Changes to the Junior Cert
Eanáir 22, 2014
Sir, – Having worked in the Academy system in the UK, I have experienced teacher-assessment first hand.
In spite of claims to a holistic or student-centred approach, teachers and students were presented and assessed in terms of results. Consequently the pressure on teachers to attain results led to “pro-active” marking. I now teach in Ireland and find that the Junior and Leaving Certificates, while cumbersome and costly, do provide transparency, accountability and, above all, equality. Both exams, however, dominate teaching and learning in Irish schools. They restrict more innovative teaching and limit learning outside of curriculums that one can pick and choose from in order to maximise points.
Some of proposed changes are to be welcomed. We need to move to a formative form of assessment that would maintain the virtues of our current system. A formal approach to continual assessment is a positive move. Nevertheless, that teachers would assess their own students would impinge upon the integrity of any such assessment. That those who seek to implement the Junior Cycle Student Award do not seem to understand the consequences that such an approach to assessment would have is worrying for all concerned. – Is mise,
NIALL COOPER,
The Ridgeway,
Bishopstown,
Cork.
www.irishtimes.com
Seimineár ar ‘Atógáil Phobal na Gaeilge’
Eanáir 21, 2014
Beidh seimineár ar bun i gCluain Dolcáin, Baile Atha Cliath ar an Satharn, 25 Eanáir ar bhealaí praiticiúla chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn sa phobal.
Is é ‘Atógáil Phobal na Gaeilge’ teideal na himeachta, a bheidh ar síúl in Áras Chrónáin agus tá sé dírithe ar cheantracha cosúil le Baile Cheatharlach ina bhfuil an Ghaeilge mar theanga mionlaigh faoi láthair. Pléifear na slite is éifeachtaí chun athbheochan na teanga a spreagadh. Beidh aíonna ó eagraíochtaí pobail ó cheann ceann na tíre ag labhairt ag an seimineár i rith an lae faoi ábhair éagsúla, idir cur chun cinn na Gaeilge i measc teaghlach, imeachtaí don aos óg agus do dhaoine fásta, agus cur chun cinn na Gaeilge i measc an lucht gnó. I measc na n-aoíchainteoirí a bheidh páirteach chun an taithí atá acu féin ó thaobh cur chun cinn na teanga sa phobal agus na rudaí a oibríonn dóibh a roinnt leis na rannpháirtithe beidh Emma Uí Bhroin, Oifigeach Forbartha Gaeilge le Glór Cheatharlach
Tá an seimineár saor agus oscailte don phobal agus cuirfear fáilte roimh éinne atá ag iarraidh an Ghaeilge a atógáil mar theanga phobail, idir dhaoine atá i mbun oibre faoi láthair agus daoine atá ag machnamh ar imeachtaí nó ghrúpa pobail nua a eagrú amach anseo. Cuirfear tús leis an seimineár ag 9.30rn Dé Sathairn 25 Eanáir agus is féidir tuilleadh eolais a fháil ag www.araschronain.ie nó 086 3927090.
www.carlow-nationalist.ie
Lift language barrier
Eanáir 21, 2014
Language matters. It forms our thoughts and shapes our lives.
The Irish language, because of exclusion from public life, has gone from being the majority language in the early 1800s to being a minority language today. This was the greatest social change in Irish history. Imagine had England been conquered and its language replaced by Spanish, French or German. Imagine an English population unable to read Shakespeare except in translation and cut off from their own history. Imagine the effect this would have on the psyche, confidence and sense of self of any people. Our English-only mentality costs us export markets and jobs. The Danes learnt English without abandoning Danish and have a stronger economy than us. Speaking Irish makes Ireland sound and feel like a regular European country. It will recover our intellectual and cultural sovereignty and contribute to an inclusive Irish identity beyond colour or creed.
Dáithí Mac Cárthaigh BL
Baile Átha Cliath 7
www.independent.ie
Game on for Cu Chulainn: Spanish man creates Irish language computer game
Eanáir 21, 2014
A Spanish software expert has devised a computer game based on the adventures of Cu Chulainn after falling in love with the Irish language Francisco Blazquez (46), who is from Madrid, first came to Ireland when he was 18 to learn English.
But he was so taken with the Irish language that when he returned home he signed up for classes at the official language school in his native city.The software consultant has been based in Ireland since 2010, and Francisco and his partner Eva Garcia are now set to launch their new game ‘In Cu Chulainn’s Footsteps’ on Thursday at Croke Park. The game features music from Clannad, Kila and Sharon Shannon, and legendary broadcaster Micheal O Muircheartaigh also provides a voiceover for part of the game — in English and in Irish. “The idea is to promote Irish,” said Francisco. “Our aim is to create a portal with many games.”
The game can be played in both Irish and English, swapping and mixing both languages as the player wishes. “It is aimed for children aged between eight and 12, or perhaps slightly older. Players lead Cu Chulainn through a mysterious island, solving puzzles and riddles to find the way out of there,” said Francisco, who has formed his own company, Duineacu. He said that along with the game, players will also find information related to Irish culture including music, literature, sports and legends. It is a 3D adventure played in the third person, driven by mouse clicks or taps on the screen. A licence to play the game is bought online, he said.
Meanwhile, in the school version, teachers can very easily change the content, the voiceovers and the text. Francisco, who has three children — Andrea (14), Iria (12) and Adrian (7) and lives in Trim — revealed that he regularly visits the Meath Gaeltacht village of Rath Cairn in a bid to continually improve his Irish.
For further information see: www.cuadventure.com
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Hasta la vista! Game on for Cu Chulainn
Eanáir 21, 2014
A SPANISH software expert has devised a computer game based on the adventures of Cu Chulainn after falling in love with the Irish language.
Francisco Blazquez (46), who is from Madrid, first came to Ireland when he was 18 to learn English. But he was so taken with the Irish language that when he returned home he signed up for classes at the official language school in his native city. The software consultant has been based in Ireland since 2010, and Francisco and his partner Eva Garcia are now set to launch their new game ‘In Cu Chulainn’s Footsteps’ on Thursday at Croke Park. The game features music from Clannad, Kila and Sharon Shannon, and legendary broadcaster Micheal O Muircheartaigh also provides a voiceover for part of the game – in English and in Irish.
“The idea is to promote Irish,” said Francisco. “Our aim is to create a portal with many games.” The game can be played in both Irish and English, swapping and mixing both languages as the player wishes. “It is aimed for children aged between eight and 12, or perhaps slightly older. Players lead Cu Chulainn through a mysterious island, solving puzzles and riddles to find the way out of there,” said Francisco, who has formed his own company, Duineacu. He said that along with the game, players will also find information related to Irish culture including music, literature, sports and legends. It is a 3D adventure played in the third person, driven by mouse clicks or taps on the screen. A licence to play the game is bought online, he said.
Meanwhile, in the school version, teachers can very easily change the content, the voiceovers and the text. Francisco, who has three children – Andrea (14), Iria (12) and Adrian (7) and lives in Trim – revealed that he regularly visits the Meath Gaeltacht village of Rath Cairn in a bid to continually improve his Irish.
For further information see: www.cuadventure.com.
www.independent.ie
Scoileanna Cheatharlach cáilithe do Dhíospóireachtaí Réigiúnach Gael Linn!
Eanáir 21, 2014
Reachtáladh an dara babhta de Chomórtas Díospóireachta an Phiarsaigh 2014 an tseachtain seo caite agus bhí ceithre iarbhunscoil as Ceatharlach páirteach.
Bhí foirne ag Coláiste an Chnoic Bhig agus ag Coláiste na Toirbhirte in iomaíocht i gcomórtas na sóisear. Bhí Coláiste Leon Naofa agus Acadamh Naomh Muire i rannóg na sinsear. “Táimid ag gabháil thar fóir le caomhnú na timpeallachta in Éirinn” an rún a bhí ag na sóisir agus “Ba chóir deireadh iomlán a chur le híocaíochtaí dól do dhaoine faoi 25 bliain d’aois” a bhí faoi chaibidil ag na sinsir.
Bhí na moltóirí an-tógtha leis an gcaighdeán ard díospóireachta agus argóna agus ar deireadh fógraíodh foireann Acadamh Naomh Muire agus foireann Choláiste na Toirbhirte i measc na bhfoirne a bheidh ag dul ar aghaidh chuig an Chraobh Réigiúnach a reachtálfar roimh shos lár-théarma an earraigh. Comórtas náisiúnta is ea Díospóireacht an Phiarsaigh eagraithe gach bliain ag Gael Linn. ‘Sé príomhaidhm an chomórtais ná an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn i measc daltaí iarbhunscoile agus cabhrú leo feabhas a chur ar a gcuid scileanna díospóireachta. Cuirtear tús leis an gcomórtas sa fómhar agus leantar le babhtaí go dtí Mí an Mhárta nuair a bhíonn Craobh na hÉireann ar siúl.
Molann Glór Cheatharlach na micléinn áitiúla go léir agus a múinteoirí as páirt a ghlacadh ins na díospóireachtaí agus guímid gach rath ar na foirne ins na babhtaí réigiúnach.
www.carlow-nationalist.ie
New funding structure for Irish language sector announced
Eanáir 20, 2014
North-South language funding body Foras na Gaeilge has announced fundamental changes to how Irish language groups are funded.
The cross-Border implementation body, which was set up under the Belfast Agreement and has a role in advising the administrations North and South in matters relating to the Irish language, announced it will reduce from 19 to 6 the number of organisations provided with core funding.
The successful organisations are Gaelscoileanna, Conradh na Gaeilge, Gael Linn, Oireachtas na Gaeilge, Glór na nGael and Cumann na bhFiann. None of the six organisations are based in the North, where organisations such as Pobal, Forbairt Feirste and cross-community Irish- language charity Iontabhas Ultach will now lose a significant portion of their funding.
In the south, Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge and Forbairt Naíonraí Teo are among the groups that will no longer receive funding. Foras na Gaeilge said the move marked a “new era” in the development of the language.
www.irishtimes.com
Call for Irish language support
Eanáir 20, 2014
Growth and promotion of the Irish language in Northern Ireland is being blocked by hostile attitudes in Stormont and a lack of support for its use in the courts and in education, according to the Council of Europe.
European chiefs have warned authorities they may also be in breach of a charter of rights because of delays and attempts to block requests for bilingual street names. The review of minority languages in the UK said the Government has not been able to justify banning the use of Irish in the courts or allowing people to take citizenship tests through the language. The Council of Europe criticised attitudes to Irish in some official circles and what it said is the Stormont Assembly’s “persisting hostile climate”. Caral Ni Chuilin, Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure who is responsible for overall promotion of the language, said she would bring in new legislation during the current Assembly term. “There is a large body of support for an Irish Language Act in the North,” she said. “As languages are now a devolved matter full legislation will require the agreement of the Executive and Assembly. I hope that all supporters of the Irish language will work together to convince the Executive, the Assembly and all our people of the merits of supporting an Irish Language Act.” Ms Ni Chuilin said her Liofa campaign to promote the language also showed the room for cross community support.
The report from the Council of Europe also looked at the standing of Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Cornish, and Ulster Scots which it said has improved even if it ” still remains absent from public life”. The review team hit out at a lack of political consensus in Northern Ireland on the language and the lack of a long-awaited Irish Language Act. In education it found many obs tacles hampering an adequate offering of Irish-medium pre-schools and it called for concrete steps to be taken to meet the growth in demand for primary education in Irish. It raised concerns that the Colaiste Feirste secondary school still suffers from lack of free school transport, despite having won a judicial review case against the Department of Education on the issue, and increased efforts are needed to overcome the shortage of teachers for specialist subjects in secondary education. It called for new measures to allow for simultaneous translation in the Assembly.
Overall the panel of experts from the Strasbourg-based Council – Europe’s leading human rights agency – found many difficulties persist in the development of Irish. It said work has been hampered by a lack of information from the authorities and t he UK Government was also criticised for late and incomplete responses to requests for information about the standing of Irish in Northern Ireland. In repsonse to issues on road signs, the Department of Regional Development said: “Early in 2012 the Minister for Regional Development (Danny Kennedy) decided not to pursue the matter and no further work has been undertaken since.”
www.donegaldemocrat.ie
Irish ‘blocked’ in the North
Eanáir 17, 2014
Growth and promotion of the Irish language in Northern Ireland is being blocked by hostile attitudes in Stormont and a lack of support for its use in the courts and in education.
The Council of Europe have warned authorities they may also be in breach of a charter of rights because of delays and attempts to block requests for bilingual street names.
The review of minority languages in the UK said the Government has not been able to justify banning the use of Irish in the courts.
www.irishexaminer.com
Promotion of Irish in North ‘blocked by hostile attitudes’
Eanáir 17, 2014
Growth and promotion of the Irish language in Northern Ireland is being blocked by hostile attitudes in Stormont and a lack of support for its use in the courts and in education, according to the Council of Europe.
The body has warned authorities they may also be in breach of a charter of rights because of delays and attempts to block requests for bilingual street names.
The review of minority languages in the UK said the government had not been able to justify banning the use of Irish in the courts or allowing people to take citizenship tests through the language.
The Council of Europe criticised the Assembly’s “persisting hostile climate”.
Minister for Culture Caral Ni Chuilin, said she would bring in legislation during the current Assembly term.
www.irishtimes.com
