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SUB JEC T
GAEILGE

This course focuses on enhancing language and literacy skills through integrated strands:
communicative competence, language and cultural awareness, and student’s self-awareness.

What will I learn in Irish class?
Students will experience a living language through the teaching of different topics that relate to their
lives. Grammar and age-appropriate literature will play a central role as to enhance their existing
knowledge, perfect their written and oral skills and hence instilling a confidence in our national
language.

What is the Junior Cycle Exam like?
> Students will choose either higher or ordinary level at the end of 1st year. The Junior Cycle runs
over 2 years.
> 2 Classroom-based assessments (CBAs) will be completed in 3rd year.
> CBA1 - Students will create a Language portfolio with samples of their work. The portfolio may
include a range of student-created texts, e.g., projects, learning logs, creative pieces (poems/songs
etc. created by the student) reflective pieces, recorded material (audio-visual and visual), texts,
presentations completed etc.
> CBA2 - The Communicative task gives students the opportunity to choose a subject, topic or
issue in which they are interested or is important to them and explore it over a period of time. In
completing the task, students may use any one of the following formats: presentation, interview,
role play, drama or conversation in response to stimulus material.
> The students will also carry out an Assessment task, based on the 2nd CBA in 3rd year. This task
will be sent to the SEC for marking. This is worth 10% of the overall exam.
> A final 2 hour written examination, graded by the SEC, will be completed at the end of 3rd year.

Type of Homework/Projects/Assignments related to Irish.
Like primary school, homework will consist of a mix of exercises, oral and written, all of which will be
based on class teaching. Timing for completion of these exercises will be appropriate to their size and
will consider their learning in other subjects. Any projects/assignments issued will be used to promote
a love of the language whilst enhancing other skills such research, co-operation and teamwork.

Is learning Irish anything like what I did in primary school?
Junior Cycle Irish builds upon the language developed during primary education. The student’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.

8 St. Mary's Secondary School First Year Subject Choice