how would you teach Irish?

Fuinseog

I do not teach teach the subject very often, but I notice its a question that crops up a lot in interviews, especially how would you teach someone who does not want to learn Irish?

the attitude of the principal and parents has a lot to do with it. In the past I was very enthusiastic about it but had parents complain that I was speaking too much Irish, which is seriously demotivating. you can follow departmental guidelines but you also have to keep the parents happy and if parents are not happy, principal is not happy.

i feel with Irish more than any other subject you are being scapegoated for emotional scars and baggage parents have, which of course is passed on to their off spring.

RealJohn

I don't teach Irish, other than in Gaeltacht during the summer (and I haven't done that for a few years) so I'm not exactly an expert here but I'd say the key is to make it a positive experience for them first and foremost. In many cases, you're already trying to reverse 8 years of negativity they've developed in primary school (I'm assuming you're a secondary teacher since you said you don't often teach it) and I think that that should be the main focus in your first month or two with a new Irish class.

Find fun things for them to do using the Irish they have. Give them homework based on watching something on TG4 (or give them something to watch letting them know that they'll be discussing it the following day). In fact, you can probably extend that to english language television too as long as you insist that the discussion is in Irish.

Bring in an all-Irish system in the class. Speaking english gets you nothing. They want to go to the toilet, get a drink etc, they have to ask as Gaeilge and be strict about it. Give rewards for using Irish well. Make a competition of it with points going for using good Irish (but make sure there's a prize of some sort, ideally something small and regular, as they'll quickly lose interest in the competition if they think they're getting nothing out of it).

Organise a trip or two during the year, probably during SnaG and maybe another one some other time if you can. It might be no harm to leave those who don't make an effort on their Irish behind for the trips to encourage those who are making an effort.

As with any subject, even if they don't like it and think it's pointless 99% of students would like to do well at it so give them attainable goals early on and reward them for reaching those goals and take it from there.

Obviously the syllabus has to be covered too but if they're positive about the subject it'll be far easier to achieve that.

Monotype

I think an Irish class should have strong emphasis on speaking the language. Forget the books for a few weeks and teach by demonstration. Avoid providing translations yourself or even writing down hints - like page numbers - have them think it through even if it takes a bit longer the first couple of times. Get them to use the language in reply to you rather than repeating. Tá peann agam - An bhfuil peann agat/aige/aici? Have a plan to bring in grammar and new words without teaching a grammar class outright - although this can be done later when they have a grasp on the basics. The standard coming from many primary schools is just so bad that they only have a few words so stringing a sentence together can be very challenging. Keep it very simple with short sentences.
Only just a few simple written exercises and a dictionary record of new words is really necessary for a while until you feel that they have the basics. Use technology to bring a bit of variation and to offer examples which can not be physically shown.

doc_17

I'd love to rip up every book ever designed for second level. Not that I've ever taught it! Hated it at second level but I'm doing my best to learn it now. It's a tough answer to give, especially trying to please so many.

Ms.M

The same as any other language. Rob the resources for tefl off on-line sites and adapt it to Irish, or even have a look at French/German resources from tes.co.uk. Teg.ie is good too. If you're worried they're not talking enough in class, start a draw or something. Their name goes in every time you overhear them speaking Irish to their buddies. I love teaching Irish. "How would you teach it" is a bit too broad a question. Challenge their negative attitude towards it without being too in-your-face; it sinks in eventually.

byhookorbycrook

Teach subjects that children really like through Irish- say PE and Art.

Fuinseog

the problem I have encountered in the past is irate parents who see the language as a waste of time and do not want their kid to learn it. They are even more peeved when the child does not get an exemption. both child and parent take their frustration out on the teacher. best practice is to speak as much of the language as possible but that seems to irritate them even more.

Ms.M

Parents like that have to be challenged or ignored. They have no right to sabotage the class for the kids who want to learn. Usually, teenagers are pumped full of clichés and haven't really given much consideration to why we bother with Irish. You are entitled to challenge that kind of thinking in the kids even if you're directly contradicted their parents. They only dismiss it as a waste of time because it's easy and convenient for them to do so. Compliment them, encourage them, be astounded at their progress. Irish is studied to a high standard in secondary school, a lot of weaker kids lose confidence in their own ability and not enough sit higher level. There's plenty of ammunition on the various threads on boards on the topic if you want arguments for learning it. The Gaeilge forum is good too. Good luck Fuinseog!

gaeilgebeo

Realistically? If a student is week enough to be considered for an exemption, they are not going to respond well to being taught Irish through Irish. Simple as.
It is all fair an well suggesting scrapping the books and speaking Irish only!
There are several reasons why this wouldn't work.

1. Students like and need structure and routine.

2. Most students, unless higher level leaving cert, do not like things being explained to them in a language they don't understand. They need/like clear instructions.

3. There is a course that has to be covered.

Irish is an enjoyable subject for the majority of my students. Why? I don't push the language on them or talk over them in Irish.
I make my lessons concise, interesting and always focus on the exam.
Students like a lot of repetition because they feel they are getting somewhere when they can actually do a question/activity.
If students know they are working towards an exam, they will respond better.
I find that they don't want to do airy fairy "extras", especially in exam years.
Games and fun activities can be incorporated into any lesson.
Once the student starts to enjoy the subject, the parents back off.
I've often had the comment, "Oh I hated Irish when I was at school, I couldn't believe it when John came home saying he liked it"!

I have never taught the subject by teaching completely through Irish, probably because I work in a DEIS school, and my results have never suffered as a result.

It is not ideal, and of course I would love to be bringing up fluent speakers by 6th year in school, but there are too many factors stacked against this, first and foremost, students coming in in first year without the very basics as well as trying to get courses covered and revised.

Seanchai

First year teaching LC Irish so I've a few questions.

1) Given that the LC course changed from last year, are those of you who are teaching LC Irish going to bother using the pre-2012 exam papers, or are there sample papers a teacher could get that would be better? What sections of the course are the pre-2012 papers still useful for?

2) Which is the best production of An Triail to bring them to see? I see both Aisling Ghéar and Fibín are touring this November here and here.

3) Is there any course or conversation group around the Dublin area that you'd recommend to LC students to improve their Irish for the Oral?