Cén fáth Gaelscoil? Why choose a Gaelscoil?

Irish and international research indicate that children who experience immersion education become more creative thinkers, with better memory, attention, and concentration. They also develop more effective listening & communication skills, being better able to express themselves and understand others. 

The skills learned for one language can be transferred easily to other languages, and they develop a deeper understanding of the foundations of language such as grammar, word formation, and sentence structure. Pupils in Gaelscoileanna also perform above the national average in maths. Being bilingual can even delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

Does immersion education mean pupils are slower to pick up English reading/writing when it is introduced?

Quite the opposite; Immersion education helps rather than hinders children in learning languages, including English. Research has proven that children in Irish-medium primary schools are well above the national average for reading in English. Children whose home language is not Irish or English also benefit from immersion education and it helps their fluency in English. 

I spent 14 years in school and came out without a word of Irish; how will I be able to help my child if they’re in a Gaelscoil? 

You can do lots to encourage your child to become fluent in Irish without being able to speak the language yourself! The majority of children in Irish-medium schools do not have Irish as one of their home languages. 

The best way to help your child when they start in school is to show them that you are excited and positive about them going to school and becoming fluent in Irish. Letting your child know that you are proud of them, that you’re interested in what they’re doing in school and that you’re excited to learn along with them will be a big help to them. If you can, learn some Irish yourself to show them how interested you are.

Buntáistí Gaelscolaíochta - Advantages of Bilingual Education

According to research on bilingual education, the following are the results for students who go through the system:

• Better performance academically (Gallagher & Hanna, 2002).

• Easier to learn a third and a fourth language (Cenoz & Valencia 1994).

• An understanding and openness to other cultures (Gallagher & Hanna, 2002).

• Improvement in cognitive functioning in creativity and communication (Bialystok et al. 2005).

• Higher scores in English and Maths (Education Research Centre, 2011)

• Enhanced awareness of identity, culture and sense of community (Baker, 2003)

• Increased Self Esteem (Baker, 2003)

• Bilingual Education enriches academic productivity, creative talents andself-esteem in students (NMABE, 2006; Cummins, 2000)

• Improved communication and social skills (Cummins, 2000)