Scríobhann Clodagh Ní Mhuirí faoin áis nua, Irish for Parents, togra nua atá seolta le tacú le tuismitheoirí páistí a thógáil le Gaeilge.
Seeing Irish homework coming home in your child's schoolbag can be exciting for some parents, but daunting for many others. While parents want to support their child and for their child to have a good experience with the language, not all parents feel confident speaking or reading Irish – and for some, it will be their first time engaging with the language at all.
I dteaghlaigh eile, bíonn an Ghaeilge mar chuid den ghnáthshaol laethúil. Bíonn tuismitheoirí áirithe ag tógáil clainne go hiomlán trí Gaeilge, agus déanann tuismitheoirí eile gach iarracht cúpla focal agus frása Gaeilge a shní isteach ón am go mbíonn a bpáistí an-óg.
All of these families exist in communities across the country, and while they have the same goal of supporting their child as they learn Irish in school, the supports and resources they need are different. It’s with this in mind that Irish for Parents – a new online hub – was created by Gaeloideachas with the support of the Department of Education & Youth and Foras na Gaeilge.
This new site is a central hub for any parent whose child is learning Irish, whether a complete beginner with no idea where to start, nó más cainteoir líofa thú atá ag iarradh teacht ar acmhainní nua atá in oiriúint dod’ chlann. Regardless of your level of Irish and the type of school your child is attending, you’ll find resources here that can help to encourage your child (and you!) to build on their Irish.
Is áis bheo a bheidh i gceist leis an suíomh seo. Ní hamháin go bhfuil os cionn 100 acmhainn nasctha leis anois, ach cuirfear acmhainní breise ó fhoilsitheoirí éagsúla leis ar bhonn leanúnach amach anseo. Ina theannta sin, beidh acmhainní úrnua á bhforbairt don suíomh seo go sonrach, le riachtanais thuismitheoirí ag croílár an phróisis forbartha.
In addition to the comprehensive collection of existing resources, Irish for Parents includes new content designed for parents, in the form of video and audio series. The first group of videos – covering everything from how you can support your child in a Gaelscoil, through reading as Gaeilge together, to what career paths with Irish might be open to your child – is already online, with more to be added soon. Beidh an tsraith fuaime, atá i bhfoirm chomhráite idir theaghlaigh, ar fáil go luath sna trí mhórchanúint agus i leagan caighdeánach, agus tá sraith i nGaeilge Uladh ar fáil anois.
Now that schools have started back, it is well worth taking some time to explore Irish for Parents. Whether you want to build on your own Irish, find videos or games your child will enjoy, listen to an audiobook together, or discover handy tools and where to find extra support – beidh rud éigin ann duitse!
Three ways Irish for Parents can work for you
- Curated Theme Packs – Pacáistí Téama
The quickest way to get started on Irish for Parents is by choosing one of the theme packs on the home page. These packs each contain six resources, curated according to the type of resource and how you might use them.
For parents with limited or no Irish, Five Phrases a Day is a great place to start. Here, you’ll find a choice of resources including online booklets, videos, and pronunciation guides to add some new practical Irish to your vocabulary. Other packs will help you find resources you can use with your child, like songs and audiobooks, or even things to listen to in the car together.
Do thuismitheoirí a bhfuil Gaeilge acu, is cinnte go mbeidh rud éigin spraíúil ann daoibh sna pacáistí seo. Bhainfeadh bhur dteaghlaigh taitneamh as na gníomhaíochtaí atá ar fáil sa phacáiste Ag Teacht ar an nGaeilge sa Saol Laethúil. B’fhéidir go roghnóidh sibh oideas nua a thriail, tionscnamh ealaíne a thosú, nó seisiún ióga a dhéanamh – ar fad trí Ghaeilge!
- Sort according to what you need – Déan scagadh de réir do chuid riachtanais
One of the great things about Irish for Parents is that it lets you quickly find resources that suit your Irish level, your child’s age, and what you actually need help with. Whether you have a toddler or a teenager, and whether you’re looking for a quick win, something to read, or Irish-speaking community, the new hub will help you find it.
Is fiú go mór é tamall beag a chaitheamh ag baint úsáide as na scagairí éagsúla chun réimse na n-acmhainní atá ar fáil ar an suíomh a fheiceáil, agus cúpla ceann a aithint a bheidh úsáideach duitse.
- Add to your daily vocabulary with Family Conversations – Cuir le do stór focal le Comhráite Teaghlaigh
Research before Irish for Parents was developed showed that parents want simple, practical Irish vocabulary that they can use. Words and phrases that can be used in day-to-day life are essential for families who want to get started using some Irish at home, and it’s important that children have the chance to hear Irish being used naturally outside the classroom.
It’s with that in mind that a new audio series was developed for parents who want to build on their cúpla focal, with bite-sized conversation clips that are relevant to families. Each clip is less than five minutes long, and starts by highlighting some key words and phrases to listen out for in the conversation with English translations. There is also a suggestion for an activity or resource to use with your child at the end of each clip,
Faoi láthair, tá na comhráití seo ar fáil i nGaeilge Uladh, agus cuirfear ar fáil iad i nGaeilge na Mumhan, Gaeilge Chonamara, agus Gaeilge chaighdeánach sna seachtainí atá romhainn. Mar sin, beidh teaghlaigh timpeall na tíre in ann taitneamh agus tairbhe a bhaint astu.
Is pointe tosaithe an-mhaith iad seo do thuismitheoirí a bhfuil roinnt Ghaeilge acu, agus atá ag iarradh cur lena stór focal agus níos mó Gaeilge a úsáid lena bpáistí.
