Plurilingual Lab Grad Talk with Nóra Ní Bheaglaoich

The Plurilingual Lab invites you to a GradTalk:

Teaching Irish as an L2 using Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) in an English-Medium/Majority Language Elementary School: Obstacles and Opportunities

with Nóra Ní Bheaglaoich
Mary Immaculate College

This presentation explores teaching Irish as an L2 using Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) in an English-medium/majority language elementary school in Ireland. Firstly, the historical background of the Irish language as an indigenous language of Ireland will be outlined. Different contexts in which Irish is taught within the Irish educational system will subsequently be explored, including both English-medium and Irish immersion educational contexts. Historically, the balance has tilted in favour of the revival/preservation of native Irish speakers in Irish speaking areas (also known as Gaeltacht areas) within the school system as well as enhancing Irish-medium immersion education which has blossomed around the country.

Of late, the pendulum has slowly started to swing in the direction of English-medium schools where Irish is taught as a minority language to all students and is part of the core curriculum during the years of compulsory schooling 6-15. Results, however, are deemed to be inadequate in spite of the 1500 class hours that a student spends being taught Irish. A notable minority of students fail to attain mastery in Irish listening, speaking, and general comprehension skills. The publication of a new language curriculum in 2015 has signposted new possibilities for curricular reform within English-medium elementary education with a renewed energy to enhance Irish language pedagogy gaining momentum. CLIL is recognised as a possible key driving force and as a promising solution in this new landscape. The complex issues and authentic possibilities facing teachers in Ireland to adapt and effectively implement CLIL however, needs careful consideration through continuing professional development in order to support teachers throughout the curricular reform process.

About Nóra Ní Bheaglaoich: I’m a primary school teacher with over 20 years teaching experience. I also teach part-time as a tutor at third level. My research interests are oral language and literacy education; English additional language learners (EAL); content and language integrated learning (CLIL), bilingual education, immersion education; teacher education and continuous professional development for teachers.

Register today!: https://forms.gle/Register

Please fill out the form to register for this talk and to receive the Zoom link closer to the presentation dates. For more information, please contact John Wayne N. dela Cruz (john.delacruz [at] mail.mcgill.ca, Organizer) or Lana Zeaiter (lana.zeaiter [at] mail.mcgill.ca, Zoom Host). *The Plurilingual Lab Graduate Talks is hosted by McGill University’s Faculty of Education. This event is not video recorded. This event is part of DISETalks and will be held online. This is a free event and everyone is welcome! Please check the attached poster for more details.