Post on 12-Jan-2015
description
Bilingualism in Irish Education
Pádraig Ó Duibhirpadraig.oduibhir@spd.dcu.ie
6th May 2013
Outline of presentation
BiographyBackground to IrishCurrent situation in schoolsStructure of schoolsGovernment strategy
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Primary school teacher – Irish-medium, immersion
In-service coordinator Lecturer in L2 methodologies
for Irish St Patrick’s College
◦ 1,200 BEd 600 BA students◦ 130 Graduate diploma◦ Masters, PhD, EdD
St Patrick’s College, DCU
Background to Irish language
• Irish is an official language (minority)
• Students in all schools study Irish from entry to completion
According to 2011 Census:• 1.77m (41.4%) able to speak
Irish• Only 77,185 (1.8%) daily
speakers outside education • Schools in ‘Gaeltacht’ (Irish-
speaking) & Irish immersion (all-Irish) schools throughout the country
An Ghaeilge agus Muintir na hÉireann (2009)
1,015 – 40-minute interviews
93% in favour of Irish◦40.9% revive◦52.5% preserve◦6.6% discard
Irish people very sympathetic to Irish
on endangered language list intergenerational transmission is decreasing in
‘Gaeltacht’ areas current generation may not experience complete
acquisition Stage 5: Language is still very much alive and
used in community. Stage 4: Language is required in elementary
schools. Elements of Stage 2 apply - Irish language
television www.tg4.ie and radio stations www.rte.ie/rnag.ie
Fishman's eight stages of language loss
1922 – Twenty-six of the 32 counties of Ireland gained independence from United Kingdom
Irish was seen as critically important in forging a separate identity
revitalisation was the objective Irish was given a central role in education all elementary schools were to teach through the
medium of Irish as far as possible and particularly in Kindergarten – CLIL/immersion
1930 – 300 elementary ‘immersion’ schools 1972 – only 11 elementary ‘immersion’ schools Government policy changed to one of bilingualism,
CLIL deceased greatly in 1960’s
Historical background to Irish-medium education (immersion)
all students learn Irish as a subject throughout elementary and high school, typically 14 years
results are disappointing – ‘drip-feed’ approach 30-40 minutes per day
7.5% of elementary students in Irish-medium tremendous growth over last 40 years parent-led movement 174 elementary schools and 40 high
schools on island of Ireland approx. 41,000 students
Current situation
Source: www.gaelscoileanna.ie
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early total immersion approx. 85% of school day through Irish and this
remains constant to end of schooling very successful in achieving fluency in Irish at
no loss to English or Mathematic skills additive bilingualism – students enjoy benefits
of bilingualism grammatical inaccuracies in productive skills use of Irish outside of school setting is a major
challenge
Immersion education
Schooling Ages & Phases
Compulsory attendance 6 – 16 years
First Level / Primary School 4 – 12 years◦ National (State) Schools◦ Special Schools◦ Private Schools
Second Level / Post-Primary School 12 – 18 years◦ Voluntary Secondary Schools◦ Community and Comprehensive Schools◦ Vocational Schools ◦ Special Schools ◦ Further Education 17 + years
Primary SchoolA Brief Description of the Irish Education System Page 9www.education.ie
4/5 Junior Infants5/6 Senior Infants6/7 First Class7/8 Second Class8/9 Third Class9/10 Fourth Class10/11 Fifth Class11/12 Sixth Class
Second Level / Post-Primary School A Brief Description of the Irish Education System Page 13
12/13 years 3 year Junior Cycle13/14 Junior Certificate Examination14/15 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------15/16 Transition Year (optional) -------------------------------------------------------------------------16/17 2 year Senior Cycle17/18 Leaving Certificate Examination
Straitéis 20 Blain don GhaeilgeGovernment 20 year strategy for Irish
2011 2030 Strategy
Number of people speaking Irish everyday outside education system
77,185 250,000
Number of people speaking Irish every week outside education system
110,642 ????
Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge: Government 20 year strategy for Irish
Partial immersion (CLIL) in infants– teach some subjects through the medium of Irish
Teach some subjects through the medium of Irish on teacher-education courses
We are implementing this in St Patrick’s College
Investment will be provided!! – in-service, online courses, education centres
Wide range of materials will be supplied
Curaclam na Bunscoile
(1999)Primary School Curriculumwww.curriculumonline.ie
Go raibh maith agaibhMuchas gracias
Thank youpadraig.oduibhir@spd.dcu.i
e
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