Méid an Téacs

Dead or alive? New campaign tackles Irish language myths

Márta 16, 2017

List of ‘alternative facts’ includes claims language is dead and Gaelscoileanna are élitist

The Irish language is dead, Gaelscoileanna are elitist and Ireland would be socially conservative if we spoke Irish.

These are some of the assumptions challenged by a new campaign designed to debunk misconceptions surrounding the language.

Called Mythbusting, the campaign comprises a series of 10 videos and talks organised around the country by Colm Ó Broin, an Irish speaker and Conradh na Gaeilge member from Clondalkin.

Mr Ó Broin said he felt compelled to challenge these claims as as they arise whenever an article on the Irish language appears in the media.

The video series is being launched on Thursday to coincide with Lá na Meáin Sóisialta, a Seachtain na Gaeilge initiative encouraging the use of Irish and the use of hashtag #LNMS17 on social media.

The first myth tackled is the claim that Irish is a dead language. Mr Ó Broin says research data and census figures point to the exact opposite. “In terms of fluency, the Irish Language Survey carried out by Amárach Research in 2013 showed that almost 500,000 people across Ireland can have a conversation in Irish and another 150,000 have “native speaker fluency.”

“Even this figure would give Irish more fluent speakers than most languages in the world”.

Education

The debate surrounding the Irish language renders the provision of bilingual education a hot topic, and while the ever-increasing demand for education through Irish continues to go unmet there are still critics who claim that such schools are elitist.

Pointing out that more than half of the primary-level Gaelscoileanna in Dublin and Belfast are situated in working-class areas, Mr Ó Broin says children from every social class in Ireland attend Irish-medium schools.

He contests the claim there is a racist motive behind the decision by parents to send their children to Irish medium schools.

“While there may be some parents who have this motivation – to stereotype all Gaelscoil parents as racists because of the actions of a few is prejudiced in itself.”

“Irish-medium education is available and welcoming to children from all backgrounds,” he adds.

For those who believe it is irrelevant in modern society and that Irish would make the country too insular, Mr Ó Broin says: “By this logic, more than 180 countries in the world would also be insular as they don’t speak English as their first language.

“Speaking Irish doesn’t mean you can’t speak English or any other language to interact with people from other countries. In fact, studies have shown that learning a second language increases tolerance.”

The next Mythbusting talk takes place on March 21st at 8pm in Gorey Library, Co Wexford. Other talks are planned for Galway on March 31st, Belfast on April 22nd and Derry on May 13th.

The following ‘alternative facts’ are addressed as part of the campaign:

1 “Irish is a dead language”

2 “Irish has taken lots of words from English”

3 “Ireland would be poor if we spoke Irish”

4 “Gaelscoileanna and other Irish-speaking schools are elitist”

5 “Ireland would be insular if we spoke Irish”

6 “Ireland would be socially conservative if we spoke Irish”

7 “The Irish language has been ‘politicised’”

8 “Irish shouldn’t be an official EU language”

9 “The pronunciation of Irish names makes no sense”

10 “Irish isn’t compatible with modern technology”

Físeán anseo/ Video here: https://youtu.be/XCEjILUJvFc

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/dead-or-alive-new-campaign-tackles-irish-language-myths-1.3012088

An dara siollabas Gaeilge don Teastas Sóisearach faofa ag an Aire Oideachais

Márta 15, 2017

Tá imní ann i measc lucht an Ghaeloideachais agus múinteoirí Gaeilge ar fud na tíre faoin siollabas nua agus meastar nach bhfuil dóthain ullmhúcháin déanta chun an siollabas a thabhairt isteach.

Tá an siollabas nua Gaeilge don Teastas Sóisearach faofa ag an Aire Oideachais Richard Bruton. Deimhníodh i gciorclán a d’eisigh an Roinn Oideachais an tseachtain seo go bhfuil sé i gceist ag an Roinn an siollabas nua Gaeilge don Teastas Sóisearach a thabhairt isteach ag tús na scoilbhliana seo chugainn, i Meán Fómhair 2017.

Tabharfar an siollabas nua Gaeilge i bhfeidhm do lucht na chéad bhliana an fómhar seo mar aon leis an siollabas nua do theangacha na hEorpa, an Fhraincis, an Ghearmáinis, an Spáinnis agus an Iodáilis, agus siollabas nua ealaíne. Beidh na daltaí a thosóidh ar an gcúrsa nua i mbliana ag tabhairt faoin Teastas Sóisearach in 2020. Deimhníodh sa chiorclán a scaipeadh an tseachtain seo go bhfuil na siollabais seo uilig faofa ag an Aire Bruton.

Beidh dhá “shonraíocht” Ghaeilge, mar a thugtar orthu sa cháipéis, i gceist don Teastas Sóisearach feasta. Díreoidh sonraíocht amháin ar dhaltaí arb í an Ghaeilge a dteanga dhúchais agus ar dhaltaí atá ag freastal ar scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge. Tabharfar an sonraíocht isteach i scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge agus i scoileanna Béarla a mbíonn ábhar amháin nó níos mó, taobh amuigh den Ghaeilge féin, á mhúineadh i nGaeilge.

Beidh an dara sonraíocht dírithe ar dhaltaí nach í an Ghaeilge an chéad teanga atá acu agus tá sé i gceist go dtabharfar isteach é i scoileanna nach í an Ghaeilge an teanga theagaisc iontu.

Tá imní ann i measc lucht an Ghaeloideachais agus múinteoirí Gaeilge ar fud na tíre faoin siollabas nua agus meastar nach bhfuil an siollabas réidh le cur i bhfeidhm fós.

Sheol an eagraíocht COGG, a bhfuil feidhm reachtúil orthu comhairle a chur ar an Roinn Oideachais i dtaobh a bpolasaí Gaeilge, litir chuig an Roinn Oideachais ag moladh nach dtabharfaí isteach an cúrsa nua i mbliana mar atá beartaithe ach go gcuirfí siar é go dtí Meán Fómhair 2018. Tuigtear do Tuairisc.ie nach bhfuair COGG aon fhreagra ar an litir sin go fóill.

Bhí múinteoirí Gaeilge ar labhair Tuairisc.ie leo ar aon phort le COGG nach bhfuil an t-ullmhúchán ceart déanta chun an dara siollabas a thabhairt isteach. Dúirt na múinteoirí sin gur ar éigean go bhfuil aon sonraí tugtha ag an Roinn Oideachais dóibh faoin siollabas nua, agus go bhfuil doiléire ag baint le pé sonraí atá tugtha dóibh.

Bhí amhras mór ar mhúinteoirí chomh maith go mbeadh aon téacsleabhar le dealramh réidh don chúrsa nua roimh thús na scoilbhliana seo chugainn.

Eagraíodh laethanta inseirbhíse do mhúinteoirí Gaeilge le déanaí chun iad a chur ar an eolas maidir le pleananna na Roinne don siollabas agus dúirt duine amháin a d’fhreastail ar cheann de na hócáidí gur mó ceisteanna ná freagraí a fuarthas le linn na hócáide sin. Dúirt sé freisin go bhfuil mearbhall níos mó anois air ina diaidh.

Thug an Roinn Oideachais le fios do na múinteoirí go bhfoilseofaí ‘an tsonraíocht’ maidir leis an siollabas nua as seo go ceann cúpla seachtain, ach ba bheag dóchas a bhí ag na múinteoirí a labhair le Tuairisc.ie go dtabharfadh foilsiú na sonraíochta sin chun soiléire an scéal.

Tá lucht páirte an Ghaeloideachais ag éileamh le fada an lá go dtabharfaí isteach siollabas Gaeilge nua don Teastas Sóisearach agus don Ardteist a dhéanfadh freastal mar ba chóir ar riachtanais an chainteora dúchais agus an chainteora líofa Gaeilge.

Dúirt duine amháin a bhí páirteach san fheachtas fada go mba thrua anois dá dtabharfaí isteach siollabas “a chodail amuigh ar mhaithe lena thaispeáint go bhfuil rud éigin ar siúl”.

“Is mithid é a dhéanamh, is fiú é a dhéanamh, agus ba chóir é a dhéanamh ceart. Sin é é. Ní éireoidh leis más in aghaidh a dtola a chuirfear faoi bhráid na múinteoirí é sula mbíonn na sonraí ar fad ar eolas agus sula mbíonn an cur chuige ag teacht le riachtanais an dalta seachas riachtanais na Roinne,” a dúirt duine acu siúd a bhí lárnach i bhfeachtas ar son an dara siollabas don chainteoir dúchais.

http://www.peig.ie/nuacht-as-gaeilge/an-dara-siollabas-gaeilge-don-teastas-soisearach-faofa-ag-an-aire-oideachais

New ambitious targets for Literacy and Numeracy set by Minister Bruton

Márta 15, 2017

Targeted improvements in Maths and reading for all schools – 50% of sixth class pupils to perform at the highest levels in reading and Maths by 2020

Increase by 42% the number of 6th class pupils in disadvantaged primary schools performing at the highest levels in Maths

Particular focus on numeracy and digital skills

The Minister for Education & Skills, Mr. Richard Bruton, TD, today published new, updated ambitious targets for numeracy and literacy in our schools, as part of the drive to achieve the best education service in Europe within a decade.

The Report published today shows that all of the targets set for reading and maths at primary level in the 2011 Literacy and Numeracy Strategy were reached and significant progress has been made towards achievement of the targets at post-primary. These results are confirmed by recent strong results in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and the Trends in International Maths and Science Study (TIMSS) (see below).

While recent trends are encouraging, it is clear that there is still room for improvement, in particular in Maths, and the updated targets set a particular focus on numeracy. For this reason, the new targets set by Minister Bruton are particularly ambitious in the numeracy area. The Action Plan for Education, which has the overall aim of making Ireland the best education and training service in Europe within a decade, outlines a series of ambitious actions to further improve our performance in maths, including: introducing coding and computer science throughout the school curriculum; a comprehensive National Policy Statement on STEM Education in schools; and ambitious new measures to upskill maths teachers.

Minister Bruton has set out that tackling educational disadvantage will be a key priority during his Ministry. For this reason, Minister Bruton has for the first time set specific targets for literacy and numeracy within disadvantaged schools as part of this strategy. Such targets were not included in the original strategy published in 2011. For example, we have set a target to increase the number of pupils in DEIS Band 1 urban primary schools performing at the highest levels in Maths at sixth class by 2020, by 42%. This is underpinned by the publication of the DEIS Plan 2017 by the Minister, which will see €15m extra being invested to tackle educational disadvantage each year.

There will also be an increased emphasis on higher-achieving students and on embedding achievements in literacy, in particular literacy for and through the Irish language, and also on enhancing the digital literacy skills of our learners.

Priority actions included in the plan include:

  • Prioritising the development of maths curricula at primary and post-primary, including the redevelopment of the primary maths curriculum, encompassing the introduction of computational and creative thinking skills and coding.
  • The Professional Development Service for Teachers refining its literacy and numeracy supports for teachers.
  • Reviewing the time allocation for maths at primary to ensure that the allocation reflects learners’ requirements.
  • Implementation of new curricula in Irish at both primary and post-primary, which aim to improve Irish as Language 1 in Irish medium schools and Irish as Language 2 in English medium schools.
  • Supporting ECCE practitioners and teachers in Early Start centres with comprehensive implementation of the Aistear curriculum framework, in particular development of early literacy and numeracy skills.
  • Support for the transitions between educational settings, e.g. the move from early years settings to primary schools, by developing reporting templates-for use by ECCE practitioners, schools and parents-based on research and trialling.
  • Carrying out research on creative and innovative ways to support parents in their role as educators.

Minister Bruton said:

“Being able to read, write and do so effectively are key skills which every young person leaving school should have if they are to achieve their full potential.”

“While we are performing very well in reading, there is room for improvement in maths. The Action Plan for Education, which has the overall aim of making Ireland the best education service in Europe within a decade, outlines a series of ambitious actions to further improve our performance so as to significantly reduce the gap with the top European performers in maths and science in particular. We will be developing a new maths curriculum at primary, including computational thinking, creative thinking skills and coding, and reviewing the structure and time allocation of the primary maths curriculum, as a whole. We will adopt a STEM Education Policy Statement, and ambitious new measures to upskill maths teachers. The Digital Strategy for Schools and the investment of €210m over its lifetime will also be a major factor in implementing change.”

“Every child has to have the opportunity to fulfil their potential, regardless of their circumstances. Education has a unique capacity to break down the cycles of disadvantage. Our recently published DEIS Plan aims to increase the outcomes for students in more disadvantaged schools. I want, for example, to see an increase of 42% in the number of pupils in disadvantaged urban primary schools performing at the highest levels in maths at sixth class by 2020.”

“The Report shows the significant progress that has been made since 2011. Everyone should be very proud of what has been achieved to date.  A huge part of this success is due to the commitment of ECCE practitioners, teachers and school leaders, parents and school managers, staff in support services of various types, teacher educators, a range of other bodies, agencies and organisations, and especially the young people who have worked so hard to enhance their literacy and numeracy skills.”

“I believe the new and updated targets set, and the actions identified within this Report will enable us to focus on achieving the best results for our learners – and ultimately ensuring that every child has the opportunity to achieve their potential in life.”

Ends

NOTES FOR EDITORS

The Review, with new and updated targets, is available at:

– See more at: http://www.education.ie/en/Press-Events/Press-Releases/2017-Press-Releases/PR17-03-14.html#sthash.UEtiuRiC.dpuf

Irish-language schools conference to look at impact of `nurture’ groups

Márta 15, 2017

IRISH-language educators from north and south will gather this week to examine issues including the experience of the `nurture’ approach to schooling.

Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, the representative body for Irish-medium education in the north, will hold its annual conference on Thursday in An Carn, Maghera.

It is expected to attract delegates from schools across Ireland as well as representatives from Irish language, educational and cultural bodies.

Speakers will contribute on various subjects including new electronic resources for Irish-medium education and the Irish-medium experience of the nurture approach.

Nurture groups work to improve social, emotional and behavioural outcomes among children from some of the most deprived areas.

Scoil an Droichid in south Belfast and Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagáin in the north of the city started operating nurture groups last September.

The concept has been widely developed across the UK to address identified behavioural needs within schools, offering a safe and welcoming environment to promote learning and positive behaviours.

They are recognised as playing a key role in tackling under-achievement early in a child’s life by providing targeted support.

Hundreds of children – from P1 to P3 – benefit from extra help in special facilities that are typically equipped with kitchens, sofas, and quiet rooms.

The Centre for Evidence and Social Innovation at Queen’s University Belfast last year published a report into the impact of the units in primary schools.

It found clear evidence that nurture group provision was “highly successful in its primary aim of achieving improvements in the social, emotional and behavioural skills of children from deprived areas exhibiting significant difficulties”.

Also due to speak at An Carn is Feargal Mac Bhloscaidh from Coláiste Feirste, who will present on extended writing, and Seán Fennel from Gaelscoil na bhFál who will deliver a workshop on language support at Key Stage 2.

In addition, Tracey McGovern from Middletown Centre for Autism will address pressing questions around special educational needs (SEN), and two newly-formed Irish-medium SEN cluster-groups will lead a session for SEN coordinators.

http://www.irishnews.com/news/educationnews/2017/03/15/news/irish-language-schools-conference-to-look-at-impact-of-nurture-groups-962531/

Why one of Ireland’s most famous schools is going Gaelscoil

Márta 14, 2017

Synge Street in Dublin 8 is turning to the Irish language to restore pupil numbers

t’s one of Ireland’s best-known schools, with an impressive roll call of past pupils such as Gay Byrne, Eddie Jordan, Eamonn Andrews and former president, Cearbhail Ó Dálaigh. It’s such a part of Irish culture, it even had a hit movie made about it.

Now the primary school of Dublin’s Synge Street is going gaelscoil – because all-Irish schools are what parents of children in the city centre want most.

Currently, Synge Street primary is an all-boys Catholic school that accepts children from second class up to sixth class.

But from September, it will introduce a new stream of co-ed pupils, starting at junior infants level, with pupils learning only through Irish.

This gaelscoil stream – or “sruth” – of boys and girls will run alongside, but separate from, the boys-only classes learning through English.

But the classes will be divided, even at break-times, to ensure the Irish-language students get full immersion in the language.

Principal Gerard Mooney says the introduction of the Irish stream is a unique development – Synge Street is the first school Ireland to do it.

He explains that the idea came about due to a combination of dramatic depopulation in Dublin city centre, combined with increased demand for all-Irish education.

“We’re taking an infant class this year for the first time, and they will learn through Irish. This is a unique approach in Ireland.

Inner city depopulation

“Depopulation in the south inner city has resulted in a significant drop in school numbers.

“One-third of our school population was from local areas that have been savagely depopulated and there are no plans to rebuild or regenerate. Prohibitively high rents have driven a lot of families out of the area.

“The demographic completely changed, due to the cost of houses and rent increases. It is very unfair on families.”

Synge Street primary – Sancta Maria – is a Catholic school that is part of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust. One of the tenets of its ethos is to reach out to needs in the community.

Mooney says the introduction of the sruth is in keeping with that principle.

“We are responding to the needs of the community. There are many parents in the area who want to educate their children through the medium of Irish, but the local gaelscoileanna in Harold’s Cross and Ranelagh were over-subscribed and they were disappointed.

“We did the research and found there was a significant need for a gaelscoil and we said: Let’s try this.”

With gaelscoileanna regarded as the school of choice for the elite, is the development a sign of changing times in the “city end” of Dublin 8?

Catchment areas like Portobello and the Tenters are increasingly middle-class enclaves.

Only high-earning couples with children can afford to live there. Is this what’s driving the change?

Mixed school

Mooney is aware it is a factor – but says what local parents really wanted was a mixed school that started at junior infant level.

Synge Street primary had been hand-tied by traditional church rules that meant the boys started only from second class onwards.

Prior to second class, pupils attend local convents for junior school up to first class, and then switch over to Synge Street.

But many parents were averse to the idea of moving kids from one school to another once they’d got settled. Others aren’t keen on single-sex education.

The middle-class preference for their little ones to be educated as gaeilge is just one aspect.

Mooney says of the driving force: “Every society has its microcosms. I’d say it’s 50/50. Half was those who wanted a gaelscoil and half who wanted a mixed school starting from junior infants.

“We had been restricted by the second- to sixth-class model that history and politics dictated, and we had to change the status of the school [to introduce the gaelscoil stream].

“There is a sense of resurgence of national identity, and the 1916 centenary had a big influence. It has broadened into a pride of language and has cast off some of our old attitudes. Parents want their children to be aware of their cultural heritage.

Cognitive ability

“The bonus of learning a second language early on is that it bumps up cognitive ability. People are prepared to go the extra mile for their children to have a good education.”

When the new junior infants arrive at Synge Street gates for the first time this September, it will be the result of Trojan work by Principal Mooney and the school.

“We are two years now getting to the point where we can offer this new stream to parents.

“First, I had to convince the Archbishop [Diarmuid Martin] and he supported us when he saw there was a crying need for branching out, while also supporting the needs of parents.

“Then we had to convince the Department of Education. We’re making the conversions and putting the facilities for it in place now.”

The maximum number of students in a class is 28, and with just over a month left until enrolment closes, the gaelscoil class is almost full.

Meanwhile in Synge Street boys-only primary, there is an average of only 12 boys per year.

Once one of the biggest schools on the city’s south side, the school, founded in 1864, educated broadcaster Mike Murphy, actor David Kelly, writer Flann O’Brien, oncologist John Crown and politician Liam Cosgrave.

There are now 60 students in the primary school, where in decades past, there were hundreds.

SING STREET VS SYNGE STREET: A HOLLYWOOD VERSION OF REALITY

Dublin director John Carney’s film about Synge Street – a high-school comedy musical called Sing Street – put the school on the map internationally when it was released last year.

It featured Aiden Gillen and Jack Reynor, as well as newcomers Ferdia Walsh-Peelo and Lucy Boynton.

It was a feel-good fictitious tale that was part-based on Carney’s time as a student in the secondary school back in the 1980s.

The movie was nominated for a Golden Globe and portrayed Synge Street as a school where the kids were rough and the teachers were even rougher.

So: was it a good thing or a bad thing for the historic Christian Brothers school, which is over 150 years old?

The primary school principal Gerard Mooney takes it for what it is – a Hollywood version of reality.

Facts vs film

“It was grand, it was good craic. People have to understand that you must allow for licence. Never let the facts get in the way of a good story!” says Mooney.

“You just suspend disbelief and enjoy it as it is. There is a good part of the movie that is cultural memory and cultural stereotype.

“I see the men here retired and living in the house beside us and they are a different body of men you see personified in the movie.

“But it was good, we were delighted with it – and it’s an honour to have our very own movie. Mount Temple, where U2 went, didn’t get a movie – but Synge Street did!”

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/why-one-of-ireland-s-most-famous-schools-is-going-gaelscoil-1.3002628?utm_source=morning_digest&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news_digest

Iarrtha ag COGG ar an Roinn Oideachais gan an dara siollabas Gaeilge don Teastas Sóisearach a thabhairt isteach i mbliana

Márta 10, 2017

Creideann an Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta agus múinteoirí Gaeilge nach bhfuil an siollabas nua do chainteoirí líofa Gaeilge réidh le tabhairt isteach i Meán Fómhair mar atá beartaithe ag an Roinn Oideachais.

Tuigtear do Tuairisc.ie go bhfuil iarrtha ag COGG ar an Roinn Oideachais gan an siollabas nua do chainteoirí líofa Gaeilge don Teastas Sóisearach a thabhairt isteach i mbliana toisc go meastar nach bhfuil sé réidh fós.

Moltar sa litir atá seolta ag COGG, a bhfuil feidhm reachtúil orthu comhairle a chur ar an Roinn Oideachais i dtaobh a bpolasaí Gaeilge, nach dtabharfaí isteach an cúrsa nua i mbliana mar atá beartaithe ach go gcuirfí siar é go dtí Meán Fómhair 2018.

Bhí múinteoirí Gaeilge ar labhair Tuairisc.ie leo inné  ar aon phort le COGG nach bhfuil an t-ullmhúchán ceart déanta chun an dara siollabas a thabhairt isteach. Dúirt na múinteoirí sin gur ar éigean go bhfuil aon sonraí tugtha ag an Roinn Oideachais dóibh faoin siollabas nua, agus go bhfuil doiléire ag baint le pé sonraí atá tugtha dóibh.

Bhí amhras mór ar mhúinteoirí chomh maith go mbeadh aon téacsleabhar le dealramh réidh don chúrsa nua roimh thús na scoilbhliana seo chugainn.

“Tá dearcadh ‘it’ll be alright on the night’ léirithe ag an Roinn faoin scéal ar fad agus ní léir go dtuigeann siad féin cad atá i gceist leis an siollabas nua, ná le conas a dhéanfar daltaí a mheasúnú.

“An t-aon rud atá feicthe againn go dtí seo ná ‘na torthaí foghlama’, sin na spriocanna foghlama atá ag an Roinn don chúrsa nua, agus tá na spriocanna sin chomh haislingeach sin go gcuirfidís i gcuimhne duit iomaitheoir ag an gcomórtas Miss Universe a bheadh ag éileamh ‘síocháin ar fud an domhain’,” a dúirt múinteoir amháin.

Dúirt múinteoir eile nach raibh “tuairim faoin spéir” ag aon duine faoin dara siollabas Gaeilge don Teastas Sóisearach agus go raibh dearmad déanta aige fiú “go raibh a leithéid ag teacht” go dtí le déanaí.

Eagraíodh laethanta inseirbhíse do mhúinteoirí Gaeilge le déanaí chun iad a chur ar an eolas maidir le pleananna na Roinne don siollabas agus dúirt duine amháin a d’fhreastail ar cheann de na hócáidí gur mó ceisteanna ná freagraí a fuarthas le linn na hócáide sin. Dúirt sé freisin go bhfuil mearbhall níos mó anois air ina diaidh.

Thug an Roinn Oideachais le fios do na múinteoirí go bhfoilseofaí ‘an tsonraíocht’ maidir leis an siollabas nua as seo go ceann cúpla seachtain, ach ba bheag dóchas a bhí ag na múinteoirí a labhair le Tuairisc.ie go dtabharfadh foilsiú na sonraíochta sin chun soiléire an scéal.

Tuigtear do Tuairisc.ie go n-éilítear sa litir atá seolta ag COGG chuig an Roinn Oideachais go leanfaí leis an bhforbairt ghairmiúil a theastaíonn chun an siollabas nua a thabhairt isteach ar feadh bliana eile agus go gcinnteofaí go bhfuil an siollabas féin réidh le cur i bhfeidhm.

Tá lucht páirte an Ghaeloideachais ag éileamh le fada an lá go dtabharfaí isteach siollabas Gaeilge nua don Teastas Sóisearach agus don Ardteist a dhéanfadh freastal mar ba chóir ar riachtanais an chainteora dúchais agus an chainteora líofa Gaeilge.

Dúirt duine amháin a bhí páirteach san fheachtas fada go mba thrua anois dá dtabharfaí isteach siollabas “a chodail amuigh ar mhaithe lena thaispeáint go bhfuil rud éigin ar siúl”.

“Is mithid é a dhéanamh, is fiú é a dhéanamh, agus ba chóir é a dhéanamh ceart. Sin é é. Ní éireoidh leis más in aghaidh a dtola a chuirfear faoi bhráid na múinteoirí é sula mbíonn na sonraí ar fad ar eolas agus sula mbíonn an cur chuige ag teacht le riachtanais an dalta seachas riachtanais na Roinne,” a dúirt duine acu siúd a bhí lárnach i bhfeachtas ar son an dara siollabas don chainteoir dúchais.

 

Newbridge Gaelscoil choir raise €3,000 for Jack and Jill

Márta 8, 2017

The Newbridge Gaelscoil Chill Dara have raised a fantastic €3,000 for the Jack and Jill Foundations from the proceeds of their CD.

The choir, which is based at the school on the Green Road, was delighted to present Hugo Jellett, CEO of the Jack and Jill foundation with the cheque last week.

The funds were raised by the children of Gael Scoil Chill Dara as part of their social entrepreneurship endeavours: children helping children.

Part-funded by a recording bursary from Kildare County Arts Service, and drawing on the additional talents of some of Kildare’s best loved musicians, the school choir recorded an Irish-language CD, “Ding Dong Dedero”, on behalf of Jack and Jill.

The CD features some of the most famous Irish songs and music, performed by The Nás na Rí Singers, In Caelo choir, Frankie Lane, Conor Mahony, Ruth O’Hara as well as almost every pupil from Gael Scoil Chill Dara, and the school choir.

The first tranche of CDs raised €3,000 during December 2016. The CD will be on sale again in December 2017, but is currently available from the office at Gael Scoil Chill Dara, to celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge and St Patrick’s Day.

The choir of Gael Scoil Chill Dara was founded in November 2014 and has sung with the Dublin Gospel Choir. It took first place in the Irish language choral class at the Kilkenny Music Festival 2016, and performs frequently during the school year.

The Jack and Jill Foundation is Ireland’s only charity specialising in providing home-nursing care to brain injured children across Ireland, including more than a dozen in Co Kildare at this moment.

The money raised by the CD project will fund almost two hundred hours of respite home-nursing care for some of Ireland’s sickest children.

All-Irish schools to get separate courses

Márta 8, 2017

Revamped junior cycle syllabus for schools with fluent speakers

A radical change in the teaching of Irish at junior cycle will see the roll-out of a separate syllabus for students in all-Irish schools from September.

For the first time, pupils in Gaeltacht and other Irish-medium schools will study the native language at a deeper level than those in other schools.

The two new programmes for Irish will be introduced for first years in September, as part of the phasing-in of junior cycle reforms. Both will be taught at higher and ordinary level.

The move to have two separate syllabi follows concerns raised by Irish language organisations about serving the needs of native speakers, or other students who are proficient, or aspire to a high proficiency, in Gaeilge.

It also sits with the Policy on Gaeltacht Education, published by the Department of Education last year. This was the first comprehensive strategy for education in Irish-speaking communities since the establishment of the State.

The strategy aims to ensure the availability of a high-quality Irish-medium educational experience for young people living in Gaeltacht areas and to foster Irish-language proficiency in the wider Gaeltacht community.

The change at junior cycle means that similar consideration will have to be given to having separate programmes in Irish for Irish-medium schools and English-medium schools for Leaving Cert students.

Government education advisers, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), have signed off on the new syllabi and have sent them to Education Minister Richard Bruton for final approval.

The programme aimed at English-medium schools, known as L2, is for students who use Irish as a second language and for whom the Irish class is their main engagement with Gaeilge.

The other syllabus, known as L1, is for both learners and native speakers of Irish in Gaeltacht schools and students in Irish-medium schools or all-Irish units within English-medium schools.

It is targeted at students who use the language on a daily basis, whether at home, school or in the community, and already have well-developed skills in the native tongue.

Apart from promoting richer language and vocabulary, this syllabus will have a greater focus on cultural awareness and topics such as language patterns and differentiation between dialects.

According to the NCCA, the provision of enriched language-learning experiences for all students, particularly those who are native speakers of Irish, is of utmost importance.

The hope is that the higher levels of skill and understanding developed through the L1 syllabus will support Irish speakers to take advantage of opportunities for language use in the community and play an active part in Gaeltacht life.

While the two syllabi were drawn up to meet the needs of different sectors, schools will have the option of offering both, if there is demand.

Work on the two syllabi began after the standard NCCA consultation on a proposed new syllabus for junior cycle Irish in 2015.

Serious concerns were raised about the capacity of a single syllabus to meet the needs of students of widely varying levels of proficiency and competence in the language.

In one survey, 60pc of those who replied through the English version felt that a single syllabus was adequate.

In contrast, 64pc of those who replied on the Gaeilge version disagreed.

The strong feelings led to an extension of the consultation and a forum to explore how best to address the issue, which, in turn, prompted the development of the two separate syllabi.

Irish Independent

Postgraduate profile: Jillian O’Malley

Márta 7, 2017

Irish speaker from Mayo is studying for an MA in Scríobh agus Cumarsáid at UCD
I completed my undergraduate degree – a BA in applied languages (Irish, French and Spanish) – at the University of Limerick. After college I worked in Microsoft Ireland’s graduate programme as a French accounts manager.
I have recently begun working at Aonad na Gaeilge, the Irish Language Centre within the School of Modern Languages and Applied Linguistics at UL. My focus is on promoting the Irish language community at the university; developing university links with the Irish language community in the region, managing the Irish language social space at Seomra na Gaeilge; and co-ordinating Irish language courses for students and staff.
So there is a huge overlap between my academic and professional life – one compliments the other. I am very lucky to be able to put what I am learning into practise on a daily basis.
I’ve always been passionate about the Irish language and Irish culture. I wrote my final-year thesis in Irish. The topic related to the singing and musical tradition in the west of Ireland, and I really enjoyed the whole process, which involved interviews, transcriptions and research.
I knew at that stage that I wanted to continue studying Irish, with a focus on translation. There is also the opportunity take modules in different languages with at UCD’s Applied Languages Centre as part of this master’s, which I think is very beneficial.
One thing that attracted me to this master’s was the option to complete a work placement. I am in my first of two years on this course, so I will be completing this placement next summer. Ideally, I’d like to do a translation placement in one of the European institutions. Irish has been an official language of the EU since 2007 and it is gradually being upgraded to a full working language.
This phase is due for completion in 2021/2022; in the meantime, the EU will expand their translation services in order to cope with the increased workload. This means the creation of jobs for Irish speakers in order to bring it on a par with the 23 other official languages of the EU.

In addition to translation, there are numerous publishing, media (print, radio television, online), teaching and research available for people with Irish language qualifications. There are also Celtic language departments in universities worldwide. The Fulbright programme is proving hugely successful in the US.
I am completing this master’s on a part-time basis, which means at most two modules per semester. I have chosen modules that relate to translation and grammar for the most part.
Na Meáin Ghaeilge involves continuous assessment, diary entries, readings and an essay. It is a very interactive module, with weekly guest speakers throughout.
One of my favourite things about the course is the small class size (10), which makes for a more personalised learning experience when your tutors know you and your group well. The tutors on this course are experts in their field, and I have really enjoyed the modules I have chosen so far.
UCD’s flexible timetable allows me to work at the University of Limerick while studying in Dublin possible. Most of the modules are scheduled in the evening time.
Proficiency in Irish gives one access to the fullness of the rich literary and cultural heritage that our lovely nation is built on: our traditions, our music, our history and geography, and even our way of speaking English!
If you are interested in Irish, there is such a variety of master’s courses available that you can afford to be picky and find one to suit your interests and career aspirations.

www.irishtimes.com

Positive employment prospects for graduates ‘le Gaeilge’

Márta 7, 2017

Whether you have gaeilge líofa or gaeilge bhriste, a postgrad “as Gaeilge” could be the masters for you.
New employment opportunities have emerged in recent years for graduates with skills in the language, especially since the introduction of the Official Languages Act 2003 and the recognition of Irish as an official working language in the European Union.
Students seeking to study through Irish are attracted by the prospect of well-paid jobs interpreting and translating texts and legislation into Irish in the EU’s institutions, mainly in Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg.
Currently, State bodies, including Government departments, are obliged to include no less than 6 per cent Irish speakers on panels.
One-fifth of places on public service application panels will be filled by people able to speak Irish fluently, the Taoiseach Enda Kenny has previously pledged.
Foras na Gaeilge said there were 182 barristers who had registered that they could provide a service in Irish and that at least 194 translators were accredited by Foras na Gaeilge.
Foras na Gaeilge recently attended the GradIreland fair in the RDS Dublin, where it spoke to second-level and third-level students who had fluent Irish at one stage, but might have lost their proficiency over time.
Anna Davitt, communications officer with Foras na Gaeilge, said students were eager to find out how they could re-engage with Irish professionally and personally, and to know what opportunities were available to them.

Advantage
Davitt says students are keen to find out how Irish gives them an advantage in terms of employability and additional skills.
“There was a lot of interest in the area of translation, particularly in regard to the EU recruitment drive for translators and lawyer-linguists with fluent Irish. We had a lot of interest from students visiting Ireland from abroad who were already learning Irish or interested in learning Irish. We provided an insight into working in the areas of Irish language media, translation and interpretation, language planning, law, culture and the arts, the public sector and education,” says Davitt.

Foras na Gaeilge recently launched its Do Ghairm le Gaeilge (Your Career with Irish) awareness campaign in association with Grad Ireland.
This campaign is aimed at undergraduates and will seek to draw attention to the benefit of working with bilingualism and fluency in Irish in the workplace, whether by encouraging students to mention Irish language competency on their CVs when applying for posts, using their Irish in the jobs they will have in the future, choosing postgraduate degrees in Irish, as well as applying for jobs in the Irish language sector.
Chief executive of Foras na Gaeilge, Seán Ó Coinn, said he hoped the campaign would influence young people as they considered the long-term relationship they would have with the language.
“We would like to show students how worthwhile it is to develop their fluency so they understand the various possibilities for working in different areas through Irish, including teaching, translation, law and media,” he said.
Foras na Gaeilge has produced a guidebook online that gives practical advice and valuable information on training courses and work opportunities through the Irish language.

Different fields
Online material has been developed, including videos of interviews with careers ambassadors from different fields in which they describe the advantage the Irish language has given them in their working life to date.
Dr Cathal Billings is a lecturer in modern Irish at the School of Irish at UCD, which offers the popular MA in Scríobh agus Cumarsáid, aimed at writing and communications, media studies, translation and interpreting; and the MA in modern Irish, which is geared towards literature and language
Dr Billings says the MA in Scríobh agus Cumarsáid is attractive to students from diverse backgrounds.
“Most of our students would come from doing a BA with Irish as a main subjects, while a lot of students come from doing a BA in modern languages. They might have done other languages than Irish, but they have competency and aptitude for languages so they can come into the course,” he says.
Billings says students who haven’t engaged with the Irish language since school should not be deterred from doing a postgrad through Irish.
“If someone hasn’t done Irish in their undergraduate degree, they can do an entrance exam and an interview to assess their level of Irish. We get people from all kinds of undergrads; from medical to psychology students who come back to do a master’s in Irish. We get a lot of teachers returning to study and a lot of professionals from a wide range of areas who want to reskill with Irish,” says Billings.
“We currently have a student on the MA in Scríobh agus Cumarsáid that works with a tech multinational who has French and Spanish for her job, but wants to take Irish in order to do translation,” he says.
Billings says while the MA in Scríobh agus Cumarsáid is aimed at people who want to work in translation jobs in the Irish language unit in the European Commission, council or parliament, students have gone in different directions.

Media
“We have had quite a lot students taking jobs in the Irish language media . . . RTÉ, Radio na Gaeltachta, TG4, Irish language administration or Irish language promotion bodies, Conradh na Gaeilge and government bodies,” he says.
“We assess every student’s level of Irish before they come into the course because every course is taught through the medium of Irish and we expect a high level of fluency.
“We have language classes that can help students, but a 2.1 degree in a modern Irish in your undergrad would be the most desirable level, but we also have people coming back to do masters who have not done Irish since the Leaving Cert,” he says.

The following is a selection of available postgraduate courses.

Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG)
Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) is a system of general Irish language proficiency examinations and qualifications for adult learners of Irish. It is administered by the Centre for Irish Language at Maynooth University. TEG exams give candidates an opportunity to show their ability in speaking, listening, reading and writing Irish at different levels, from absolute beginner to intermediate and advanced levels. Exams are offered at five levels and are taken each year by candidates with various levels of fluency. Candidates also have the option of taking the oral exam only, with a view to gaining specific certification in the spoken language.
As well as being the preferred method for learners to make progress in the language, a number of organisations now use TEG exams in recruitment and selection procedures as a means of ensuring that potential employees/students have the required language skills. These include the Public Appointments Service, the Department of Education and Skills, the Teaching Council and the Fulbright Commission. See teg.ie for more

Fiontar agus Scoil na Gaeilge at DCU
Dublin City University’s Fiontar (Venture) is an interdisciplinary school established in 1993 to link the Irish language with contemporary finance, computing and enterprise, through courses taught in Irish.
MSc i nGnó agus i dTeicneolaíocht. (MSc in Business and Information Technology) This programme provides an opportunity for students to add to the broad educational and work expertise they already possess by gaining IT and business skills that will equip them for the workplace in either the public or private sector.
It is recognised by the Higher Education Authority under the graduate skills conversion programme. This means that EU students pay fees of about €2,950, instead of the usual postgraduate degree fees of about €6,500.
The programme can be taken on either a full-time or a part-time basis. Students studying full-time will normally complete the programme in one academic year (two semesters). Part-time students will usually complete the programme in two years over 10-12 weekends on campus.
MA i Léann na Gaeilge (MA in Irish) This programme focuses on the development of Irish in contemporary society and issues related to language planning. The programme includes training of staff who work in the public, voluntary and private service in the development and application of language policy.
The course focuses on the legislative framework of the Official Languages Act 2003 and on the provision of services through Irish .
Candidates will usually have a primary honours degree (not necessarily in the Irish language) or have equivalent prior learning and relevant work experience (about three years), according to the normal requirements of the university.
Candidates will register initially for the graduate certificate. A satisfactory level of fluency and accuracy in the Irish language is required (of approximately Leaving Certificate honours level), which will be assessed by interview.

Gaelchultúr – Coláiste na hÉireann
Coláiste na hÉireann is the first Irish language third-level institute. It came into existence in the summer of 2013 when Gaelchultúr was awarded the status of third-level college by Hetac.
The Dioplóma Iarchéime san Aistriúchán course runs for three semesters and is aimed at those who already have a good standard of Irish but who wish to learn translation skills or to enhance the skills they already have. It is also ideal for those who work through Irish on a daily basis – teachers and journalists, for example – who wish to improve their standard of writing in the language. The course will also benefit those who are interested in working as a translator, administrator or lawyer-linguist in one of the EU institutions. Further information about the dioplóma programme, and the course brochure and application form, are available at www.gaelchultur.com. The deadline for applications for the upcoming course is Tuesday, September 1st.

Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge /NUIG
NUI Galway’s Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge was developed to deliver university education through the medium of Irish. The underlying philosophy of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge is to provide for the specific needs of Irish speakers and Gaeltacht communities through the promotion of academic programmes, courses and research activities in areas that are seen as being of vital importance to the future of these communities.
NUI Galway offers two Irish postgraduate opportunities. MA sa Nua-Ghaeilge will give students an advanced understanding of various aspects of Irish language studies including the language itself, literature, culture and history.
The course gives students a grounding for those considering doing doctoral research in Irish in the future. The programme is available two days a week over one academic year (full-time).
The MA in Conference Interpreting (Ateangaireacht Chomhdhála) is the only dedicated Irish language master’s programme in conference interpreting in Ireland.
This programme is in demand due primary to the Irish language status as an official language within the European Union – a development that has seen a dramatic increase in job vacancies in the EU for those with recognised qualifications in Irish language interpreting and translation skills.
Training is provided by practising professionals in both modes of conference interpreting. Irish, English, French, Spanish, Italian and German have been offered on the programme to date.
The MA programme in Language Studies (LéannTeanga) is offered as a full-time course over one year or as a two-year part-time programme through blended learning. While studying subjects such as research methodologies, academic writing and professional communication, the course offers two specialist streams: language planning and translation studies.
Language planning has emerged as an applied academic branch of the linguistic disciplines and primarily concentrates on the development of the strategic requirements and interventions of a language community. The demand for qualified translators makes this an attractive programme for those looking to gain swift employment in this area.
NUI Galway also offers an MA in Communications, which includes modules in broadcasting and radio and television journalism, with a strong emphasis on practical skills and work experience. The programme will be available as a full-time course over one year or as a two-year part-time programme. Places on all of the programmes are limited to 15 applicants and begin in September 2016.

DIT
Dublin Institute of Technology offers an MA in Applied Irish in conjunction with Gaelchultúr Teoranta. The MA in Applied Irish is focused on employees of the public sector who will work through Irish in the future and graduates who want to work in Ireland and Europe.
The course is suitable for those who wish to work as translators, interpreters, linguists, proofreaders and in tourism. Candidates must have a degree of 2.2 or higher, with Irish as one of their subjects at undergraduate level or be able to demonstrate a level of competence in Irish.

TCD
Students may read for a research degree, reading towards an MLitt (one-three years) or a PhD (two-five years). The college also runs a Postgraduate Diploma in Old Irish and an MPhil in Early Irish.

UCD
MA: Scríobh agus Cumarsáid na Gaeilge places focus on language, critical theory, translation, journalism and technology for students wishing to seek employment in education, research or State bodies.

UCC
The university offers a taught postgraduate course in Modern Irish (Nua- Ghaeilge). Applicants are required to have an honours BA degree with at least a 2.1 in Irish. The course, which includes modules on literature in Irish, Irish language and Irish manuscripts and palaeography, runs for one year (full-time) or two years (part-time).
The college also offers a (full-time) Level nine postgraduate Diploma in Irish Language and European Law. The course is run by the department of modern Irish in collaboration with the school of law and is aimed at students seeking specialised training in European law as well as in-depth Irish language skills. Graduates will be well placed to apply for positions within the European Commission and European Parliament upon completion.

www.irishtimes.com

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