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- Nov 1, 2002
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All my teachers smelled of fags and despair. They wore Dunnes jumpers with holes in them and drove rust bucket cars held together with ropes.
It wasn't an inspiring time.
It wasn't an inspiring time.
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Are you going off your memory of having been in school yourself 30 years ago?PS - I don't much place emphasis on individual teachers. Kids have to do their own work not the teachers
who are there largely to make sure the kids are doing their work in my experience.
All my teachers smelled of fags and despair. They wore Dunnes jumpers with holes in them and drove rust bucket cars held together with ropes.
It wasn't an inspiring time.
Unfortunately the curriculum in my experience 30+ year ago didn't allow a lot of time for anything other than preparing for exams.Are you going off your memory of having been in school yourself 30 years ago?
In my experience you're dead wrong on this. A good teacher actually teaches you things that you can't figure out on your own - that's the whole point. I've seen massive differences in how engaged my own kids are with different subjects, and how well they understand them, based on how good the teachers are
Got a kid in my family that is great at everything in school.
But his Dad hates Irish, so he hates irish. Tells himself a story about how he can't get it.
Blindingly obvious where it's coming from.
Everyone in the house blames the government and how Irish is taught.
I stay out of it. But obviously, I have opinions.
So yes, you are basing your opinions on education solely on your experience from 30+ years ago.Unfortunately the curriculum in my experience 30+ year ago didn't allow a lot of time for anything other than preparing for exams
Sounds like a super kid you got thereI'd agree with you.. I think parental attitudes are a big part
with Irish I'd say a good 25% of people in this country rightly or wrongly think Irish is a complete waste of time in schools - and this includes some of the teachers, and there's another chunk who would question the value of it being mandatory in primary and secondary school (including many teachers I've met over the years).
This filters into a) how its taught in schools (lack of enthusiasm), and b) the reinforcement of its value at home.
But to my knowledge - there's never been a real debate about Irish been mandatory. if it was optional (at least in secondary school) you might have fewer people having a minimal capacity in the language, and more engaging with it more enthusiastically as its something they have an interest or aptitude for.
Teaching methods do have a role as well... my 5 year old is currently being taught irish by a glove puppet, and he's lapping it up and pestering me to teach him more words and phrases, getting irish kids books from the library etc. Far from how I was taught Irish at that age...
(preparing to be called a self-hating free-state colonialized- minded west-brit for the rest of the day for parts of the above)
Prepare for a big change when your 5-year old goes to Big School. I think the standard of Irish as taught in school has declined a lot over the years. I got a B in Irish in the leaving in 1989, my eldest got a H3 which is more-or-less equivalent in her leaving in 2023 - when I left school I was well able carry on a conversation Irish, she wouldn't have a hopeTeaching methods do have a role as well... my 5 year old is currently being taught irish by a glove puppet, and he's lapping it up and pestering me to teach him more words and phrases, getting irish kids books from the library etc. Far from how I was taught Irish at that age...
Prepare for a big change when your 5-year old goes to Big School. I think the standard of Irish as taught in school has declined a lot over the years. I got a B in Irish in the leaving in 1989, my eldest got a H3 which is more-or-less equivalent in her leaving in 2023 - when I left school I was well able carry on a conversation Irish, she wouldn't have a hope
As for parental buy-in ... I'm sure there's some influence from parents, but in my house both my kids were utterly dismissive of science and technology despite me being a techie with a Physics degree, and their Mam being a working biologist with a Ph.D.
It's a major string to your bow while traveling.I never had much interest in learning another language. I did french for one term in 1988. Hated it
Still feel the same.
It's a major string to your bow while traveling.
And getting the ride.
Any skill is.
I personally hate being the single language dummy when I'm visiting with proper Europeans and they're all switching effortlessly between languages
It's a major string to your bow while traveling.
And can defo help with getting the ride.
Any learned skill is.
I personally hate being the single language dummy when I'm visiting with proper Europeans and they're all switching effortlessly between languages
They're not affectations you loon! That's just how you pronounce the words!I never had much interest in learning another language. I did french in first year in 1988. Hated it. I think it was having to put on the affectations. Don't regret it. Bloody frogs.
I agree with you, but you do have to make a cognitive jump into sounding like a ponce when you speak FrenchThey're not affectations you loon! That's just how you pronounce the words!
They're not affectations you loon! That's just how you pronounce the words!
fairly certain i've mentioned it here before, but i know a couple of gaelgoirs who hate how irish is taught in secondary school; it's taught as an 'intelligence' test, not a means of communication.Prepare for a big change when your 5-year old goes to Big School. I think the standard of Irish as taught in school has declined a lot over the years. I got a B in Irish in the leaving in 1989, my eldest got a H3 which is more-or-less equivalent in her leaving in 2023 - when I left school I was well able carry on a conversation Irish, she wouldn't have a hope
As for parental buy-in ... I'm sure there's some influence from parents, but in my house both my kids were utterly dismissive of science and technology despite me being a techie with a Physics degree, and their Mam being a working biologist with a Ph.D.
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