IRELAND Where is Ireland Culture The Irish Language

IRELAND

Where is Ireland?

Culture- The Irish Language 1. Slainte: “SLAHN-chuh” – Cheers 2. Fir: “feer” – Men 3. Mná “mih-NAH” – Ladies 4. Go raibh maith agat: “GORE-uh MAH uh-GUT” – Thanks 5. Slan go fóill: “SLAHN g’FOLE” – See ya later 6. Conas atá tu? : “KUH-nish uh TAH-too” – How are ya? 7. Tá me go maith: “TAH may guh MAH” – I’m good

Sports • Gaelic Football • Rugby • Camogie • Hurling

Food • Colcannon • Mixture of cabbage and mashed potatoes • Full Irish Breakfast • large breakfast usually consisting of fried eggs, bacon, sausage, tomato and black pudding and white pudding • Soda Bread • a quick bread using baking soda instead of yeast • Bread Pudding • Irish Stew • Champ • a mixture of mashed potatoes and spring onions

Drink • Murphy's Stout • Guinness Stout • Beamish Stout • Baileys • Irish Coffee • Paddy Irish Whiskey • Jameson Whiskey

Traditions • Pubs • Ireland is known for its festivals and fairs • Traditional Irish Wedding • Traditional Irish Funeral

Holidays • Halloween • Christmas • Easter • St. Patrick’s Day

General Overview Quick facts • Department of Education and Skills • Education is compulsory in Ireland from age 6 -15. • Since 1967 public education is free.

Primary Education (8 years) • Must attend school at age 6 • 8 year program • 2 years of kindergarten • 6 years of grade 1 -6 • Emphasizes a child-centered approach • No formal examinations at the end of Primary school • Multifaceted teaching approach • Curriculum is designed to provide children with many learning opportunities

Primary School Curriculum • Languages (English and Irish) • Mathematics • Social, environmental and scientific education • Arts education* (including visual arts, music and drama) • Physical education • Social, personal and health education Does anything stick out yet?

Secondary Schools • 6 years of High school • 2 major exams, very important* • After 3 years, “Junior Cert. ” • Ages 12 -15 • Transition Year Option*** • After another 3 years, “Leaving Exam” • Senior Cycle ages 15 -18

Grading System • Point system • Take 6 -8 classes • 100 points per class, out of 600 points • Ex. “To be a doctor, you need all A’s or 600 points” • **Leaving Exam determines where and what you can study in college.

Interview with Killian Ankers • In your personal opinion, what would be the biggest difference(s) between the education system of Ireland that of America? • “The grading system is very different. “The Leaving Cert” is a BIG exam. It determines what college you get into and what you study. You pick what you want to study in college before you take your exam (The Leaving Cert), then results come, and they decide what you can study in college. ”

Interview continued • What would be the biggest cultural difference(s) between Irish and American culture, i. e. manners, friendliness, importance of wealth and materialism? • The sense of humor is different. The Irish are very sarcastic and in America they don’t pick up on it. The importance of wealth is kind of similar. The standard of living is better in America though. • School is a lot more informal in Ireland (go drinking with high school teachers).

Interview continued • How important are athletics, music, and the arts in your system? • Pretty important. But unfortunately there is not a lot of funding for athletics (different than America). • More emphasis on music in Ireland (different than America). For example, you take music lessons during school day. • Depends on the school, but in my school involvement was really important. Charity is really important in private school, but not so much in public school. • Rugby and football are really big, but track and field isn’t huge (different than America).

Interview continued • In Irish society, in what regard are teachers/educators held? High, indifferent, or low? • “Teachers are well respected in Ireland. ” • How important is education in general in Ireland? • Really important. That’s why Ireland’s economy did well for awhile, because we were highly educated with relatively cheap labor. However, companies began to move away to find cheaper labor.

Interview continued • Do you believe the Irish educational system to be effective? Or could you offer any critique of the system? • Its really bad compared to America and European mainland. There is a much better system in America and Europe. In Ireland there is the Point system, you pick your courses, and there’s no flexibility. If you start your medical course and you don’t like it and you want you to switch to business you have to start over. You would have to drop out and wait 6 months, and your credits do not transfer over. There is no credit system, although they might be implementing one soon.

Interview • Did you attend private or public school? In your opinion, which of the two is more successful in Ireland? • I went to public grade school. It didn’t have a lot of funding. It was small. Depends what region you live in. I went to private for high school and won a scholarship so it was free. A lot of people go to public school. Private is a lot better, a lot more money for activities. The teaching was a lot better in private school. Private schools have a lot more involvement with the colleges. My friends in public school went to school 9 am-3: 30 pm, and in private school there is more afterschool stuff, and its encouraged more. • **Grade school and high school average about 30 kids in each class.

Interview Continued • Did you wear a school uniform? • You wear a uniform in grade school and in high school, I didn’t mind. • How important is assessment in Ireland, i. e. standardized tests, college boards like the SATs? • In the classroom, there is no continuous assessment, just one big exam at Christmas time and before the summer time big exam. Small tests or weekly quizzes, but they don’t affect your grade. Anxiety, toward big exams. Weekly quiz, less anxiety. Worked out better. Stressful at exam time, but you knew everything you needed for the whole year. But it also promotes laziness during the year, falling behind chapters, and you cram. Teachers were crazy. Junior Cert is really important. Really stressful. Grading system is totally different. 85 -100 is an A. 70 - a B. So when I came to America and I got a 70 I was like “what!? ? ” =)

Compare and Contrast Similarities that allow us to connect with the student Contrasts that need to be addressed. • The language, it’s the • Grading system. same. • Values are similar- wealth • Curriculum is similar. • Sense of Humor • Importance of extracurricular • More informal • School Uniforms

Concluding thoughts… • What decisions would you make based on this information to better accommodate an Irish student that is new to your class?

Sources • http: //www. educationireland. ie/index. php/irish-education • Interview with Kilian Ankers • http: //www. educationireland. ie/index. php/irish- education/primary-education/introduction? task=view • http: //www. yourirish. com • http: //www. discoverireland. com/us/ • http: //www. foundmark. com/Ireland • http: //www. irelandlogue. com/about-ireland/10 -usefulphrases-in-irish-as-gaeilge. html • http: //www. americatoireland. com/2011/12/differencesbetween-american-and-irish. html