DCU Institute of Education
DCU Institute of Education
Shows children in class raising their hands to answer a question, in the background the teacher is visible in soft focus

DCU researchers advocate plurilingual approach to teaching Irish in new COGG report

Research news - SEALBHU COGG report
The project, funded by An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG), affirms linguistic and cultural diversity in schools by encouraging children to draw on all of their linguistic knowledge. The development of plurilingualism and interculturalism has been set as an goal in Ireland’s Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy.

Dr Aisling Ni Dhiorbhan and Dr Tara Concannon-Gibney of the DCU SEALBHU Research Centre for the Learning and Teaching of Irish, and Eithne Ní Dhubhghaill from Professional Development for Teachers have compiled a report laying out guidance for the development of a plurilingual approach to in Irish teaching at primary school level.

Between 60% and 80% of the 291 children across 5 schools who participated in the project had another home language apart from English or Irish. For children with English as a first language  and these children who speak other languages at home, Irish is a level playing field and a language they are learning together. Irish teaching can  reflect this by encouraging  children to draw on all of their language knowledge and skills.

In a plurilingual approach children would be encouraged to identify and discuss grammatical and syntactical features of Irish which are also present in other languages they know. Parents would be encouraged to engage with their children at home in assisting them with their homework using this same process.

In addition to the students, eleven teachers from the five schools took part in inductive plurilingual classes over a six week period with in school support. Both the children and teachers responded positively to the Irish lessons  . The reports finds that in school coaching and tailored resources are key to success to support the teaching and learning of Irish and in adopting a plurilingual approach .

The resources made available to teachers during the project, which are based on an existing grammar book published by COGG will be made available to all schools.