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March 22nd, 2011: Awards for US citizens Studying the Irish Language to Participate in Summer Gaeltacht Programmes in Ireland

Leagan Gaeilge thíos/Irish Version below

Press Release

Awards for US citizens studying the Irish Language to participate in

Summer Gaeltacht Programmes in Ireland

Fulbright Commission and University of Notre Dame jointly announce a conference on Learning and Teaching the Irish Language in the US

Tuesday, March 22nd 2011 – The Fulbright Commission in Ireland (The Ireland – United States Commission for Educational Exchange) has launched Irish Language Summer Study Awards, enabling US citizens, currently studying the Irish language in the United States, to participate in Irish language courses in the Gaeltacht in Ireland this Summer. The Awards are supported by the Department of Arts, Heritage & Gaeltacht Affairs and the National Lottery.

US citizens living in the US who are currently enrolled in Irish language courses in the US and have completed at least one semester of tuition are eligible to apply.  Successful candidates will receive a monetary award (maximum value €5,000) to cover travel, tuition, accommodation and meal costs to participate in the course of their choice.

The deadline for applicants is 29th April 2011. For further information see www.fulbright.ie.

In addition, the Fulbright Commission, together with the University of Notre Dame, jointly announced the launch of ‘Inter-changes: Conference on Learning and Teaching the Irish Language’. This conference will bring together those teaching the Irish language in the US to explore current practice, future possibilities and a report on the current state of play regarding Irish language learning in the US.

Commenting on the awards, the Minister of State with responsibility for the Irish language, Dinny McGinley T.D. said:

“I am delighted that my Department is providing funding to the Fulbright Commission to support this important work programme.  The number of universities worldwide that are providing Irish language courses, with funding from my Department, is a clear indicator, not only of academic interest in Irish as one of the world’s oldest vernacular languages, but also of increased opportunities for Irish speakers globally.  The Irish language is a hugely valuable resource, particularly with regard to the development of cultural tourism in Ireland.  Living in a Gaeltacht area myself, I am always delighted to see at first hand students from all over the world coming to the Gaeltacht to continue their studies and speaking our native language.  Accordingly, I warmly welcome the announcement of these awards.”

Speaking about the awards, Ms Colleen Dube, Executive Director of the Fulbright Commission said:

“Our recent research has identified 80 institutions teaching Irish in the United States.  Since 2006 the Fulbright Commission has been actively involved in promoting the Irish language in the US through our FLTA programme where we send recently qualified teachers and fluent Irish speakers to act as Teaching Assistants in US universities.

“Although many US students claim Irish heritage as the reason for studying Irish, there are plenty of others who are interested simply because they are interested in Ireland or want to study an ancient language. The Irish Language Study Awards will afford US students with a love of the language, who may not have the chance otherwise, the opportunity to be immersed in the Irish language and culture. We would hope successful candidates would then share their experience with others on their return to the US.”

Ms Colleen Dube continued: “The conference is open to everyone involved in teaching Irish in the US and is being held with a view to informing future provision and promotion of the Irish language at third level as identified in the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language.

“Findings of a report we commissioned into Irish Language Teaching & Learning in the US, being undertaken by the Language Centre at National University of Ireland Maynooth, will be officially presented at the conference.

“The event will explore current practice and future possibilities in terms of Irish language teaching, testing, resources and collaborations,” Ms. Dube concluded.

ENDS
For further information:
Pippa Halley
Communications and Information Officer
Fulbright Commission
01-6607670 / 087 0576844

Note to editor:

Irish Language Summer Study Awards are not under the Fulbright Awards scheme but are an initiative of The Ireland – United States Commission for Educational Exchange

About Inter-changes: Conference on Learning and Teaching the Irish Language

The Conference is open to the following:

    • US Institutions / organizations currently offering or intending to offer Irish
    • Irish Teachers / Instructors in Ireland and the US including current Fulbright FLTAs and Scholars
    • Representatives from Celtic Studies Association of North America and the North American Association for Celtic Language Teachers
    • Educational / Irish publishers / resource developers
    • Irish language / studies organisations in Ireland and the US.

Further information and registration details can be found at:
http://conferences.nd.edu/events/inter-changes-irish-language-learning-teaching

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Preas Ráiteas

Dámhachtainí do shaoránaigh na Stát Aontaithe atá ag déanamh staidéir ar an nGaeilge

chun páirt a ghlacadh i gCláir Chúrsaí Gaeltachta Samhraidh in Éirinn

Comhdháil ar Fhoghlaim agus ar Mhúineadh na Gaeilge sna Stáit Aontaithe á fógairt go comhpháirteach ag Coimisiún Fulbright agus Ollscoil Notre Dame

Dé Máirt, 22ú Márta 2011 – Sheol Coimisiún Fulbright in Éirinn Dámhachtainí Staidéar Samhraidh ar an nGaeilge, a chuirfidh ar chumas shaoránaigh na Stát Aontaithe atá ag déanamh staidéir ar an nGaeilge faoi láthair sna Stáit Aontaithe páirt a ghlacadh i gcúrsaí Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht in Éirinn an samhradh seo. Tá na dámhachtainí á gcur ar fáil le tacaíocht ón Roinn Gnóthaí Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta agus ón gCrannchur Náisiúnta.

Tá saoránaigh na Stát Aontaithe atá ina gcónaí sna Stáit Aontaithe agus atá cláraithe faoi láthair ar chúrsaí Gaeilge sna Stáit Aontaithe agus iad tar éis ar a laghad seimeastar amháin teagaisc a dhéanamh incháilithe le hiarratas a dhéanamh.  Gheobhaidh iarrthóirí rathúla dámhachtain airgid (luach uasta €5,000) chun taisteal, teagasc, cóiríocht agus costais bhéile a chlúdach ionas go mbeidh siad in ann páirt a ghlacadh ina rogha cúrsa.

Is é 29ú Aibreán 2011 an spriocdháta le haghaidh iarratas. Le tuilleadh eolais a fháil, féach ar www.fulbright.ie.

Ina theannta sin, d’fhógair Coimisiún Fulbright, i gcomhar le hOllscoil Notre Dame, seoladh na Comhdhála ‘Inter-changes: Conference on Learning and Teaching the Irish Language’ [Idir-athruithe: Comhdháil ar Fhoghlaim agus ar Mhúineadh na Gaeilge].  Sa chomhdháil seo, tabharfar iad sin atá ag múineadh Gaeilge sna Stáit Aontaithe le chéile chun scrúdú a dhéanamh ar an gcleachtas reatha, an méid a d’fhéadfaí a dhéanamh amach anseo agus tuarascáil ar an staid reatha a bhaineann le foghlaim na Gaeilge sna Stáit Aontaithe.

Ag caint ar na dámhachtainí, dúirt an tAire Stáit ar a bhfuil freagracht as an nGaeilge, Donnchadh Mac Fhionnlaoich T.D.:

“Tá lúcháir orm go bhfuil mo Roinn ag cur cistiú ar fáil do Choimisiún Fulbright chun tacú leis an chlár oibre tábhachtach seo.   Is soiléir an táscaire é an líon ollscoileanna ar fud an domhain atá ag cur ranganna Gaeilge ar fáil le cistiú ó mo Roinn-se, ní hamháin don tsuim acadúil atá sa Ghaeilge mar cheann de na teangacha dúchais is ársa ar domhan, ach fosta don mhéadú atá tagtha ar dheiseanna do chainteoirí dúchais Gaeilge ar fud na cruinne.  Is acmhainn an-luachmhar í an Ghaeilge, go háirithe i ndáil le forbairt turasóireachta cultúrtha in Éirinn.  Agus mé i mo chónaí sa Ghaeltacht, bíonn lúcháir orm i gcónaí nuair a fheicim mic léinn ó gach cearn den chruinne ag teacht go dtí an Ghaeltacht le leanúint ar aghaidh lena gcuid staidéir agus ag labhairt ár dteanga dhúchais.   Dá réir sin, cuirim fearadh na fáilte roimh fhógairt na ndámhachtainí seo.”

Agus í ag labhairt faoi na dámhachtainí, dúirt Colleen Dube uasal, Stiúrthóir Feidhmiúcháin Choimisiún Fulbright, an méid seo a leanas:

“Le linn ár dtaighde le déanaí, aithníodh 80 institiúid a mhúineann Gaeilge sna Stáit Aontaithe.  Ó bhí 2006 ann, tá Coimisiún Fulbright gníomhach i gcur chun cinn na Gaeilge sna Stáit Aontaithe trínár gclár FLTA, ina gcuireann muid múinteoirí nua-cháilithe agus cainteoirí líofa Gaeilge go hollscoileanna sna Stáit Aontaithe chun feidhmiú mar Mhúinteoirí Cúnta.

“Cé go maíonn go leor mic léinn gurb í a n-oidhreacht Éireannach an chúis atá acu le staidéar a dhéanamh ar an nGaeilge, tá go leor eile ann a bhfuil suim acu inti go díreach mar go bhfuil suim acu in Éirinn nó mar gur mhaith leo staidéar a dhéanamh ar theanga ársa. Tabharfaidh na Dámhachtainí Staidéir ar an nGaeilge deis do mhic léinn na Stát Aontaithe a bhfuil grá acu don teanga ach nach bhfaigheadh an seans ar aon bhealach eile, iad féin a thumadh i dteanga agus i gcultúr na hÉireann. Bheimis ag súil ansin go n-inseodh na hiarrthóirí rathúla do dhaoine eile faoina n-eispéireas nuair a fhillfeadh siad ar na Stáit Aontaithe.”

Lean Colleen Dube, Uasal, lena cuid cainte: “Féadfaidh gach duine a bhfuil baint aige nó aici le Gaeilge a theagasc sna Stáit Aontaithe freastal ar an gcomhdháil, ar comhdháil í atá á reáchtáil chun treoir a thabhairt do sholáthar agus do chur chun cinn na Gaeilge ag an tríú leibhéal amach anseo, de réir mar a aithníodh sa Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge.

“Rinneamar tuarascáil ar Fhoghlaim agus ar Mhúineadh na Gaeilge sna Stáit Aontaithe a choimisiúnú ó Ionad na dTeangacha ag Ollscoil na hÉireann, Má Nuad, agus déanfar torthaí na tuarascála sin a chur i láthair go hoifigiúil ag an gcomhdháil.

“Déanfar scrúdú ag an ócáid ar chleachtais reatha agus ar an méid a d’fhéadfaí a dhéanamh amach anseo i ndáil le teagasc agus tástáil na Gaeilge, acmhainní Gaeilge agus comhthionscadail,” a dúirt an tUasal Dube agus í ag cur clabhsúir ar a cuid cainte.

 

CRÍOCH
Chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil, déan teagmháil le:
Pippa Halley
Oifigeach Cumarsáide agus Faisnéise
Coimisiún Fulbright
01-6607670 / 087 0576844

Nóta do na heagarthóirí:
Maidir le Inter-changes: Conference on Learning and Teaching the Irish Language

Is féidir leis na daoine seo a leanas freastal ar an gComhdháil:

    • Institiúidí/eagraíochtaí sna Stáit Aontaithe a chuireann cúrsaí Gaeilge ar fáil nó a bhfuil ar intinn acu cúrsaí Gaeilge a chur ar fáil
    • Múinteoirí/Teagascóirí Gaeilge in Éirinn agus sna Stáit Aontaithe, lena n-áirítear rannpháirtithe reatha i gclár FLTA Fulbright agus Scoláirí reatha Fulbright
    • Ionadaithe an Celtic Studies Association of North America agus an North American Association for Celtic Language Teachers
    • Foilsitheoirí/forbróirí acmhainní oideachais/Éireannacha
    • Eagraíochtaí Gaeilge/léann Gaeilge in Éirinn agus sna Stáit Aontaithe.

 

Tá tuilleadh eolais agus mionsonraí clárúcháin ar fáil ag:
http://conferences.nd.edu/events/inter-changes-irish-language-learning-teaching

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