Junior Cycle SUBJECT:
Gaeilge What will I learn in this subject? Junior Cycle Irish builds upon the language developed during primary education. The learner’s vocabulary is both reinforced and enriched at this stage and the language skills (listening, speaking, reading, spoken interaction and writing) are further developed. Emphasis is placed on promoting and developing awareness: language awareness, cultural awareness as well as student self-awareness as a language learner. How will I learn in this subject? Students learn about the structure of the language and how it works. Students enhance their appreciation of the language itself by exploring texts, including multimodal texts. Through appropriate language tasks based on such texts, students gain an understanding of the differences between spoken and written language. They observe different aspects of the language from the way it is used on a daily basis to how it is expressed in writing. Students become involved and engaged in all of the language skills: listening, reading, spoken production, spoken interaction and writing. They discuss, compare and investigate a variety of texts, including literary texts, developing their communication, thinking and critical skills. Is learning this subject in CPS anything like what I did in Primary School? Junior Cycle Irish seeks to enhance and develop the skills students bring to post- primary school from primary school. How will this subject be useful to me? Irish is the one of the official languages of the state. Learning a language is a life skill. You will be encouraged to use Irish effectively and confidently, both personally and in communicating with other users in the language community, to appreciate the language and to gain a better understanding of the culture of our language and country. Assessment? You will complete two Classroom Based Assessments in Irish; both are in 3rd Year. You will complete a Language portfolio and Communication Task. After this you will take part in an Assessment Task based on CBA2 which will be marked by the State Examinations Commission and is allocated 10% of your overall mark. There is an exam in June of 3rd Year which can be taken at Higher or Ordinary Level. 9
