English and Irish language iPad storybook unveiled
April 19, 2012
An English and Irish interactive storybook for iPads has been unveiled in Belfast today from publisher Dragonfly Press. Ó Chrann Go Crann/From Tree to Tree offers a bilingual modern fairytale on tablet PCs.
The publication, aimed at children ages 4-8, is narrated in English and Irish by Caitríona Hastings. Its hand-drawn characters and objects respond to touches and tilts to advance the story.
It has been written and illustrated by Belfast publisher Dragonfly Press and developed by digital agency Origin Partners. Dragonfly Press was established in 2007 and publishes Irish and English-language books. Ó Chrann Go Crann is the publisher’s fifth title and its first for iPads.
“Interactive books give marvellous advantages for authors and readers,” said Dragonfly Press author and illustrator Andrew Whitson.
“Each page of the Ó Chrann Go Crann storybook is full of opportunities for readers to participate in the story – some obvious and some hidden.
“Parents and children can select the language they would prefer to read or choose to have the device read to them as they explore the interactive world,” he said.
Whitson also praised Origin Partners for creating the interactive storybook for the iPad.
“It takes special talent to translate illustrations into interactive artwork that uses all features of the technology without feeling repetitive,” he said.
Origin Partners focuses on developing interactive applications and has worked with Alfa Romeo, Ulster Orchestra and Elevate Sports in the past.
“Andrew and Dragonfly Press have created a timeless story with beautiful illustrations. With this storybook, readers can shape the experience to their own interests,” said Origin Partners technical director, Jerry Staple.
“Maybe your child wants to shake the leaves out of the trees, honk car horns or create music. However, if your family wants to simply enjoy the tale, they can.
“The user is as much a part of the creative team as we are and how they explore the technology will change how they relate to the story. Digital storybooks are a great way to learn because they enhance the story experience presenting more than just showing text on a screen,” he said.
Ó Chrann Go Crann/From Tree to Tree is available through iTunes or as a hard copy from selected bookstores.
SILICONE REPUBLIC
Pátrúnacht bunscoileanna lánGhaeilge
April 19, 2012
Bainisteoir Ginearálta á lorg ag Coláiste Ide
April 18, 2012
Gael Linn Debates
April 17, 2012
Bhí bua na cainte ag daltaí scoile thuaidh agus theas a ghlac páirt i gcomórtais dhíospóireachta Gael Linn le déanaí.
Agus dar le Niamh De Búrca ó Ghael Linn tá na hóráidithe óga réidh le teacht i gcomharba ar Pharnell, Dhónal Ó Conaill agus ar Barack Obama fiú, tar éis a mbua ag
Craobh na hÉireann de Chomórtas an Phiarsaigh Gael Linn 2012 le déanaí.
Ghlac breis agus 150 foireann ó scoileanna fud fad na tíre páirt i gcomórtas díospóireachta na bliana seo agus cuireann sé leis an sprioc atá ag Gael Linn an teanga labhartha a chur chun cinn ar fud na tíre.
Bhuaigh foireann Iar-bhunscoil Mhá Nuad, Co. Chill Dara an chraobh shinsearach ag an gcraobh ceannais náisiúnta a reáchtáladh i bPort Laoise ar an Déardaoin, 29 Márta 2012.
Bhuaigh siad leis an gcás láidir a chruthaigh siad faoin rún, ‘Tá an teideal ‘Oileán na Naomh agus na nOllamh’ tuillte go fóill ag Éirinn!’
Chroch foireann Mheánscoil na Trócaire, Trá Lí, an Corn Sóisearach. Ba iad Liam Mac an Mhaoir, Matt Ó Donnchadha, Aingeal Ní Chonghaola, Máirín Uí Mhuirí agus Féilim Mac Donncha a bhí ag déanamh moltóireachta sa dá chomórtas.
Bhronn Antoine Ó Coileáin, Príomhfheidhmeannach Gael Linn, buanchorn agus duais €1,000 ar na foirne buacacha agus duais €250 an fhoireann ar na foirne eile a bhí rannpháirteach sa chraobh.
Reáchtáiltear comórtas óráidíochta poiblí sna scoileanna i gCúige Uladh chomh maith. Abair is teideal don chomórtas seo a fhreastalaíonn ar scoileanna dara leibhéal.
Reáchtáladh an chraobh i gceannáras an C.L.G. in Ard Mhacha ag Páirc Lúthchleasa Uí Mhuireagáin. Bhí Dónall Mac Giolla Chóill, Seán Ó Maoilsté agus Michelle Nic Pháidín ag moltóireacht.
I gCraobh Abair i bPáirc Lúthcleasaíochta Uí Mhuireagáin in Ard Mhaca, bronnadh an chéad áit ar an gcraobh iomlán ar Roibéard Mac Pharthaláin ó Scoil Mhuire, Machaire Fíolta, Contae Dhoire. Ba í An Ultais a bhí á plé aige ar an oíche. Mol an Óige!
Total immersion in Irish… this is all VERY confusing
April 17, 2012
AFTER arriving in September for the start of a new school year, I was faced with more than the regular problems facing the average student. I also had a language barrier to deal with in this new school.
I left Bridgetown after three years in the school where I sat my Junior Cert and began attending Meanscoil Gharman in Brownswood, Enniscorthy, which is an all-irish speaking secondary school.
The main motivation for leaving was because I wanted to study transition year. I originally intended going to the CBS in Wexford town but applied too late to get into transition year there – but I have been accepted into fifth year. So for this year I have been immersed in the native tongue that unfortunately was completely foreign to me.
Going into this school I knew it was going to be difficult, but felt in the long run it would be worth it. On the first day, my lack of Irish was humorous to the other students because our teacher explained what we would be doing for the year and asked what we were excited about this year and I misunderstood the question and replied with ‘rugby’ thinking the question was ‘what is your favourite thing to do?’. After that day I knew there were going to be a lot of moments like that.
Doing French through Irish is probably more difficult than any other class. Doing one language I’m not fluent in through another language that I am not fluent in was puzzling to say the least. It ensured that a new-found appreciation for English was established.
I had to go back to Bridgetown to get my Junior Cert results from the school and when I was meeting everybody from my old school it was nearly weird to hear them speaking English in school instead of Irish. Some of the teachers were wondering where I had gone, and when I told them about the school they didn’t know about the all-irish speaking school in the locality.
On the trip for our Gaisce walk, we went to Wicklow, and there was a river nearby so we went down for a quick swim. So I went down with my teacher and couple mates from my class and we got in. It was freezing. The teacher said something about not jumping in, in Irish of course which I didn’t understand. Being completely oblivious to the fact that she had issued a stern warning I jumped in and cut my chest into ribbons. Pain through the medium of Irish is pretty much like pain through English. I guess pain, like love, is a universal language. When I emerged like an extra from the water like a bloodied extra from Saving Private Ryan the teacher asked me why I had done did it. Which required this retort: ‘B’fhéidir you haven’t noticed ach ní thuigim Gaeilge!’
It became pretty apparent to both her and I that my speaking Irish while suffering from both hypothermia and blood loss was even more difficult than being taught French through the medium of Irish
Looking back I can reflect honestly that moving school was the right course of action even if I didn’t see the benefits of it straight away nor understand the benefits of it straight away. Six months in school and now I am able to at converse to people in Irish and understand what teachers are saying. I believe that coming here from first year would have been an easier experience and watching the first years blabbering on around me testifies to this point.
My Irish has improved and I’m much more confident using it now and I’m also proud of having more than a cúpla focal. While there can be no denying that the total immersion was a shock to begin with, tuigim anois go raibh sé an tslí cheart.
ENNISCORTHY GUARDIAN
Tongue twisted
April 17, 2012
The problems associated with the teaching of Irish are often mentioned but there is a fundamental problem that needs to be addressed.
At honours level, students in English-speaking secondary schools take the same exams in Irish and study the same syllabus as Gaelcholaisti and Gaeltacht schools. This does not make sense. Students who are studying a second language cannot be treated in the same way as those who have it as a first language.
Students in English-speaking schools are being examined and taught at a level that is inappropriate for their level of language development. This hinders their grasp of the language.
There are also too many aspects to cover on the course in too short a time, so teachers are forced to prepare students for an exam, instead of having time to teach the basics. Students thus do not develop the skills needed to learn a language properly.
To make matters worse, students do not take an oral exam at Junior Cert level in the vast majority of schools. Because the focus is all on the exam, teachers have little time to partake in oral work. This is where the crux of the problem lies. Students could pick up the language easily if the system was appropriate.
Meanwhile, in Irish-speaking schools the course is not challenging enough — it thus satisfies no one.
The solution is simple — two separate exams and qualifications at honours level. One for those learning Irish as a second language (focusing mainly on the basics) that everyone would take, with an additional and more challenging exam for those who have Irish as a first language. There must also be an oral exam in every school at Junior Cert level.
They do this in other jurisdictions. In Wales, for instance, they have two qualifications — Welsh as a first language and then as a second language, as they recognise that you cannot teach both in the same way. They do the same with the Irish language at GCSE level in the North.
We are failing our best students. Why are we not doing something about it?
S O Coinne
Dun Dealgan, Co Lu
www.independent.ie
Schools show how to stage a protest
April 17, 2012
The teachers, parents and pupils of Gaeltacht schools showed how to organise a proper protest.
Eagraiocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta held a campaign on the NUIG campus, causing no hassle while still getting their point across.
Treasa Ni Mhainin and Micheal MacDonncha warned cuts would result in the loss of at least 30 teachers in the Gaeltacht schools system.
www.independent.ie
Calls for Gaelscoil project to progress
April 17, 2012
South Tipperary independent TD Mattie McGrath has called on the Government to progress the Gaelscoil Cluain Meala project to planning stage without delay.
Deputy McGrath who was involved in ensuring the site acquisition in 2010 and ensuring that monies were paid over to South Tipperary County Council for the site has expressed his dismay at the lack of action from the Department of Education in advancing the Gaelscoil project.
“The site for the Gaelscoil was acquired at the end of 2010, subject to planning permission, yet the Department has made absolutely no effort to bring the project to the planning stages. I have been informed that Department officials have held one preliminary pre-planning discussion with planning officials in Clonmel Borough Council but there has been no other contact between the Department of Education and Clonmel Borough Council,” said Deputy McGrath
“There was a time-frame set down for this project to go through planning stages, yet the Department have not done anything since site acquisition. Are they just going to sit around and wait for this project to fall flat on its face after so much effort was put into acquiring the site?” he continued.
“I am calling on the Department of Education to make an effort to advance this project without further delay,” he said.
SOUTH TIPP TODAY
Grease! le Gaelscoil agus Naíonra Dhroichead na Banndan
April 16, 2012
Bunscoil an Iúir – Díolachán Cístí agus Crannchur na Cásca
April 16, 2012
