Cúrsa Gramco is a three week Irish language course run by Séamas Ó Máirtín and his dedicated teachers in St Mary’s College in Galway city. Mr Ó Máirtín decided to set up Cúrsa Gramco so as to make the learning of Irish an enjoyable and positive experience. The course incorporates an understanding of the nuts and bolts of the language so that students become independent learners. Study skills are central to the course so that students learn how to self-assess.
The course is held each year in St Mary’s College, Galway, in the first three weeks of July. It guarantees that students will work in a most supportive classroom atmosphere. Students’ safety is a priority and therefore they must remain on the college campus for the duration of the morning, from 9am to 12.55pm, and they will be supervised during the 20 minute break.
The course covers six different levels from fifth class primary school right through to Leaving Cert Higher Level. Séamas Ó Máirtín has written a booklet with carefully planned exercises for each different level. Students may retain these booklets for revision purposes for their following year at school.
"We believe students will gain in both confidence and competence during the course," he said. "Emphasis is placed on contextualised written work followed up by oral and aural skills."
Is é Séamas Ó Máirtín a reachtálann Cúrsa Gramco in éineacht lena fhoireann de mhúinteoirí díograiseacha. Tá cúrsa curtha le chéile ag Séamas a chuireann ar chumas na ndaltaí taitneamh agus tairbhe a bhaint as foghlaim na Gaeilge. Cuirtear béim mhór ar scileanna bunúsacha na teanga rud a chabhraíonn go mór leis na daltai a bheith ina bhfoghlaimeoirí neamhspleácha.
Reáchtáltar an cúrsa ‘chuile bhliain i gColáiste Muire, Gaillimh le linn na chéad trí seachtainí de mhí Iúil. Cuirtear atmaisféar foghlama ar fáil a thugann gach tacaíocht do na daltaí an-dul chun cinn a dhéanamh. Is mór linn sábháilteacht na ndaltai agus ní foláir mar sin, go bhfanfadh na daltaí ar champas an choláiste ar feadh na maidine: 9.00am - 12.55pm agus déantar maoirseacht orthu don sos 20 nóiméad.
Tá sé leibhéal éagsúla i gceist ó rang 5 bunscoile go dtí Ardteist Ardleibhéal. Tá leabhrán scríofa ag Séamas le cleachtaí comhthéacsúla do gach leibhéal. Is féidir leis na daltaí na leabhráin seo a choinneáil don athdhéanamh.
Deir sé: "Creideann muid go láidir go ndéanfaidh na daltaí an-dul chun cinn de thoradh Chúrsa Gramco. Cuirtear béim mhór ar chleachtaí comhthéacsúla agus déantar treisiú ar na scileanna teanga trí mhodhanna éagsúla teagaisc."
Application forms are online at www.irishlanguagecourses.ie or phone 091 553393.
