UL course establishes professional practice of language coaching in Ireland for first time

An event was held in the offices of Údarás na Gaeltachta today to mark the achievements of the first cohort of professional learners to obtain a new qualification in Language Coaching.    

University of Limerick (UL) certificates were presented to the group who successfully completed the online Micro-Credential GA6172 An Chóitseáil Teanga san Ionad Oibre / Language Coaching in the Workplace, in Spring Semester 2024.

Participants included language planning officers, Irish language officers in the public service, and professionals working in business and education sectors.    

Language coaching is a new professional practice in Ireland. It aims to support learners to draw on their strengths to become more effective and more independent in the language learning process. Some examples of themes discussed in language coaching sessions are tackling language anxiety, setting goals, and motivational issues.    

Speaking about the programme at the event, Dr Yvonne Cleary, Head of the School of English, Irish, and Communication, UL said “congratulations to all involved in this unique and exciting Micro-Credential. This first cohort of students have benefited from a transformational curriculum that supports language learning and development and fosters inclusive language practices in workplace settings.  They will have an enormous impact as language coaches and leaders in sustainable language support in their professional practice”.   

Aoife Ní Chonchúir, a participant in the programme said "I really benefitted from the course. I learned new skills in language coaching that will allow me to support Irish language learners more effectively."    

Siubhán Nic Grianna, Language Planning Manager, Údarás na Gaeltachta commented that “"We are extremely pleased that this partnership between us and the University of Limerick exists. We know that Irish language classes often help in terms of raising language ability, but something extra is needed to build a bridge between the classroom and daily usage. This Language Coaching course attempts to tackle that gap, to strengthen Irish as a living language in client companies and in the workplace throughout the Gaeltacht." 

Dr Deirdre Ní Loingsigh, course leader, acknowledged the collaboration of Dr Catherine Martin, School of Modern Languages and Applied Linguistics, UL (co-lecturer), and the support of Údarás na Gaeltachta. Ní Loingsigh outlined the scope of language coaching as a new language support infrastructure for the Irish language, and UL plans to develop research and practice in the field.     

The next programme will take place in Spring 2025 and Dr Sarah Brady, UL Micro-Credential Project Manager announced that there would be a 50% reduction in fees under the HCI Pillar 3 Micro-Credentials Learner Fee Subsidy.   

Further Information: Graduate and Professional Studies, University of Limerick. 

Cuireann cúrsa OL oiliúint phroifisiúnta ar fáil do chóitseálaithe teanga in Éirinn den chéad uair

Bhí teacht le chéile in oifigí Údarás na Gaeltachta inniu 18 Meitheamh chun ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar a bhfuil bainte amach ag an gcéad chohórt de chóitseálaithe teanga in Éirinn. Bronnadh teastais Ollscoil Luimnigh (OL) ar na foghlaimeoirí proifisiúnta seo a thug faoin gcúrsa micridhintiúr GA6172 An Chóitseáil Teanga san Ionad Oibre / Language Coaching in the Workplace ar líne i Seimeastar an Earraigh 2024. 

Cleachtas nua in Éirinn is ea an chóitseáil teanga a thacaíonn le foghlaimeoirí a bheith níos éifeachtaí agus neamhspleáchaí. Pléitear le téamaí éagsúla sa chóitseáil teanga, conas dul i ngleic leis an imní teangeolaíochta; socrú spriocanna; agus cúrsaí inspreagaidh, mar shampla. Ar na rannpháirtithe bhí Oifigigh Pleanála Teanga, oifigigh le Gaeilge san earnáil phoiblí agus lucht gnó agus oideachais. 

Ag labhairt di mar gheall ar an gclár, duirt an Dr Yvonne Cleary, Ceann Scoile, Scoil na Gaeilge, an Bhéarla, agus na Cumarsáide, Ollscoil Luimnigh: 

"Comhghairdeas le gach duine a bhí páirteach sa chúrsa MhicriDhintiúr uathúil agus spreagúil seo. Bhain an chéad ghrúpa seo d’fhoghlaimeoirí proifisiúnta tairbhe as curaclam bunathraitheach a thacaíonn le foghlaim agus le forbairt teanga agus a chothaíonn cleachtais teanga chuimsitheacha i gcomhthéacsanna éagsúla. Beidh tionchar ollmhór acu mar chóitseálaithe teanga agus mar cheannairí i dtacaíocht inbhuanaithe teanga ina gcleachtas gairmiúil." 

Dúirt Aoife Ní Chonchúir mac léinn ar an gcúrsa "Bhain mé an-tairbhe as an gcúrsa seo. D'fhoghlaim mé scileanna nua maidir le cóitseáil teanga a chuirfidh ar mo chumas tacú le foghlaimeoirí Gaeilge ar bhealach níos éifeachtaí." 

Dúirt Siubhán Nic Grianna, Bainisteoir Pleanála Teanga, Údarás na Gaeltachta: "Tá muid thar a bheith sásta go bhfuil an pháirtnéireacht seo idir muid agus Ollscoil Luimnigh ann. Tá a fhios againn go gcuidíonn ranganna Gaeilge go minic ó thaobh cumas teanga a ardú ach tá rud éigin sa bhreis de dhíth le droichead a thógáil idir an rang agus an úsáid laethúil. Déanann an cúrsa seo sa Choisteáil Teanga iarracht dul i ngleic leis an mbearna sin, chun an Ghaeilge a threisiú mar theanga bheo sna cliantchomhlachtaí agus sa láthair oibre ar fud na Gaeltachta."

Ghabh an Dr Deirdre Ní Loingsigh, stiúrthóir an chúrsa, buíochas lena comhghleacaí an Dr Catherine Martin, Scoil na Nua-Theangacha & na Teangeolaíochta Feidhmí, OL (comhléachtóir), agus le Údarás na Gaeltachta as a chuid tacaíochta. Pléadh féidearthachtaí an chleachtais chóitseála teanga chun tacú le foghlaimeoirí Gaeilge agus pleananna taighde Ollscoil Luimnigh sa réimse seo. 

Tionólfar an chéad chúrsa eile i Seimeastar an Earraigh 2025  agus d’fhógair an Dr Sarah Brady, Bainisteoir an Tionscadail MicriDhintiúr, Ollscoil Luimnigh go mbeidh laghdú 50% ar tháillí faoin scéim ‘HCI Fóirdheontas na dTáillí MicriDhintiúr d’Fhoghlaimeoirí’ ansin. 

Tuilleadh Eolais: Staidéar Iarchéime and Gairmiúil, Ollscoil Luimnigh