Cad is scoil lán-Ghaeilge ann?
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.
What is a Gaelscoil?
A Gaelscoil conducts all its business through the medium of Irish.
Classes are taught through Irish, staff converse through Irish, the business of the Board of Management is conducted through Irish and the pupils ability to communicate through Irish is fostered, encouraged and enhanced from the moment they enter the school.
The school helps to develop the Irish-speaking community inside and outside of its gates.
Cad é tumoideachas?
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.
What is immersion education?
Immersion means that every subject is taught through Irish and that all business and communication in the school is conducted through Irish. In this manner every aspect of the language is absorbed resulting in the student being able to understand and speak the language in a shorter time frame. Studies have found that this is the most effective way to acquire a language.
English as a subject is not taught until first Class. Research has found that students in the immersion system attain greater levels in reading and writing in both English and Irish than the national average.
Má mhúintear mo pháiste trí mheán na Gaeilge, an mbeidh tionchar aige seo ar fhorbairt a theanga Béarla?
Sea - tionchar dearfach. Tá sé cruthaithe ag taighde go dtéann an tumoideachas chun leasa fhorbairt na teanga Béarla. Baineann páistí i scoil lán-Ghaeilge torthaí níos airde amach sa Bhéarla agus sa Mhatamaitic mar gheall ar na scileanna teanga ginearálta níos airde atá acu. Faigheann páistí tuiscint níos fearr ar bhunús na teanga – gramadach, foirmiú focal, ord abairtí – tríd an tumoideachas, agus faigheann siad scileanna inaistrithe a chabhraíonn leo teangacha eile a fhoghlaim.
If my child is taught through the medium of Irish, will this have an effect on his/her English language development?
Yes - a positive effect. Research has proven immersion education benefits the development of the English Language. Children in Irish-medium school achieve higher results in English and Maths due to their having higher general language skills. Children gain a better understanding of the foundations of language – grammar, word formation, sentence order – through immersion education, and they gain transferable skills that help them to learn other languages.
Tá imní orm nach mbeidh mo pháiste in ann an múinteoir a thuiscint.
Níl aon ghá do thuismitheoirí a bheith buartha. Tacaíonn an cur chuige tumoideachais le foghlaim teanga na bpáistí trí ionsú agus rannpháirtíocht iomlán. Cé go labhróidh múinteoirí i nGaeilge leis na páistí ón gcéad lá, úsáidfidh siad teanga choirp, pictiúir, mím agus ton gutha lena chinntiú go dtuigeann na páistí iad. Freagróidh páistí ina gcéad teanga ar dtús, ach foghlaimeoidh siad go tapa conas Gaeilge a labhairt lena múinteoir agus lena gcomhscoláirí.
I am worried that my child will not be able to understand the teacher.
There is no need for parents to worry. The immersion approach supports children’s language acquisition through total absorption and involvement. Though teachers will speak in Irish to the children from the very first day, they will use body language, pictures, mime and tone of voice to make sure that the children understand them. Children will at first reply in their first language, but quickly learn to speak Irish to their teacher and their classmates.
An féidir liom mo pháiste a chur chuig Gaelscoil fiú mura bhfuil mórán Gaeilge agam/gan aon Gaeilge ar chor ar bith?
Sea! Tá beagán nó gan aon Gaeilge ag breis is 90% de thuismitheoirí a chuireann a bpáistí chuig Gaelscoileanna.
Can I send my child to a Gaelscoil even if I have limited/no Irish?>
Yes! Over 90% of parents who send their children to Gaelscoileanna have little to no Irish.
Tá riachtanais speisialta ag mo pháiste. An féidir liom mo pháiste a chur chuig Gaelscoil?
Sea. Reáchtáiltear scoil lán-Ghaeilge ar an mbealach céanna, leis na hacmhainní agus an maoiniú céanna ón Roinn Oideachais, agus a reáchtáiltear scoil lán-Bhéarla. Déantar iarratais chuig an Roinn Oideachais maidir le cúntóirí riachtanas speisialta ar an mbealach céanna agus a fhreastalaíonn gach bunscoil agus scoil lán-Ghaeilge go rialta ar pháistí a bhfuil míchumas fisiceach agus intleachtúil orthu; deacrachtaí radhairc agus éisteachta, neamhoird speictrim uathachais, disléicse, agus riachtanais speisialta eile.
My child has special needs. Can I send my child to a Gaelscoil?
Yes. An Irish-Medium school is run in the same manner, with the same resources and funding from the Department of Education, as an English-Medium school. Applications to the Department of Education with regards to special needs assistants are made in the same manner as all primary schools and Irish-medium schools routinely cater for children with physical and intellectual disabilities; sight and hearing difficulties, Autism spectrum disorders, dyslexia, and other SEN.