Ag l amh agus ag scr obh

1. Ag léamh agus ag scríobh Teastas Sóisearach Ardleibhéal

2. Niamh Crosson got an A in last year’s Junior Cert Irish exam. She’s now in transition year in St. Vincent’s Secondary School, Dundalk. Junior Cert study only really starts in third year. I only started properly when we were leading up to the mocks, but I had kept up with what was going on in class the whole time. I think the most important thing in every subject is to listen in class and try to get an understanding of what’s being taught. It’s useless trying to memorise things you don’t understand. It takes longer and it doesn’t stay in your head. I liked Irish as ……. Click here

3. www.skoool.ie Scéal (Story) Aiste (Composition) In the Junior Certificate the scéal nó eachtra and the aiste should be one and a half pages long or between 350 – 400 words. You should allocate 40 minutes to this question. Alt (Paragraph) The newspaper article: Many students ignore this option as they think that it might be too difficult. The topics here often relate to school life and the lives of young people. The newspaper option is a formal essay and a formal approach should be taken. Díospóireacht’ / ‘óráid’ (Debates) A debate (‘díospóireacht’ / ‘óráid’) is a contention or an argument in words.  It usually has a formal structure and is delivered in public. In a debate you are expected to take a definite stance.  State clearly, therefore, where you stand on the issue and provide arguments or examples which enhance your argument.  Finally, let all the ‘threads’ of your arguments come together in the concluding paragraph.

4. Revise WiseTest Yourself 1. In the 'Ceapadóireacht' question, keep your sentences short and simple, this way you'll make fewer mistakes. Ensure you have a beginning, middle and an end and make out a rough plan before you start writing. 2. Read the questions before you read the Comprehensions through. You don't need to understand every word in the piece to be able to answer the question. 3. Prepare well for the Letter question by making sure you have words and phrases learnt off before your exam as well as appropriate addresses, dates, greetings and endings. 4. If you want to use a quote from a poem, make sure that you have explained the point in your own words first. Quotes are used to support what you have already written - not to answer a question. 5. Leave five minutes to read over your work at the end - you will save a lot of marks by checking your spelling and grammar. Féach ar an leabhar

5. Watch Your Language 10 useful verbs for the scéal composition CHUIMHNIGH sé ar a leaba the - He remembered his warm bed SHOCRAIGH sé rith i bhfad ó bhaile - He decided to run far from home THOSAIGH sé ag cur báistí - It started to rain GHORTAIGH mé mo chos - I hurt my leg SHIÚIL mé ar aghaidh - I walked on D’ULLMHAIGH mé mo mhála - I got my bag ready BHUAIL mé le Seán - I met Sean MHÍNIGH mé an scéal - I explained the situation BHEARTAIGH mé ar imeacht - I decided to go BHROSTAIGH mé abhaile - I hurried home

6. Tried and tested – sample answer This story is about 350 words long. It is of Grade A standard. It is a good example of a student using phrases, one-liners and blocks of text to help gain marks. (i) Ceap scéal go mbeadh an giota seo oiriúnach mar thús leis: “Fuair mé teachtaireacht dul go hoifig an Phríomhoide. Bhí a fhios agam go raibh rud éigin tábhachtach i gceist. . .”

7. Aiste The aiste can often be quite unpredictable but it is possible to recognise some topics that tend to appear on the examination paper on a regular basis. Spórt – Students could be asked to write about a sports event that was taking place or describe their favourite sports personality or team. Caitheamh aimsire – Past times for example reading, the cinema, the computer are all topics that have been examined in the question. Réalta scannán – description of a film star, neighbour, musician or famous person is a popular choice. Daoine óga – the life of the young person in the city or in the country has appeared on the paper in the past. Na Meáin Chumarsáide – the media , t.v. computer, magazines, radio etc.

8. Cad a cheapann tú? Sé mo thuairim – it is my opiniontá tuairimí láidre agam ar an ábhar seo – I have strong views on this subjectba mhaith liom a rá – I would like to sayan tuairim atá agamsa ná – the view that I have isceapaim – I thinkcaithfidh mé a admháil – I have to admitIs dóigh liomsa – I thinkSan aiste seo – in this essay

9. Aidiachtaí As an essay relating to a person, sports team, pop group or film star is examined regularly it would be wise to learn a number of suitable adjectives in preparation for the aiste. Practice writing sentences using the following adjectives: Foighneach – patientGoilliúnach – sensitiveDílis – loyalCróga – braveAisteach – oddFlaithiúil – generousCabhrach – helpfulTaitneamhach – pleasantCainteach – chattyBéasach – mannerlyLách – gentleGrámhar – lovingÓg – youngTuisceanach – understandingCiallmhar - sensible

10. Ag caint faoi dhuine éigin In structuring an essay on a person it is best to begin by describing the person’s youth. In each paragraph discuss one clear point in relation to the person. Always clearly mention the reason why you respect or like the person that you are writing about. The following vocabulary may be helpful: Tá an- mheas agam air / uirthi – I have great respect for him / herIs fear cabhrach é – He is a helpful man.Is aoibhinn leis – he lovesRugadh ......... i mBaile Átha Cliath agus is ann a chaith sé a óige -  ..........was born in Dublin and it is there that he spent his youth.Tá clú agus cáil air / uirthi ar fud an domhain anois – He / she is famous throughout the world nowFéachaim air / uirthi ar an teilifís go minic – I watch him / her on the television oftenTá mé an-bhrodúil as / aisti – I am very proud of him / he

11. Spórt An essay relating to some aspect of sport appears regularly on the paper. Prepare vocabulary on the following topics: Football  - peil  a match that you have seen recentlyYour favourite sport  / past timeThe European Cup / The World CupNa Cluichí Oilimpeacha  -The Olympic Games  The following verbs may be helpful: Imrím -  I playTéim – I goMothaím – I feelRithim – I runTosaím – I startCríochnaím – I finishBuailim – I hit It is important for you to describe a game / match or competition in detail. Look at the phrases below: Corraitheach – excitingAn- mhaith – very goodGarbh – roughUafásach – terribleGo hiontach – wonderfulSuimiúil – interestingLeadránach – boring

12. Léamhthuiscint WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO? You must answer every question, and give full and complete answers. Try and make an effort to put your answers in your own words; you won’t get marks for copying, word-for-word, from the text. You have to prove a certain level of understanding and Irish ability to the examiner. You may quote from the passage to illustrate your answer, as 90 per cent of the marks are for your ability to comprehend the passages.

13. Foinse Ochtar d'imreoirí Manchester United gortaithe Dé Luain, 26 Meán Fómhair 2011 15:30 Úna Ní Eidhin Tá sé ráite anois go bhféadfadh sé nach mbeidh ochtar d’imreoirí sinsearacha Manchester United ábalta imirt i gcoinne Basle ag Old Trafford amárach. Ceaptar go mbeidh Wayne Rooney ar dhuine de na himreoirí nach mbeidh ag imirt mar gheall go bhfuil teannán a ioscaide tarraingthe aige. Ar roinnt de na himreoirí eile, a bhfuil imní fúthu maidir le gortuithe, tá Javier Hernandez, Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling agus Nemanja Vidic. Ní raibh ceathrar acu seo i mbun traenála don chluiche amárach. Beidh Rafael amuigh mar gheall ar a ghualainn agus beidh Tom Cleverley agus Darron Gibson amuigh freisin mar gheall ar ghortuithe freisin.

14. Billabong i gCo Shligigh Dé hAoine, 13 Bealtaine 2011

15. Tacaíocht ó dhá chomhairle contae ag Dana agus ag Norris  Go dtí seo, tá tacaíocht(support) faighte ag Dana Rosemary Scallon agus ag an Seanadóir David Norris ó dhá chomhairle contae an duine. Rinne Comhairle Contae Laoise cinneadh(decision / determination / finding / conclusion) tacú le Norris inniu, fad is a rinne na Comhairlí Contae i gCeatharlach agus i Ros Comáin an cinneadh tacú le Dana. Bhí tacaíocht faighte ag Norris ó Chomhairle Contae Fhine Gall roimhe seo freisin. Bhí cruinniú speisialta á reáchtáil ag Comhairle Contae Bhaile Átha Cliath Theas tráthnóna inniu maidir le tacaíocht a thabhairt do Norris ach níor éirigh leis ainmniúchán(nomination) a fháil uathu. Chaill sé amach le vóta amháin.

16. Ros na Rún á thaispeáint ar chlár Stephen Fry  Taispeánadh Stephen Fry ag glacadh páirte sa sobaldráma(soap opera ), Ros na Rún, ar an stáisiún teilifíse, TG4, níos luaithe i mbliana. Tá sé ráite anois go mbeidh an radharc(view) céanna seo as an sobaldráma le feiceáil ar an tsraith nua dar teideal Planet Word, de chuid an BBC, an deireadh seachtaine seo. Thaistil Fry chuig an Spidéal i gCo na Gaillimhe le tuilleadh(more) a fhoghlaim faoin nGaeilge i sochaí chomhaimseartha Éireannach don tsraith seo, Planet Word agus ghlac sé páirt bheag sa sobaldráma Gaeilge. Beidh(it will) sé seo á chraoladh ar an Domhnach, an 2 Deireadh Fómhair.

17. Junior Cycle Irish – Past Paper Analysis (Higher) Prós Liteartha (unseen) Prós Liteartha (prepared) Filíocht (unseen) Filíocht Léamhthuiscint Giotaí gearra Litir a Scríobh

18. FILÍOCHT FILÍOCHT - MY POEMS Páipéar 2: Roinn 2, Ceist 2B Am: 15 nóiméad Marcanna: 15 marc Fad: ½ go 1 leathanach (120 focal) You do not need to understand the poems fully to answer the questions. Generally speaking, one poem tends to be easier than the other. Read the Gluais (glossary), which explains certain words. It might help. Write some answer for each part of the question. There are two different parts to Question 2B. Part (i): Student names the poem and the poet. Part (ii): Student tells the story of the poem, mentioning the theme a few times.

19. Filíocht Useful Phrases Úsáideann an file a lán íomhánna réalaíocha sa dán seo – the poet uses a lot of realistic images in this poemNochtann an file a lán mothúcháin ó thús deireadh an dáin seo – the poet expresses a lot of emotions from the beginning to the end of this poem.Oireann friotal an dáin don téama – the language of the poem suites the themeIs dán suimiúil é an dán seo – this is an interesting poemDéanann an file forbairt ar an téama ó thús deireadh an dáin seo – the poet develops the theme from the beginning to the end of the poemThaitin an dán seo go mór liom – I really enjoyed this poemÚsáideann an file meafar sa dán chun an téama a léiriú – the poet uses a metaphor to highlight the theme of the poemSa dán seo úsáideann an file athrá chun an téama a chur os ár gcomhair – in this poem the poet uses a metaphor to present the theme

20. Prós roghnaithe The second question is the most popular option among Junior Cert. Students. You are asked to write about a novel, short story or drama that you have studied. The question generally refers to theme, character or emotion. PreparationIf you choose to study the short story option make sure that you have covered some of the themes and character traits listed below: ThemesYouth or old ageDeath or sicknessLife in the country or life in the cityTragedySchool or sportAnimals or birdsAlcohol or drugsMusic or the family Character traitsA lonely personA happy personA revengeful personA sad personA sly personAn inquisitive personA pleasant person

21. An Litir ‘litreacha pearsanta’ - personal letters, e.g. to your friend, parent, relative, penfriend etc. - ‘chuig cara leat, chuig do thuismitheoir, chuig gaol leat, chuig peannchara leat’ ‘litreacha foirmeálta’ - formal letters, e.g. to the editor of a magazine / newspaper, to your local T.D., to the Director of programmes in R.T.E. etc.. - ‘chuig eagarthóir na hirise / nuachtáin, chuig do Theachta Dála áitiúil, chuig Stiúrthóir na gClár in R.T.E.’  Make sure that your letter is laid out properly on your answer page. The main elements to remember are - seoladh (address), dáta (date), beannú (greeting), corp na litreach (the body of the letter), and críoch na litreach (the end of the letter).

22. SCRÚDÚ AN TEASTAIS SHÓISEARAIGH, 2011 GAEILGE – ARDLEIBHÉAL – PÁIPÉAR 1 GAEILGE – ARDLEIBHÉAL – PÁIPÉAR II Scéim Mharcála