Bhí ról lárnach ag acadóir as campas Choláiste Mhuire gan Smál i nDurlas i bhforbairt seó nua tráth na gceist Gaeilge ar TG4 atá dírithe ar an gcaoi a bhfaigheann daoine taithí ar ag nGaeilge agus ar an gcaoi a dtugann siad fúithi.
Chaith Emily-Anne Rennison, Léachtóir i Roinn na Gaeilge ar champas Choláiste Mhuire gan Smál i nDurlas, tréimhse ina comhairleoir oideachais agus cláir ar an seó SLÉ anois go Cúramach — seó tráth na gceist a ghluaiseann ar aghaidh go tapa, atá siamsúil agus oideachasúil agus a mbainfidh daoine idir shean agus óg ar mhaith leo feabhas a chur ar a gcuid Gaeilge sásamh as.
Mar chuid den ról a bhí aici chuidigh Rennison leis na ceisteanna a cuireadh sa tsraith a réiteach agus d’oibrigh sí go dlúth leis an bhfoireann léirithe chun a chinntiú go raibh an teanga a úsáideadh ag teacht le curaclam na Sraithe Sóisearaí, a d’fhág go bhféadfaí an clár a úsáid mar acmhainn i seomraí ranga Gaeilge.
Rachaidh scoláirí dara leibhéal ó ar fud na tíre, daltaí Idirbhliana den chuid is mó, in iomaíocht lena chéile i mbabhtaí bríomhara chun a gcuid scileanna éisteachta, a stór focal, a n-eolas faoi chúrsaí cultúir agus a seiftiúlacht a thástáil. Mar aon leis na gnáth-thopaicí a bhíonn mar chuid de thráth na gceist, amhail stair, tíreolaíocht agus eolas ginearálta, beidh dúshláin chruthaitheach i ndán do na hiomaitheoirí freisin, ina measc sin beidh babhta emoji ina mbeidh orthu buille faoi thuairim a thabhairt ar chontaetha na hÉireann, ar nathanna cainte cáiliúla agus ar stór focal bunaithe ar leideanna emoji a úsáidtear go minic.
Is éard a dúirt Rennison faoin bpáirt a bhí aici sa chlár:
“Bhí ríméad orm a bheith páirteach i bhforbairt SLÉ anois go Cúramach. Ba é an aidhm a bhí leis rud éigin spraíúil, tarraingteach agus sothuigthe a chruthú do dhaoine óga fad a dtugtar tacaíocht d’fhoghlaim na Gaeilge ar bhealach fiúntach. Bhí sé tábhachtach go bhféadfaí an teanga agus na téamaí a úsáidtear sa chlár a cheangal le curaclam na Sraithe Sóisearaí ionas go mbeadh múinteoirí agus scoláirí ábalta leas a bhaint as mar acmhainn úsáideach sa seomra ranga.”
Is é Macalla Teo, comhlacht léiriúcháin a bhfuil roinnt tionscadal teilifíse agus oideachais aitheanta déanta aige, a léirigh an clár.
Chuir an tOllamh Emer Ring, Déan Oideachais i gColáiste Mhuire gan Smál fáilte roimh an gcomhfhiontar leanúnach agus dúirt:
“Tá an-áthas orainn go bhfuilimid ag leanúint lenár gcaidreamh le Macalla Teo Production, a thosaigh i Márta 2020 nuair a léirigh Macalla Teo RTÉ’s Home School Hub chun tacú le leanaí foghlaim le linn phaindéim COVID-19. An tráth sin, chuir comhghleacaithe ar fud Choláiste Mhuire gan Smál a saineolas ar an gcuraclam agus ar chúrsaí oideolaíochta ar fáil chun cur le léiriú an chláir. Tráth a bhfuil athrú mór ag teacht ar an gcuraclam in Éirinn cuirimid fáilte roimh an seó tráth na gceist SLÉ anois go Cúramach ar TG4 agus tá a fhios againn go dtacóidh sé le scoláirí foghlaim ar bhealach spraíúil agus idirghníomhach a chuirfidh leis an gcaoi a dtugann siad faoin an gcuraclam.
Dúirt an tOllamh Ring freisin agus í ag leagan béim ar an tábhacht a bhain le ról Rennison agus ar shaineolas champas Choláiste Mhuire gan Smál i nDurlas:
“Leagann rannpháirtíocht Emily-Anne sa chlár seo béim ar a féith chruthaitheachta ina hoideoir di agus ar an traidisiún láidir scoláireachta Gaeilge atá anseo i gColáiste Mhuire gan Smál. Is iontach go bhfuil an saineolas sin ag cur le clár a dhéanann an Ghaeilge tarraingteach, sothuigthe agus ábhartha do lucht féachana nua.”
Cuireadh tús leis an tsraith deich seachtaine ar an Máirt, an 24 Márta ag 7.30pm ar TG4, le hathchraoltaí ar an Domhnach.
91Ƭ academic plays key role in new TG4 Irish language quiz show
An academic from 91Ƭ (91Ƭ), Thurles has played a key role in the development of a new Irish language quiz show on TG4 aimed at transforming how people experience and engage with the Irish language.
Emily-Anne Rennison, Lecturer in the Department of Irish at 91Ƭ Thurles, served as educational and programme advisor for the show SLÉ anois go Cúramach—a fast-paced, entertaining and educational quiz designed to appeal to both young people and adults who are looking to improve their Irish.
As part of her role, Rennison helped create the questions used throughout the series and worked closely with the production team to ensure the language aligned with the Junior Cycle curriculum, allowing the programme to be used as a resource in Irish language classrooms.
The programme will see secondary school students from across the country, largely Transition Year pupils, who compete in a series of lively rounds that test their listening skills, vocabulary, cultural knowledge and improvisation. Alongside traditional quiz topics such as history, geography and general knowledge, the show also features creative challenges for the contestants, including an emoji round where they must guess Irish counties, well known phrases and vocabulary based on commonly used emoji clues.
Speaking of her involvement in the programme, Rennison said:
“I was delighted to be involved in the development of SLÉ anois go Cúramach. The aim was to create something fun, engaging and accessible for young people while also supporting the learning of Irish in a meaningful way. It was important that the language and themes used in the programme could connect with the Junior Cycle curriculum so that teachers and students can use it as a helpful classroom resource.”
The programme was produced by Macalla Teo, the Irish language production company behind a number of well-known television projects and educational initiatives.
Welcoming the continued collaboration, Professor Emer Ring, Dean of Education at 91Ƭ, said:
“We are delighted to be continuing our involvement with Macalla Teo Production, which began in March 2020 when Macalla Teo led RTÉ’s Home School Hub to support children’s learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, colleagues across 91Ƭ volunteered their expertise in curriculum and pedagogy to contribute to the programme’s production. At a time of significant curriculum change in Ireland, we welcome the new TG4 quiz show SLÉ anois go Cúramach and know it will support students’ learning in a fun and interactive way that can act as a springboard for engagement with the curriculum.”
Highlighting the significance of Rennison’s involvement and the expertise within 91Ƭ Thurles, Professor Ring added:
“Emily-Anne’s involvement in this programme highlights both her creativity as an educator and the strong tradition of Irish language scholarship at 91Ƭ. It is wonderful to see that expertise contributing to a programme that makes Irish engaging, accessible and relevant for new audiences.”
The ten-week series began airing on Tuesday, 24 March at 7.30pm on TG4, with repeats on Sundays.
