cheatharlach, taking over from Caitlín Mhic Cárthaigh on 1 September 2011, while John O’Sullivan will replace Kieran Lucas as principal of Borris VS also on day one of the academic year.

Cynthia Deane, CEO of Carlow VEC, congratulated the two new principals and wished them every success in their new roles.

“This is a challenging time for educators, but we are truly fortunate in County Carlow VEC to have school leaders of such high calibre as Gearóidín Ní Chonghaile and John O’Sullivan,” she said. “The new principals will build on the successful traditions established by their predecessors, and honour their legacy by continuing to offer excellent educational opportunities in Gaelcholáiste Cheatharlach and in Borris Vocational School.”

Gearóidín was born in the Connemara Gaeltacht,

Cois Fharraige in County Galway. She was educated at Sailearna National School, Inverin, and Coláiste Chroí Mhuire, Spiddal.

She received her degree in Irish and history and her higher diploma in education from University College Galway. She began her teaching career in Gaelcholáiste Cheatharlach in 1992.

Her students have received numerous awards in recognition of their achievements in history and Irish from the Department of Education, Gael-linn and Foinse. Gearóidín’s interest in amateur dramatics began during her studies at university and she continues to participate in acting with Carlow’s Aisteoirí an Lóchrainn.

John was born in Listowel, Co Kerry. He was educated in St. Michael’s College, Listowel and holds a science degree and higher diploma in education from NUI, Maynooth.

He began his teaching career with Co Westmeath VEC in 1993. He came to Borris Vocational School in 1997 and was appointed deputy principal in 2006.

John is very active in promoting extracurricular activities in the school.

Under his guidance, students have participated in the Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition.

He is also involved in soccer coaching and promoting interest in photography.

John is an active member of Graignamanagh Rowing Club and is also a member of the Borris Men’s Choir.

http://www.carlow-nationalist.ie/
26 Iúil 2011

Gaeltacht Course for Irish Teachers

July 27, 2011

Comhar na Múinteoirí Gaeilge  are hosting a Gaeltacht Course for Irish language teachers in Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, Gaoth Dobhair, Co Donegal from 7  – 13 August 2011.

This course is aimed at fluent  Irish language teachers who wish to improve their Irish grammar.

The course will concentrate on spoken Irish, grammar and relevant vocabulary.

An additional workshop will also take place where the curriculum in north and south of the borders will be discussed. This workshop will be suitable for all teachers.

This is a great opportunity for teachers to embrace the language on a daily basis in a Gaeltacht area and hear the Irish language being spoken as a living language within a community.

Participants will also get the opportunity to get a taste of the rich local culture and attend events in Gaoth Dobhair.

This course is for Comhar na Múinteoirí Gaeilge members only.

Fee: €200 / £175
This fee includes classes, events, meals and accommodation.

If you are interested in this course contact Saffron Rosenstock:
Tel: (01) 639 8448
E-mail: saffron@cnmg.ie

Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com 26 Iúil 2011

Aitheantas don TEG

July 21, 2011

Sorry, this entry is only available in Irish.

Cúrsa Samhraidh do dhéagóirí

July 15, 2011

Sorry, this entry is only available in Irish.

Students’ views on junior cycle

July 15, 2011

A chara, – The article on the recently published Consultation with Young People on Reform of the Junior Cycle was headed “Make Irish optional and cut Junior Cycle”.

The report itself, however, paints a very different picture of students’ attitudes towards Irish, which are predominantly positive. Under the heading “Most Enjoy Learning Now” one finds the following “other subjects young people currently enjoy learning in school are science because it is practical and has experiments; Irish because it is easy to learn”. Elsewhere one reads that “those students who learned Irish in the Gaeltacht or French in a language college agreed that learning languages in a practical and engaging manner made them more enjoyable and easier to learn”.

The headline “Make Irish optional” is not at all the main message in the report; in fact one struggles to approach that conclusion even based on the minuscule statistical sample of 88 students (just 29 from Junior and 59 from Senior Cycle) for which there is no evidence of measures to ensure that they are statistically representative of the relevant cohort.

It is a matter of great concern then to find that the consultation “would have an impact on policy decisions in education” as reported in the article. – Yours, etc,

(Dr) SEÁN Ó CEARNAIGH, Programme Manager, Corporate Planning
SEOSAMH Ó COINNE, Programme Manager, Education,
Foras na Gaeilge,
Cearnóg Mhuirfean,
BÁC 2.

The Irish Times – Litir chuig an Eagarthóir

Official recognition for TEG Exams

July 15, 2011

Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) Level B2 has been given official recognition by the Department of Education.  This qualification now satisfies the Irish language entry requirement for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in education in the Colleges of Education in Ireland.

TEG is an examination and qualifications system for adult learners of Irish which has been offered by the Language Centre at NUI Maynooth since 2005.

This is a wonderful opportunity for those who wish to pursue primary school teaching as a career but who do not meet the necessary language  criteria.  Unlike the Leaving Cert Irish syllabus and exams, TEG syllabuses and exams are designed and delivered with the adult learner in mind, providing a more rounded learning experience.

TEG exams take place once a year, in April and in May in ten centres in Ireland and preparatory courses are run in several education centres throughout the country.  The Language Centre provides teaching materials and supports free of charge to teachers and  learners on our website www.teg.ie or call 01 7086417 for further information.

www.gaelport.com

Campa Samhraidh do Ghaeilgeoirí óga Ard Mhacha

July 15, 2011

Sorry, this entry is only available in Irish.

Make Irish optional and cut junior cycle, say students

July 12, 2011

THE JUNIOR cycle at secondary school should be cut from three years to two, and the only compulsory subjects should be English and maths, according to young people asked about the future of the cycle.

A report on the consultation process and its conclusions was published by Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn and Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald yesterday.

Some 88 young people aged from 12 to 18 from around the State were consulted in a day-long forum in Dublin last November.

Asked what changes they would make if they were minister for education for a day, the young people said they would change the junior cycle to two years, change the senior cycle to three years, have fewer exams and a wider range of subjects.

They would also place more emphasis on practical subjects and social and life skills, encourage new teaching methods, assess teachers more effectively and consult students more.

The older students in the consultation said they would have liked “taster” subjects in their first year of the junior cycle, saying it would give them the opportunity to try subjects for about six to eight weeks to see if they liked them and those teaching them.

“Many felt the role of teachers was most important. Often students liked a subject because of who was teaching it or how it was being taught.”

Many also felt there could be improvements to the way several subjects were presented and taught, including physical education, religion, science and social, personal and health education.

Mr Quinn said the report would have an impact on policy decisions in education.

“I believe that we all learn most effectively when we experience issues for ourselves, through investigation and research, project and practical work and group discussion,” he said.

“These are skills for independent learning which will serve us well over a lifetime.”

He added that reforms of the junior and senior cycles at secondary were already under way.

“If the reforms go ahead as they are currently envisaged, 50 per cent of the work at Junior Certificate [level] will be examined through continuous assessment of their portfolios.”

Ms Fitzgerald described as “interesting” the finding that the majority of young people did not want Irish to be a compulsory subject.

“What’s really important is to ask young people, to hear their views and to involve them.”

Irish Times

Irish Classes @ UL

July 12, 2011

Refreshers Conversational Course for Adults
3 week intensive course, two evenings a week @ 18.30-21.00
Tuesday 12/19/26 July 2011
Thursday 14/21/28 July 2011
If you did Irish at school but feel you are very out of practice, this course is for you. €100

Get to Grips with Irish Grammar!
Intensive course over 3 consecutive evenings
Monday 11- Wednesday 13 July 2011 @ 18.30-21.30. €60

Tuilleadh Eolais/More info:
Ciara, Aonad na Gaeilge UL
061 234 754
ciara.considine@ul.ie

Cúrsaí an tSamhraidh 2011: www.ul.ie/aonadnagaeilge

Acmhainní ar fáil ar shuíomh nua Altram

July 8, 2011

Sorry, this entry is only available in Irish.

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