Millstreet CS to pilot new Irish-Language Project
Millstreet Community School has been selected to pilot a new Irish-language project. One of only six Post-Primary Schools nationally to successfully apply for the Content Langauge Integrated Learning Project (CLIL), Pól Uas. Ó Síodhcháin, Principal, is delighted with the news. The three-year CLIL project will provide valuable opportunities for students in Millstreet CS to learn aspects of subjects such as Geography, Home Economics and History through Irish. Mr. Ó Síodhcháin is looking forward to promoting the Irish language in this novel way and is very thankful to the Irish teachers in the school, Ms. Alison O’Leary, Ms. Suzanne Sheehy, Ms. Mary Bridget Casey and Mr. Cathal McGuckin for their willingness to partake in the project.
Millstreet CS will now have a significant role in the development of the language on a national level as we will help to develop resources and give informed feedback to further develop this approach to Irish. Mr. Ó Síodhcháin hopes students in Millstreet CS grow to love the Irish language and to enjoy using it in a variety of settings outside the Irish classroom. The benefits to students include improvements in their motivation and knowledge in both the Irish language and in the subject being taught, improvements in their cognitive skills such as higher-order and critical thinking, developing their cultural awareness and knowledge and developing their learning and communication strategies. Mr. Ó Síodhcháin welcomed the increased professional development opportunities that will be provided for teachers and also the opportunities for increased collaboration with colleagues within the school as well as with teachers and practitioners from other settings and schools.
“Táimid an-bhuíoch don Roinn Oideachais as ucht na deise seo a thabhairt dúinn, a dúirt sé. “Níor cheart go mbeadh éinne náireach as a dteanga dhúchais a úsáid. Is cúis áthais dúinn i bPobalscoil Sráid a’Mhuilinn glacadh páirte sa tionscadal seo agus tabharfar an-chuid deiseanna foghlama, ní hamháin do dhaltaí, ach don phobal uile-scoile i gcoitinne. Tionscadal trí bliana atá ann ach táthar ag tnúth le héifeachtaí fad-téarmacha i bhfad níos leithne ná sin agus an Ghaeilge a bheith mar theanga bheo, fheidmheach, spraoiúil anseo”.
