An Ghaeilge i Scoil Naomh Bhríde… ‘Feabhas a chur ar’

Why study Irish?

• Scileanna cumarsáide: Improve your communication skills.
• Tuiscint ar chultúir eile: Improve your understanding of other cultures as well as Irish culture.
• Féinmhuinín: Increase your self confidence.
• Scileanna sóisialta: Improve your social skills.
• Deiseanna fostaíochta: Increase your employment opportunities.

Irish is useful in many jobs, for example;

• Múinteoireach: Teaching
• Ateangaireacht: Interpreting
• Aistriúchán: Translation
• Taisteal: Travel
• Turasóireacht: Tourism
• Méan Cumarsáide: Media

Tugann an Gaeilge seans níos fearr duit post a fháil in Éirinn agus thar lear!
Irish gives you a better chance of employment in Ireland and abroad!

Irish is taught by Mrs Carol Gallagher in Room 23.

Key Stage 3 Irish

In KS3 pupils have two periods a week of Irish. Pupils engage in numerous listening, reading, writing and speaking activities. Here are some of the key topics studied in Key stage 3.

Bliain 8

1. Gaeilge sa seomra ranga/Beannachtaí : Classroom Vocabulary/Greetings
2. Mé féin agus daoine eile: Myself and others
3. Laethanta na seachtaine, Míonna na bliana, Na séasúir: The Days of the week, Months of the year, The Seasons.
4. An Aimsir: The weather
5. An Aimsir láithreach: The present tense

Bliain 9

1. Siopadóireacht: Shopping
2. Airgead: Money
3. Bia agus an bhialann: Food and Restaurants
4. An Teach: The House
5. An Aimsir cháite: The Past Tense

Bliain 10

1. Caithimh Aimsire agus Spórt: Hobbies and Sport
2. Tráchtaireacht peile: Football commentary
3. Iompar: Transport
4. Baill an Choirp: Parts of the body
5. An Aimsir Fháistineach: The Future Tense

 “Mól an óige agus tiocfaidh sí”
                                 Praise the youth and they will blossom

Praise and rewarding effort is very important in the Irish classroom. Our emphasis is proudly on promoting spoken Irish and pupils are regularly rewarded with ‘possies’ and other specially designed Irish language stamps and stickers. In year 9, students who excel at the spoken Language have the opportunity to earn their ‘Cúpla Focail’ badge and by the end of year 10 pupils enter the ‘Silver Fáinne’ award. If successful pupils gain the privilege of receiving a ‘Fáinne’ to wear on their uniform to show they can converse in Irish.

Every year during ‘Seachtain na Gaeilge’, St. Brigid’s pupils participate in various activities and competitions to celebrate Irish language week. Pupils and staff are encouraged to speak as much Irish as they can during this time and those who make the biggest effort are rewarded with prizes. Pupils also take part in class quizzes and poster competitions.

Year 9/10 pupils also have an opportunity to attend the annual Gael Linn quiz and céilí. This gives pupils the opportunity to experience the Irish language and culture outside the classroom setting and meet up with pupils in other schools also studying Irish. All pupils are also encouraged to attend the Gaeltacht summer colleges in an effort to improve their Irish and experience Irish as a living Language.

Key stage 4 Irish

Pupils are given the opportunity to choose GCSE Irish.

Course structures and assessments

Assessments will take place throughout years 11 and 12 with only 40% of the exam taken at the end of the course.

Unit 1: Listening

• External exam, 20% of total mark
• Range of question types based on pre-recorded spoken material in Irish
• Student may enter either:
 Foundation Tier (C–G) 30 min (+ 5 min reading time) 35 marks
 Higher Tier (A*–D) 40 min (+ 5 min reading time) 40 marks

Unit 2: Reading

• External exam, 20% of total mark
• Range of question types based on written material in Irish
• Student may enter either:
 Foundation Tier (C–G) 30 min, 35 marks
 Higher Tier (A*–D) 50 min, 45 marks

Unit 3: Speaking

• Controlled assessment
• 60 marks: 30% of total mark
• Marks for two tasks submitted for moderation (recording for one task submitted for moderation)
• Last stage of each task lasts 4–6 min

Unit 4: Writing

• Controlled assessment
• 60 marks: 30% of total mark
• Two tasks submitted for marking
• Last stage of each task occurs in one single session of no longer than 1 hour
• Word guidance: 200–350 words (D–G) or 400–600 words (A*–C) across both tasks