Céard é Oideachas Lán-Ghaeilge?
Tumoideachais i scoil lán-Ghaeilge, déantar gnó na scoile ar fad trí mheán na Gaeilge. Múintear na ranganna trí Ghaeilge, bíonn cumarsáid idir an fhoireann as Gaeilge, déantar gnó an Bhoird Bainistíochta trí Ghaeilge agus spreagtar na páistí chun Gaeilge a labhairt eatarthu féin. Neartaíonn an scoil an pobal labhartha Gaeilge taobh istigh agus taobh amuigh de gheataí na scoile. Tá na scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge oscailte, fáiltiúil agus chuige sin tacaíonn siad le tuismitheoirí páirt a ghlacadh i saol na scoile trí imeachtaí éagsúla, ó ranganna Gaeilge go Coiste na dTuismitheoirí agus a lán eile.
Cuspóirí an Oideachais Lán-Ghaeilge;
- Oideachas den scoth a sholáthar do dhaltaí ár scoileanna.
- Forbairt iomlánaíoch na bpáistí a chothú agus a neartú.
- Tacú le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge, an cultúr Gaelach agus pobal na Gaeilge
Córas an Tumoideachais
Tá taighde cuimsitheach déanta (MET, 1998) a chruthaíonn gurb é an modh is fearr teanga a shealbhú ná tríd an tumoideachas. Is é an córas tumoideachais amháin atá á chur i bhfeidhm i scoileanna an Fhorais.
Ciallaíonn tumoideachas go ndéantar gach ábhar, gnó agus idirbheartaíocht sa scoil trí Ghaeilge. Ar an mbealach seo súitear isteach gach gné den teanga, rud a chiallaíonn go bhfuil sé ar chumas an dalta í a thuiscint agus í a labhairt i bhfad níos tapúla. Ní mhúintear Béarla go dtí an dara téarma sna Naíonáin Shinsir i scoileanna an Fhorais. Cruthaíonn taighde go ndéanann daltaí sa chóras seo níos fearr i scríobh agus i léamh an Bhéarla agus i léamh na Gaeilge ná an meán náisiúnta (Ó hAiniféin, (2007), Cloud, Genesee & Hamayan (2000) ).
Cén fáth a roghnaítear oideachas lán-Ghaeilge?
Roghnaíonn tuismitheoirí oideachas lán-Ghaeilge ar chúiseanna éagsúla, na cúiseanna seo san áireamh:
- Tá sé fíor-thábhachtach dóibh go mbeidh Gaeilge ar a dtoil ag a bpáistí.
- Aithníonn siad go bhfaigheann an páiste léargas ar leith ar a c(h)ultúr féin agus ar chultúir eile.
- Cothaítear bród na bpáistí ina dteanga, ina gcultúr agus iontu féin.
- Ábaltacht na bpáistí labhairt, léamh agus scríobh i ndá theanga agus na buntáistí a théann leis sin.
- An t-oideachas den scoth a chuireann na scoileanna ar fáil do pháistí.
- Forbairt i bhféinmhuinín agus i bhféiniúlacht na bpáistí.
Chomh maith leis na cúiseanna seo ar fad tá buntáistí breise ann do pháiste má fhreastalóinn sé/sí ar scoil lán-Ghaeilge. De réir taighde ar an oideachas dátheangach seo a leanas cuid de na torthaí do na daltaí a théann tríd an gcóras:
- Déanann siad níos fearr go hacadúil (Gallagher & Hanna, 2002).
- Éiríonn leo an tríú agus an ceathrú teanga a fhoghlaim níos éasca (Cenoz & Valencia 1994).
- Tuiscint agus oscailteacht do chultúir eile (Gallagher & Hanna, 2002).
- Feabhas ar fheidhmiú cognaíochta ó thaobh cruthaíochta agus ábaltacht cumarsáide de (Bialystok et al. 2005).
- Torthaí níos airde sa Bhéarla agus sa mhatamaitic (Foras Taighde ar Oideachas, 2011)
- Tuiscint níos fearr ar fhéiniúlacht, ar chultúr agus ar spiorad pobail (Baker, 2003)
- Féinmheas níos airde (Baker, 2003)
- Cuireann oideachas dátheangach le torthaí acadúla, scileanna cruthaitheacha agus féinmheas sna daltaí (NMABE, 2006; Cummins, 2000)
- Scileanna cumarsáide agus sóisialta níos fearr (Cummins, 2000)
Buntáistí a bhaineann le tumoideachasDe réir an taighde ar oideachas dátheangach seo cuid de na torthaí do dhaltaí a théann tríd an córas:
- Cruthú níos fearr go hacadúil (Gallagher & Hanna, 2002).
- Níos éasca an tríú agus an ceathrú teanga a fhoghlaim (Cenoz & Valencia 1994).
- Tuiscint agus oscailteacht do chultúir eile (Gallagher & Hanna, 2002).
- Feabhas ar fheidhmiú chognaíochta sa gcruthaíocht agus sa gcumarsáid (Bialystok et al. 2005).
- Scóir níor airde i mBéarla agus sa Mhata (Ionad Taighde Oideachais, 2011)
- Feasacht ardaithe i leith féiniúlacht, cultúr agus tuiscint ar phobal (Baker, 2003)
- Ardú i bhféinmhuinín (Baker, 2003)
- Ardaíonn oideachas dá theangach feidhmiú acadúil, buanna cruthaitheacha agus féin mhuinín i ndaltaí (NMABE, 2006; Cummins, 2000)
- Scileanna cumarsáide agus sóisialta feabhsaithe (Cummins, 2000)
Why Irish Medium Education & Immersion Education?
Immersion education is the system of education of an Irish-Medium school. The benefits of Immersion education are recognised internationally. In Immersion education schools the pupils are immersed in Irish from their first day in school. The teacher will speak only Irish to the pupils until their second term in Senior Infants. This system has been proven worldwide to be the most effective for language acquisition.
What is the model of immersion education used in schools under An Foras Pátrúnachta?
The class teacher will speak and teach through Irish only to the pupils from the beginning of Naíonáin Bheaga (Junior Infants) until the Christmas break in Naíonáin Mhóra (Senior Infants). After the Christmas break, English is introduced to the curriculum, but until then, the children will only hear their teacher speak Irish to them. Comprehensive studies (MET, 1998) have found that the most effective method of acquiring a language is through immersion.
It is policy in all schools under An Foras Pátrúnachta that immersion education is implemented and practised.
The speaking of Irish by the teachers and students is central to what a Gaelscoil is. Encouragement and enticement is the most desirable way of promoting Irish in the school by use of strategies such as praise, prizes and rewards. This positive culture has contributed to the success and popularity of Gaelscoileanna.
Why do parents choose an Irish-Medium School?
- It is extremely important to them that their children are fluent as Gaeilge.
- They recognise that children get a particular perspective on our culture and others.
- Due to the pride developed in children in their language, their culture and in themselves.
- An ability to speak, read and write fluently in two languages.
- The excellent education children receive in Irish medium schools.
- Raising of self-esteem and sense of identity.
Along with these reasons there are numerous other benefits for children who attend an Irish Medium School. According to research on bilingual education following are the results for students who go through the system:
- Better performance academically (Gallagher & Hanna, 2002).
- Easier to learn a third and a fourth language (Cenoz & Valencia 1994).
- An understanding and openness to other cultures (Gallagher & Hanna, 2002).
- Improvement in cognitive functioning in creativity and communication (Bialystok et al. 2005).
- Higher scores in English and Maths (Education Research Centre, 2011)
- Enhanced awareness of identity, culture and sense of community (Baker, 2003)
- Increased Self Esteem (Baker, 2003)
- Bilingual Education enriches academic productivity, creative talents andself-esteem in students (NMABE, 2006; Cummins, 2000)
- Improved communication and social skills (Cummins, 2000)
Benefits of full immersion Education According to research on bilingual education, the following are the results for students who go through the system:
- Better performance academically (Gallagher & Hanna, 2002).
- Easier to learn a third and a fourth language (Cenoz & Valencia 1994).
- An understanding and openness to other cultures (Gallagher & Hanna, 2002).
- Improvement in cognitive functioning in creativity and communication (Bialystok et al. 2005).
- Higher scores in English and Maths (Education Research Centre, 2011)
- Enhanced awareness of identity, culture and sense of community (Baker, 2003)
- Increased Self Esteem (Baker, 2003)
- Bilingual Education enriches academic productivity, creative talents andself-esteem in students (NMABE, 2006; Cummins, 2000)
- Improved communication and social skills (Cummins, 2000)