User:Damien1003/Naíscoil an tSeanchaí

Naíscoil an tSeanchaí was set up in 2004 by a group of parents who wished that their children receive an education through the medium of the Irish language. Bilingualism claims to have very distinct advantages (see list below).

Year on year, the school has grown in strength (5 children in 2004; 22 children in 2009). It has been assisted principally by local individuals and businesses, and also Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta and Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta.

In Septemver 2009, the committee took the step of expanding the naíscoil into a gaelscoil (primary school). 8 children have registered initially.

Communication Advantages
1. Twice the enjoyment of reading and writing If someone can read and write in two languages, they are obviously able to enjoy two literatures in their original language, which can open up a deeper understanding of different traditions, ideas, ways of thinking and behaving. The pleasures of reading novels, poetry and magazines and the enjoyment of writing to friends and family are all doubled for bilinguals.

Cultural Advantages 2. Access to two cultures One of the advantages of being bilingual is having access to two cultures, which can be two very different worlds of experience. With a language goes a wealth of things like idioms and sayings, folk stories and history, poetry, literature and music, both traditional and contemporary.

3. Understanding of other languages and cultures Because two languages give someone a wider cultural experience, there is often a greater understanding of differences in cultures, creeds and customs.

'''Cognitive (Thinking) Advantages 4. Thinking benefits''' Research has shown that people with two well developed languages can have particular advantages in thinking: Creative thinking - bilingual children have two or more words for each object and idea. When slightly different meanings are attached to words in the two languages, a bilingual person may develop the ability to think more flexibly. Sensitivity - since bilinguals have to know when to speak which language with which person in which situation, they appear to be more sensitive to the needs of listeners than monolinguals ( single language speakers). IQ Tests - research from many different countries of the world shows that bilinguals tend to do better at IQ tests compared with monolinguals. A head start in reading - being less fixed on the sound and more centred on the meaning of words has been shown by Canadian researchers to give a head start in learning to read. This tends to be an advantage for bilinguals around the ages four to six.

'''Character Advantages 5. Raised self-esteem''' Being able to switch naturally between languages, and being able to talk to different people in those languages, makes children feel very good about themselves and their abilities. A sense of real ownership of both Gaelic and English can do wonders to help raise a child’s self-esteem.

6. Security in identity The Gaelic language is one of the few things that differentiates the Gaelic countries (Ireland, Scotland and Isle of Man ) from the rest of the Europe and it can be a powerful link between all Gaelic people. Everyone in these countries, and from these countries, can be proud of the language, even if they don’t speak it. It belongs to us all!.

'''Curriculum Advantages 7. Better curriculum results''' Research evidence from bilingual education systems in Canada, the US, the Basque country, Catalunya, Wales and Ireland shows that children who have two languages tend to do better in the curriculum and to show higher performance in tests and examinations. This is probably related to the thinking advantages of bilingualism mentioned earlier.

8. Easier to learn further languages There is growing evidence from European research that bilinguals tend to find it easier to learn other languages. The current examples are children from countries such as Holland, Denmark and Finland who often speak three, four or five languages with ease (e.g. Dutch, German, English; or Finnish, Swedish, English and German). Another example is the Basque country where learning Basque, Spanish and English has become increasingly frequent.

'''Cash Advantages 9. Employment benefits''' There are potential economic advantages in Ireland (which are continually increasing) of being bilingual. A person with two languages will probably have a wider choice of jobs available in the future. Irish-speakers are increasingly needed in the retail sector, tourism, transport, public relations, banking and accountancy, administration, translation, secretarial work, marketing and sales, the law and teaching. Being bilingual obviously does not guarantee a meal ticket but it gives a person an additional valuable skill when job seeking.