Méid an Téacs

Cúrsa snasta

Aibreán 21, 2017

snas agus blas

Bhí fadhb ann i gcónaí maidir le téacsleabhair Ghaeilge. Bhí cuid mhaith de na leabhair seanfhaiseanta agus bhí ar na múinteoirí a n-ábhar féin a lorg le cur leis na téacsanna bunúsacha. Bhí deacracht ar leith ann maidir le hábhar do dhaltaí iarbhunscoile an Tuaiscirt sna ranganna teastais go háirithe. D’fhoilsigh an Dochtúir Liam Ó Cuinneagáin atá ina phríomhoide i gColáiste Bhríde i nDoire faoi láthair ‘Saothar A Leibhéil’ roinnt blianta ó shin. Bhí ábhar nua- aimseartha ann agus bhí sé eagraithe go han-mhaith. Líon sé bearna gan amhras.

Tamall ó shin rinneadh cinneadh go raibh cúrsa nua cuimsitheach a bheadh suimiúil agus dúshlánach ag an am céanna de dhíth anois, cúrsa a bhainfeadh úsáid as an nua-theicneolaíocht agus a bheadh chomh tarraingteach leis na cúrsaí atá ar fáil do theangacha eile. Mar sin de, chuir CEA () tionscnamh ar bun: ‘Snas agus Blas’. Tá an chéad chuid den chúrsa ar fáil anois. Clúdaíonn sé Bliain 8 agus tá Bliain 9 ar na bacáin. Tá leagan amach leabhar an dalta thar a bheith tarraingteach. Tá na grianghraif gan sárú. Téann éagsúlacht an leabhair i bhfeidhm orm. Clúdaítear saol an uile lae, an timpeallacht, ceol, tíortha agus teangacha (cur síos ar theanga an lucht siúil,‘Cant’, ina measc), taisteal, an Ghaeltacht, litríocht agus a lán eile.

Osclaíonn an cúrsa doirse don dalta tríd an Ghaeilge. Beidh leibhéal teanga an scoláire i bhfad níos airde ag deireadh an chúrsa seo agus beidh sé níos eolaí ar chultúr a thíre féin agus ar chultúir eile. Cuirtear ábhar tacaíochta ar fáil don chúrsa ar líne, trialacha éisteachta agus cluichí ríomhaireachta san áireamh. Molaim an cúrsa samhalaíoch seo go spéir. Tá pobal níos leithne tuillte aige. Chuirfeadh daltaí sa Deisceart an-spéis ann. Bheadh teagascóirí in ann é a chur in oiriúint do ranganna do dhaoine fásta. Tá mé ag dúil go mór le cuid a dó. Ba chóir dúinn a bheith buíoch do CEA chan amháin as an saothar seo- tá an-obair déanta aige ar gach gné den churaclam scoile.

An excellent course

There has always been a problem with Irish language textbooks. Many of them have been old-fashioned and teachers have had to look out their own material to supplement the basic texts. There has been a particular difficulty regarding post-primary pupils in the North, especially in certificate classes. Doctor Liam Ó Cuinnegáin, the present Principal of St. Brigid’s College, Derry published ‘Saothar A Leibhéil’ a few years ago. Its content was very modern and it was very well laid out. It definitely filled a gap.

A short time ago it was decided that a new comprehensive course was needed now, a course that would be both interesting and challenging, a course which would make use of the new technology and which would be as attractive as the courses available for other languages. As a result, CEA (The Northern Ireland Examination Board) initiated a project: ‘Snas agus Blas’. The first part of the course is now available. It covers Year 8 and Year 9 is near publication. The lay-out of the pupil’s book is very attractive. The photographs are superb. I am highly impressed by the variety of material in the book. It covers everyday life, the environment, music, countries and languages (including the travellers’ language, ‘Cant’), travel, the Gaeltacht, literature and much more.

At the end of this course the pupil’s language will be at a much higher level and he will know more about the culture of his own country and about other cultures besides. Support material can be had on line, including listening tests and computer games. I have no hesitation in recommending this imaginative course. It deserves a wider public. Pupils in the South would find it most interesting. Tutors could adapt it for adult classes. I look forward to the second part. We should be grateful to CEA not only for this project- it has done outstanding work on every aspect of the school curriculum.

Liam Mac Lochlainn,
Colúnaí Gaeilge The Derry Journal