Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2015
485. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the campaign to secure recognition for Irish sign language; if her Department is the lead Department in that regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27126/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department, through its Post-Primary Languages Initiative, has developed a specification for a short course in Irish Sign Language (ISL) which will be available as part of the new Junior Cycle.
In this short course the emphasis is on developing communication skills in ISL at level A1 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). This short course develops students' ability to understand ISL in live and in recorded situations, to produce the language and to interact with other signers in a simple way and on familiar topics.
Students will be actively involved in monitoring their own progress and derive enjoyment and confidence from communicating in a new language. They will also develop awareness and skills in relation to language learning through comparing and contrasting patterns in ISL and in other languages they know. They become better language learners through identifying and developing their own language learning strategies.
In a multicultural society it is important that young people have opportunity to learn about other cultures, appreciate similarities and differences and learn to observe, reflect and suspend judgement when discovering the new culture and reflecting back on their own. This course, now available at junior cycle, offers opportunities to do this.
A link to the short course is available at www.languagesinitiative.ie/images/ISL/MFL_Gen_Spec_ISL_28_May__Short_Course.pdf.
