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Bi-lingual schools thrive in nations | Bi-lingual schools thrive in nations |
(31 minutes later) | |
By Colette Hume BBC News, Belfast Story time at Northern Ireland's newest Irish-medium school | By Colette Hume BBC News, Belfast Story time at Northern Ireland's newest Irish-medium school |
At lunchtime in a small classroom on the edge of Belfast, a small group of five and six year olds are listening to the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears - nothing unusual about that, except that they're being read to in Irish. | At lunchtime in a small classroom on the edge of Belfast, a small group of five and six year olds are listening to the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears - nothing unusual about that, except that they're being read to in Irish. |
Gaelscoil Eanna, on the outskirts of Belfast, is the newest Irish-medium (lesson taught in Irish) school in Northern Ireland. Set up a year ago, just 12 children were on the school roll - now there are 28. | Gaelscoil Eanna, on the outskirts of Belfast, is the newest Irish-medium (lesson taught in Irish) school in Northern Ireland. Set up a year ago, just 12 children were on the school roll - now there are 28. |
It is, admittedly on a very small scale - a handful of temporary classrooms, high on a hill, next to a Gaelic football pitch. | It is, admittedly on a very small scale - a handful of temporary classrooms, high on a hill, next to a Gaelic football pitch. |
The school is already recruiting next year's intake and its acting principal Mairead Ni Chonghaile has high hopes for its future. | The school is already recruiting next year's intake and its acting principal Mairead Ni Chonghaile has high hopes for its future. |
She is enthusiastic about the benefits of immersing children in another language. | She is enthusiastic about the benefits of immersing children in another language. |
Cultural identity | Cultural identity |
"Our children are always thinking in two different languages - they're more embracing towards people of other cultures, and people who are different to themselves. | "Our children are always thinking in two different languages - they're more embracing towards people of other cultures, and people who are different to themselves. |
"And they're more likely to take on third languages," she added. | "And they're more likely to take on third languages," she added. |
Stephanie Quinn's daughter Eimear is one of the 28 pupils. | Stephanie Quinn's daughter Eimear is one of the 28 pupils. |
I want my daughter to experience the whole cultural awareness and identity that is her birthright Stephanie Quinn, parent class="" href="/1/hi/education/7885493.stm">Local UK languages 'taking off' For her the decision was based on a desire for her daughter to connect with her culture and identity. | |
She said: "I chose an Irish-medium education for my child because Irish is the indigenous language of the island of Ireland and I want her to experience the whole cultural awareness and identity that is her birthright. | She said: "I chose an Irish-medium education for my child because Irish is the indigenous language of the island of Ireland and I want her to experience the whole cultural awareness and identity that is her birthright. |
"The children develop a full understanding of the Gaelic culture, whether it be Gaelic games, the arts, music or culture, and I don't think any other educational medium offers that." | "The children develop a full understanding of the Gaelic culture, whether it be Gaelic games, the arts, music or culture, and I don't think any other educational medium offers that." |
The Irish-medium sector as a whole is still small, but has grown at a rapid rate since the first school opened in the early 1970s. | The Irish-medium sector as a whole is still small, but has grown at a rapid rate since the first school opened in the early 1970s. |
By 1992, 484 children were being taught in Irish in the state sector. By 1997-8 that figure had risen to 1247 and by 2007-8, it had risen again to 3285. | By 1992, 484 children were being taught in Irish in the state sector. By 1997-8 that figure had risen to 1247 and by 2007-8, it had risen again to 3285. |
In Wales, the figures are on a much, much bigger scale. | In Wales, the figures are on a much, much bigger scale. |
The most recent figures show that nearly 55,000 children - that's one in five - are now taught at Welsh-medium schools. | The most recent figures show that nearly 55,000 children - that's one in five - are now taught at Welsh-medium schools. |
The sector is without doubt the strongest within the Celtic nations. | The sector is without doubt the strongest within the Celtic nations. |
In recent years, Welsh-medium education has seen increasing numbers of pupils from diverse ethnic and social backgrounds moving into education in Welsh. | In recent years, Welsh-medium education has seen increasing numbers of pupils from diverse ethnic and social backgrounds moving into education in Welsh. |
Impressive results | Impressive results |
Results have traditionally been better within the Welsh-medium sector, and the strong cultural and artistic ties have helped to encourage more and more people from non-Welsh speaking backgrounds to send their children to Welsh speaking schools. | Results have traditionally been better within the Welsh-medium sector, and the strong cultural and artistic ties have helped to encourage more and more people from non-Welsh speaking backgrounds to send their children to Welsh speaking schools. |
Around 80% of parents who send their children to Welsh-medium schools don't speak the language themselves. | Around 80% of parents who send their children to Welsh-medium schools don't speak the language themselves. |
In Northern Ireland the figure is even higher - 90%. | In Northern Ireland the figure is even higher - 90%. |
So why the rise? | So why the rise? |
For many parents, sending their children to a Welsh-medium school is viewed as a way of reclaiming part of their culture which wasn't available when they were young and the sector was much smaller. | For many parents, sending their children to a Welsh-medium school is viewed as a way of reclaiming part of their culture which wasn't available when they were young and the sector was much smaller. |
Others are acutely aware of the impressive exam results delivered by many Welsh-medium schools, while for some, the changing face of Wales and the post devolution world could explain their choice. | Others are acutely aware of the impressive exam results delivered by many Welsh-medium schools, while for some, the changing face of Wales and the post devolution world could explain their choice. |
'Increasingly important' | 'Increasingly important' |
In the decade since Wales voted by the narrowest of margins for devolution, the Welsh language has gained new strength and a much higher profile - aided by a Welsh Language Act which puts Welsh in the public sector on an equal footing with English. | In the decade since Wales voted by the narrowest of margins for devolution, the Welsh language has gained new strength and a much higher profile - aided by a Welsh Language Act which puts Welsh in the public sector on an equal footing with English. |
There are many more jobs for people who can speak Welsh - in translation services in the National Assembly, and in broadcasting. | There are many more jobs for people who can speak Welsh - in translation services in the National Assembly, and in broadcasting. |
Both the BBC and the Welsh Channel Four S4C have strong Welsh-medium services on television, radio and online. | Both the BBC and the Welsh Channel Four S4C have strong Welsh-medium services on television, radio and online. |
There is also a strong Welsh presence in the arts, while in politics the ability to speak Welsh is seen as increasingly important by many politicians. | There is also a strong Welsh presence in the arts, while in politics the ability to speak Welsh is seen as increasingly important by many politicians. |
Some parents want their children to identify strongly with their nation | Some parents want their children to identify strongly with their nation |
At a government level, Welsh-medium education is seen as crucially important to the development of Wales as a nation. | At a government level, Welsh-medium education is seen as crucially important to the development of Wales as a nation. |
The fact that Welsh is a compulsory subject up to GCSE level - when modern foreign languages are not - begins to give you some idea of where the language sits in the political landscape. | The fact that Welsh is a compulsory subject up to GCSE level - when modern foreign languages are not - begins to give you some idea of where the language sits in the political landscape. |
But in some parts of Wales, the demand for Welsh-medium education has had a profound impact on local provision. | But in some parts of Wales, the demand for Welsh-medium education has had a profound impact on local provision. |
'Higher IQ' | 'Higher IQ' |
In Cardiff, Welsh-medium schools are all heavily oversubscribed and the local authority is currently attempting to institute an ambitious city-wise reorganisation plan which takes into account this swing towards education in Welsh. | In Cardiff, Welsh-medium schools are all heavily oversubscribed and the local authority is currently attempting to institute an ambitious city-wise reorganisation plan which takes into account this swing towards education in Welsh. |
But it has been highly controversial - initial attempts to close some English-medium schools with falling rolls has met with huge opposition. | But it has been highly controversial - initial attempts to close some English-medium schools with falling rolls has met with huge opposition. |
And new plans have now been put forward. | And new plans have now been put forward. |
In an effort to meet the demand in the meantime, the authority has set up classes in Welsh within the grounds of some English-medium schools in the city, described by some as schools within schools. | In an effort to meet the demand in the meantime, the authority has set up classes in Welsh within the grounds of some English-medium schools in the city, described by some as schools within schools. |
It is meeting the demand for the language, if not in the setting parents would ideally like. | It is meeting the demand for the language, if not in the setting parents would ideally like. |
Scotland, like Northern Ireland, has a small Gaelic language education system, but it is also growing. | Scotland, like Northern Ireland, has a small Gaelic language education system, but it is also growing. |
In 2006 the country's first dedicated Gaelic-medium secondary school opened in Glasgow. | In 2006 the country's first dedicated Gaelic-medium secondary school opened in Glasgow. |
Its head teacher, Donalda McComb, said: "I didn't ever think that I would be in the position that I'm in today. | Its head teacher, Donalda McComb, said: "I didn't ever think that I would be in the position that I'm in today. |
"I'm very proud. I've worked long and hard in all my teaching career to be involved in Gaelic-medium education and it's just amazing that we're at this stage." | "I'm very proud. I've worked long and hard in all my teaching career to be involved in Gaelic-medium education and it's just amazing that we're at this stage." |
Language learning isn't limited to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. | Language learning isn't limited to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. |
In Cornwall, after school clubs have been set up to encourage the use of the language and there's a Manx-language primary school on the Isle of Man. | In Cornwall, after school clubs have been set up to encourage the use of the language and there's a Manx-language primary school on the Isle of Man. |
There is one other factor which could help to explain the rise. | There is one other factor which could help to explain the rise. |
A growing body of evidence indicates that children who are able to speak more than one language have a higher IQ, better reasoning skills and a greater ability to deal with complicated theories and problems. | A growing body of evidence indicates that children who are able to speak more than one language have a higher IQ, better reasoning skills and a greater ability to deal with complicated theories and problems. |
Professor Colin Baker from the University of Bangor, an expert on bi-lingual education, says those working in the field have no doubt that bi-lingual children have an advantage over their monolingual peers. | Professor Colin Baker from the University of Bangor, an expert on bi-lingual education, says those working in the field have no doubt that bi-lingual children have an advantage over their monolingual peers. |
And he believes the ability to speak more than one language makes children more tolerant and accepting. | And he believes the ability to speak more than one language makes children more tolerant and accepting. |
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