multilingualism, regional & minority languages: paradigms for languages of the wider world...

Multilingualism, Regional & Minority Languages:Paradigms for ‘Languages of the Wider World

School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

The Practice of Multiculturalism in Irish-medium Pre-schools: The Revitalization of a Heritage and Minority Language

F.Melis Cin


policy of Irish medium pre-schools Methodology in Irish pre-schools Mastery of communication How do they view Irish in a multicultural or bilingual context


Naionrai are Irish-medium preschools where interaction and communication is established through Irish with the kids :

• introduce Irish to very young learners• establish early literacy readiness for Irish

• consider the children’s cognitive, social, and psychological

development. • include cultural and linguistic aims and aspirations in a bilingual

context establishing and affirm Irish identity

Bord Na Gaeilge and Na Naionrai Gaelacha is the biggest institution that supports naionrai in terms of providing materials, insurance and funding for maintainance, hygiene and safety.

Multilingualism, Regional & Minority Languages:

Paradigms for ‘Languages of the Wider World

Stiurthoir, the name given to a teacher in naionrai, is the leader of the class

They carry out all tasks in Irish and supplies continous, contexr-based Irish input




Songs and Rhymes (83%)

Story Telling (71%)

Home corner/Cuinne Baile (58%)

Group games (45%)

Card Matching (33%)

Drama

Puppet

Jigsaws

Mastery and Communicative Competence of Children

Comprehension test

Production test

Imitation test



The test have been applied on 225 students selected from both Galltacht (English-speaking) and Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) areas.

63% of children was from English speaking homes

32% of them heard some Irish as well as English

5% of them Irish as their home language



The production test



Gaeltacht students scored better than Galltacht students.

Only on third of Galetach students were from English speaking homes, the rest were either Irish speaking or bilingual homes. These students scored far lower than their peers.

The production really depends on their needs and interests.

“is liomsa é” is produced more than “cé leis é seo?” “madra” is produced more than “brogan”

Comprehension and Imitiation tests

The native speakers of Irish were far better than children coming from English speaking homes as a result of great exposure to Irish in their homes and community.

Many students go through a silent period before they produce anything in the second language.



The advantages of early immersion



Shape students’ intellectual ability

Shape and promote cultural awareness

Acquire both languages better

Linguistically become competent

Construct positive attitudes towards Irish

İntroduced to Irish identity through language

“What does being Irish mean to you?”

Material aspects of language

Our food is different. The food is most famous in Ireland is patatoes and the drink is Guiness

To be Irish means you can have the privilige to wear an Irish jersey at a match

Waldron & Pike (2007;243)

Expressive aspects of language

It means that you can talk in your very own language and it is special to have two languages...and you do not only have one way to speak, you have two ways to speak



It means that you can learn Irish language ans speak English




I don’t think there is much difference between being Irish and being from Britain or America, or Australia. Most of our population speaks English and we listen to and play classical,pop, heavy metal much much more than traditional Irish music. I think the only thing differs being Irish is that we have our own sports and our heritage. But even then, every country has a bit of a history to theri name., so then the onlyu thing thast differs us our own sport.

Retaining one’s national identity



But also if you are born from a different country, you shouldn’t drop your own culture. I think it is if you are born in Ireland and raised in Ireland, you are fully Irish, you are Irish bred. But say if you are born in France or somewhere, you’dbe French and if you came over to Ireland, you’d still be French because that’s your culture, that’s your country, that’s where you came from, you should not be ashamed of where you came from, you should not want to change it.


Thanks…

multilingualism, regional & minority languages: paradigms for languages of the wider world...

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