Ceisteanna

• Cén fáth a labhraíonn tú Gaeilge?

• Cén fáth a bhfuil tú ag teagasc nó ag obair i nGaelscoil?

• Cén ról atá ag Gaelscoil i sochaí na hÉireann?

Ceisteanna eile

• An ról atá ag Gaelscoileanna, seachas oideachas a chur ar fáil?

• An bhfuil ról ag Gaelscoileanna in athbheochan na Gaeilge mar theanga an phobail?

Ceisteanna

• An bhfuil an ról atá ag na Gaelscoileanna maidir le forbairt phobal labhartha na Gaeilge ag dul a bhaint as faoin ról ins an seomra ranga in oideachas na bpáistí?

nó

• An gcuirfeadh sé leis an oideachas?

Opening Doors to our Language

A positive programme to aid single language parents in nurturing bilingual children

Spriocanna an ChláirSpriocanna an Chláir

Ag tacú le tuismitheoirí nach bhfuil an Ghaeilge acu ról Ag tacú le tuismitheoirí nach bhfuil an Ghaeilge acu ról gníomhach a bheith acu i dturas a gcuid páistí i dtreo an gníomhach a bheith acu i dturas a gcuid páistí i dtreo an dátheangachais.dátheangachais.

Ag foscailt doirse do thuismitheoirí le go dtig leo dul i Ag foscailt doirse do thuismitheoirí le go dtig leo dul i ngleic leis an teanga agus leis an chultúr ar dhóigh gan ngleic leis an teanga agus leis an chultúr ar dhóigh gan eagla nó brú a bheith orthu faoi. eagla nó brú a bheith orthu faoi.

Ag cur tús le seachadadh na Gaeilge ó ghlúin go glúin Ag cur tús le seachadadh na Gaeilge ó ghlúin go glúin fríd a bheith ag cur pointe eolais ar fáil le go tig leis an fríd a bheith ag cur pointe eolais ar fáil le go tig leis an pháiste tagairt siar chuige agus iad ag tógáil a gclainne pháiste tagairt siar chuige agus iad ag tógáil a gclainne féinféin. .

Ag cothú léitheoireachta ins an bhaileAg cothú léitheoireachta ins an bhaile

Ag spreagadh comhrá ins an bhaileAg spreagadh comhrá ins an bhaile

Ag tabhairt comhthéacs níos leithneAg tabhairt comhthéacs níos leithned’fhoghlaim (sealbhú) na Gaeilged’fhoghlaim (sealbhú) na Gaeilge

Ag ceangail stádas ard leis an Ag ceangail stádas ard leis an Ghaeilge agus leis an ilteangachasGhaeilge agus leis an ilteangachas

Ag cothú an nasc idir tuismitheoirí agus Ag cothú an nasc idir tuismitheoirí agus páistípáistí

The three legs of the The three legs of the bilingual stool.bilingual stool.

1.1. The ability to speak a The ability to speak a language is important i.e.language is important i.e. Líofacht / Fluency.Líofacht / Fluency.

2.2. Luach / ValuingLuach / Valuing the the language. Providing a language. Providing a good example to our good example to our childrenchildren ‘ ‘Showing’.Showing’.

3.3. Provide children withProvide children with eolas / knowledge eolas / knowledge on why on why you think Gaelic is you think Gaelic is important. important. ‘‘Telling and Telling and discussing.’discussing.’

•Teangacha i gComhthéacs Teangacha i gComhthéacs DomhandaDomhanda

•An Ghaeilge idirnáisiúntaAn Ghaeilge idirnáisiúnta

•An Ghaeilge in ÉireannAn Ghaeilge in Éireann

•Foghlaim agus an Foghlaim agus an dátheangachasdátheangachas

““respect for other cultures and can respect for other cultures and can develop their develop their creative thinking and self-creative thinking and self-confidence.”confidence.”

Global Context

The first leg of the stool: The first leg of the stool: Gaelic-Medium Gaelic-Medium EducationEducation

As a non-Gaelic speaker, sending your child to Gaelic-Medium education is the surest way of giving them fluency in the language.

Gaelic-Medium Education will help to provide your children with a fluency and a positive attitude towards Gaelic, English and other languages.

If you speak Gaelic or indeed a foreign language at home, the Gaelic-Medium Education will also help with a positive attitude towards this language also.

This happens because the child will be in an environment that is language centred and values diversity..

Gaelic-Medium Gaelic-Medium Education - the Education - the foundation…. but foundation…. but not the whole storynot the whole story

Fluency in a language does not Fluency in a language does not happen in isolation – it happens as happen in isolation – it happens as part of a community.part of a community.

It is not enough that your child It is not enough that your child becomes fluent – if his or her becomes fluent – if his or her language is to be encouraged and language is to be encouraged and maintained maintained it needs to be nurtured!it needs to be nurtured!

Use it or lose it!Use it or lose it!

Legs 2 and 3:Legs 2 and 3:A Positive Approach;A Positive Approach;Formulating and Formulating and sharing your values sharing your values towards the towards the language/ culturelanguage/ culture

Children who are raised Children who are raised in an environment that in an environment that values a language are values a language are more likely to value it more likely to value it and use it as part of their and use it as part of their lives”lives” Jim Cummins, International bilingual expertJim Cummins, International bilingual expert..

““pressures which can be positive and negativepressures which can be positive and negative””

Nurturing a Nurturing a positive outlook positive outlook in your child in your child towards Gaelic.towards Gaelic.

From the earliest days children From the earliest days children learn through example. Their learn through example. Their habits and characteristics are habits and characteristics are formed and shaped by those formed and shaped by those around them, from their parents, around them, from their parents, brothers and sisters.brothers and sisters.

A parent A parent will have a very strong will have a very strong impactimpact on the use of Gaelic – on the use of Gaelic – be be that positive or negative. that positive or negative. The The choice is yours!choice is yours!

What can I What can I do to be do to be positive?positive?

Language use at homeLanguage use at homeThe best way to show your child you are The best way to show your child you are interested in Gaelic is by using the interested in Gaelic is by using the language with them. language with them.

Some parents learn the language and over Some parents learn the language and over time begin to use the language fluently. time begin to use the language fluently. Others may not achieve this level but can Others may not achieve this level but can still have a very positive impact by using still have a very positive impact by using directed language.directed language.

Directed languageDirected language is when you use a is when you use a certain number of everyday phrases all certain number of everyday phrases all the time. For example, replacing words the time. For example, replacing words such as “good morning” with “maidin such as “good morning” with “maidin mhaith”.mhaith”.

It’s easy to do … but remember to do itIt’s easy to do … but remember to do it!!

‘‘Show, Show, don’t don’t tell’tell’

By always using By always using directed languagedirected language in in key phrases you key phrases you showshow to your child to your child that that “We value this language even “We value this language even though we don’t speak it fluently.”though we don’t speak it fluently.”

A directed language programme can A directed language programme can bring you to a level where you speak bring you to a level where you speak as many words as you like.as many words as you like.

Tell also but Tell also but in a positive in a positive way.way.

Tell your child about:Tell your child about:•Why you sent them to a Why you sent them to a Gaelscoil.Gaelscoil.•Why you think Gaelic is Why you think Gaelic is important.important.•How you are positive about How you are positive about Gaelic, English and other Gaelic, English and other languages.languages.•Why diversity is important.Why diversity is important.

The power of readingThe power of reading

The power of readingThe power of readingto your childto your child

Reading to your child is a powerful thing!Reading to your child is a powerful thing!It helps children develop concentration It helps children develop concentration skills.skills.It strengthens your relationship together.It strengthens your relationship together.It nurtures a love of literacy.It nurtures a love of literacy.It allows you to explore interesting It allows you to explore interesting subjects, imaginative places and practical subjects, imaginative places and practical topics.topics.Reading and discussing things with your Reading and discussing things with your child in a non-pressured way is PURE child in a non-pressured way is PURE GOLD!GOLD!

Reading in Reading in English as a way English as a way to talk about to talk about Gaelic and Gaelic and bilingualism.bilingualism.

Our heritage is bursting with role models, heroes, Our heritage is bursting with role models, heroes, love stories, battles, extraordinary tales of men love stories, battles, extraordinary tales of men and women who spoke Gaelic.and women who spoke Gaelic.

There are many books in the English language There are many books in the English language that can ignite the imagination of a child and that can ignite the imagination of a child and inform them of heritage, history and languages inform them of heritage, history and languages from all over the world and also about Gaelic, from all over the world and also about Gaelic, their own language.their own language.

If the language is not in the story…bring it If the language is not in the story…bring it in!...in!...What language do think Cú Chulainn spoke?What language do think Cú Chulainn spoke?Scéalta a cheangail leis an bheochultúrScéalta a cheangail leis an bheochultúr

Be consistent in your Be consistent in your message, but change how message, but change how you say it.you say it.

Children come under different influences at Children come under different influences at different ages, it is important therefore to different ages, it is important therefore to relate to them at that time in their lives.relate to them at that time in their lives.

What motivates a 6 year old won’t work later What motivates a 6 year old won’t work later on. Language is no different than anything on. Language is no different than anything else!else!

Mind Games; Mind Games; be ready and be ready and be positivebe positive!!Children and young people are Children and young people are

very sophisticated.very sophisticated.They know when Mum and Dad They know when Mum and Dad really don’t speak the language. really don’t speak the language. They can be hurtful.They can be hurtful.Stick with it and enjoy the Games!Stick with it and enjoy the Games!

They may sayThey may sayDon’t say that Mummy that is my Don’t say that Mummy that is my language.language.

You are not saying that right.You are not saying that right.

I hate it when you use Gaelic!I hate it when you use Gaelic!

Gaelic is for school, I hate it! Gaelic is for school, I hate it!

Format of the Format of the programmeprogramme

Words and phrases in Gaelic Words and phrases in Gaelic

(Book & CD/DVD) (Book & CD/DVD) 10 week programme. 10 week programme.

The simple and easy discussion The simple and easy discussion and phrase “class” 1 ½ hours, and phrase “class” 1 ½ hours, once per week. once per week. Discussion forumDiscussion forum

A leaflet on Talking to my child about A leaflet on Talking to my child about Gaelic … ideas and suggestions.Gaelic … ideas and suggestions.

Hints and tips to enrich Hints and tips to enrich understanding in relation to understanding in relation to placenames, surnames, local placenames, surnames, local heritage etc.heritage etc.

A list of suggested books,stories and A list of suggested books,stories and materialsmaterials

Torthaí go dtí seo:Torthaí go dtí seo:

Tuismitheoirí ag aithint tábhachtach a ról Tuismitheoirí ag aithint tábhachtach a ról maidir leis an Ghaeilge/ G.scoil.maidir leis an Ghaeilge/ G.scoil.

Fás in úsáid na Gaeilge ins an Teaghlach / Fás in úsáid na Gaeilge ins an Teaghlach / Níos mó tuistí ag dul chuig ranganna.Níos mó tuistí ag dul chuig ranganna.

Tuismitheoirí in ann friotal a chur ar gcuid Tuismitheoirí in ann friotal a chur ar gcuid mothúcháin i leith na Gaeilgemothúcháin i leith na Gaeilge

Nasc níos fearr leis an scoil.Nasc níos fearr leis an scoil.

Baint níos láidre ag tuistí leis an scoilphobalBaint níos láidre ag tuistí leis an scoilphobal

Fás i suim a pháiste i leith na scoileFás i suim a pháiste i leith na scoile