This course is aimed at primary school teachers who are teaching 1st and/or 2nd class. It is suitable for teachers who don’t feel confident speaking Irish and who wish, therefore, to develop their skills in the language. The course is bilingual - each sentence in Irish is translated into English.

Although we would encourage you to use as much Irish as possible in your answers, you can use English if you need to.

The main objectives of the course are:

• to teach the core vocabulary and grammar relating to the themes of the curriculum through enjoyable interactive activities, including role play activities;
• to give teachers the opportunity to develop their listening and speaking skills;
• to enable teachers to use Irish accurately and confidently in their teaching and in their communication with pupils;
• to give teachers an opportunity to share practical ideas and activities for the classroom with each other in the course discussion forum.

Important: Although there are many examples of conversational activities given in this course and many practical ideas for activities of this kind available in the course forum, ‘Practical Irish for Primary School Teachers’ is primarily a language course rather than a course on methodology.

Author

This course was written by Siobhán Patten.

Module 1 - Mé féin and Sa bhaile

• Conversations, vocabulary, useful phrases and grammar relating to these themes
• Language functions: social interaction; giving and looking for information

Module 2 - Bia and Siopadóireacht

• Conversations, vocabulary, useful phrases and grammar relating to these themes
• Language functions: giving and seeking opinions

Module 3 - Caitheamh aimsire and An teilifís

• Conversations, vocabulary, useful phrases and grammar relating to these themes
• Language functions: influencing other people

Module 4 - An aimsir and Éadaí

• Conversations, vocabulary, useful phrases and grammar relating to these themes
• Language functions: looking for clarification in conversation

Module 5 - Ar scoil and Ócáidí speisialta

• Conversations, vocabulary, useful phrases and grammar relating to these themes
• Language functions: giving structure to a conversation

There are five modules in this course and each module contains a mixture of grammatical explanation, useful vocabulary, conversations and exercises.

All the exercises are interactive. Once you have completed an exercise, you can then click on the ‘Seol’ (Send) button and receive feedback immediately. You’ll be told which answers were correct and which were incorrect, and you’ll be given the correct answers and a score.

At the beginning of each module, you’re told what the focus of that module is.

In order to move from one screen to another, all you have to do is click on the arrows which appear on the left-hand side (to go back) or on the right-hand side (to go forward), at the top and bottom of each screen. You can also click on any line of text under the words PLEAN AN AONAID on the left-hand side of the screen in order to access another part of the module.

On the last page of each module, an leathanach scoir, you’re given an overview of the work that you’ve done in that module and your total score for the module. You’re given several choices as well: to continue to the next module, to redo the module you’ve just completed, or go back to the very beginning of the course.

A discussion forum will be provided for Practical Irish for Primary School Teachers. In this forum, teachers will answer the interactive question at the end of each module, as well as the reflective question at the very end of the course.

Those registered for the course will also have an opportunity to contact other teachers through the discussion forum. They will be able to send messages, ask and discuss questions, and express ideas.

When can I register for the course?

Immediately!

When can I start the course?

Any time from the beginning of July onwards. In order to earn 3 EPV days, the course must be completed between 2 July 2012 and 24 August 2012.

By what date will I have to have completed the course?

By 24 August. In order to earn 3 EPV days, the course must be completed some time between 2 July 2012 and 24 August 2012. During that period it’s up to you to decide when to study the course content.

What work will I have to do in each module?

You will have to read the material in the module and do all the interactive exercises.
When you have done all that work, you will have to answer the interactive question at the end of the module. You must post this answer on the course forum.
At the very end of the course, you must answer the reflective question. Again, you must post your answer on the course forum.

How many hours must I spend doing the course work?

Approximately twenty hours.

Is the course material written in Irish or in English?

The course is bilingual - each sentence in Irish is translated into English.

Will I have to answer the interactive question at the end of each module in Irish?

No. We would encourage you to use as much Irish as possible in your answers, but you can use English if you need to.

What happens if I have a question?

Write it on the forum or write to your course facilitator.
If you have any difficulties with the site, call Michelle on (01) 484 5220 or write to her at michelle@gaelchultur.com.

Can I do more than one course?

Absolutely! But Department of Education and Skills criteria for on-line courses stipulate that participants may only complete one such course for the awarding of EPV days.

How will I know when I have completed the course?

You will have completed the course when:

• you have spent approximately 20 hours working on the course material;
• you have answered the five interactive exercises as well as the reflective exercise;
• the course facilitator is happy that your work is of a suitably high standard;
• we have received your learner contract, your personal details, the reflective learning log and the evaluation form.

You will receive your certificate and CPD record within a day or two of having completed the course. It takes a little while to compile the answers, and to prepare the certificate and record.