Is í príomhaidhm Lárionad na Gaeilge an dea-chleachtas agus an nuálaíocht i múineadh agus i measúnú na Gaeilge a chur chun cinn. Baineann ár gcuid oibre le trí phríomhréimse: taighde, teagasc agus tástáil.
The Centre for Irish Language strives to promote and advance excellence and innovation in the teaching and assessment of Irish. Our work consists of three main pillars: research, teaching and testing.
Déanann Lárionad na Gaeilge taighde ar ghnéithe den teangeolaíocht fheidhmeach a bhaineann le foghlaim, múineadh, measúnú agus úsáid na Gaeilge. Is í sprioc na hoibre seo tacú le forbairt cleachtas agus polasaithe a bhaineann leis an nGaeilge agus cúrsaí oideachais. Tuilleadh eolais ar an leathanach taighde.
Our research investigates aspects of applied linguistics, related to the learning, teaching, assessment and use of Irish, in order to inform research-based practice in language education and policy. More information on our research page.
Cuireann Lárionad na Gaeilge réimse leathan cúrsaí, ranganna agus acmhainní ar fáil chun tacú le foghlaim agus múineadh na Gaeilge. I measc na dtionscadal atá againn tá:
Lárionad na Gaeilge provides a wide range of courses, classes and resources to support the learning and teaching of Irish. Our projects include:
Is ceannródaí é Lárionad na Gaeilge i réimse na tástála teanga. Cuireann muid scrúduithe cumais agus cáilíochta ar fáil d’fhoghlaimeoirí fásta na Gaeilge, ag cúig leibhéal de chuid an Fhráma Thagartha Chomónta Eorpaigh. Is é Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) an t-aon chóras neamhspleách tástála agus teastasaithe atá ar fáil don Ghaeilge, agus is é an t-aon scrúdú Gaeilge a bhfuil Q-mark ALTE bainte amach aige don dea-chleachtas sa tástáil teanga. Tuilleadh eolais: www.teg.ie
The Centre for Irish Language is a leader in the area of Irish language testing. We provide proficiency tests and certification for adult learners of Irish, at five levels broadly aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The European Certificate in Irish (TEG) is the only independent language testing and certification system available for Irish, and it is the only assessment system for Irish that has been awarded the ALTE Q-mark for excellence in language testing. More information: www.teg.ie
Sa bhliain 1971 a bunaíodh Ionad na dTeangacha in Ollscoil Mhá Nuad, an chéad ionad ollscoile dá leithéid in Éirinn, mar sheirbhís tacaíochta do ranna teanga na hOllscoile. Ó na 1990í i leith, tháinig fás agus forbairt an-mhór ar obair an Ionaid, go háirithe i réimse na Gaeilge. Rinne foireann an Ionaid obair cheannródaíoch i bhforbairt acmhainní agus cúrsaí nuálaíocha d’fhoghlaim agus do theagasc na Gaeilge, bunaithe ar an taighde agus ar an dea-chleachtas idirnáisiúnta sna réimsí sin. Sa bhliain 2005, cuireadh tús le Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG), an chéad chóras neamhspleách tástála cumais atá ar fáil don Ghaeilge, agus an chéad sampla de chur i bhfeidhm an Fhráma Thagartha Chomónta Eorpaigh i gcás na Gaeilge. Bronnadh an Séala Eorpach Teanga ar an Ionad faoi thrí agus bronnadh Q-mark ALTE ar TEG faoi dhó, as feabhas a chuid acmhainní agus tástálacha teanga.
Bhí an ghné idirnáisiúnta de mhúineadh na Gaeilge i gcónaí tábhachtach in obair an Ionaid. Tá scrúduithe TEG déanta anois ag iarrthóirí i réimse ionad thar lear, ó Los Angeles go Sydney, agus tá cúrsaí Gaeilge curtha ar fáil againn d’fhoghlaimeoirí i bPáras agus i mBéising na Síne. Tá ról lárnach ag taighde agus ag saineolas na foirne i bhforbairt beartas agus cleachtas a bhaineann le múineadh agus measúnú na Gaeilge agus leis an ilteangachas in Éirinn. Sa bhliain 2016, athsheoladh an tIonad faoina ainm nua, Lárionad na Gaeilge: Taighde, Teagasc agus Tástáil.
The Maynooth University Language Centre was founded in 1971 as a support service for the language departments of the university, the first of its kind in Ireland. From the 1990s onwards, the work of the Centre developed considerably, particularly in relation to the Irish language. The staff of the Centre became pioneers in the development of innovative resources and courses for the teaching and learning of Irish, based on international research and best practice in those areas. In 2005, the Centre launched the European Certificate in Irish (TEG), the first system of independent proficiency tests available for Irish, and the earliest implementation of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) in the Irish context. The Centre is a three-time recipient of the European Language Label for innovation in language teaching and it was twice awarded the prestigious ALTE Q-mark for excellence in language testing.
The international dimension of Irish language learning has always been an important aspect of the Centre’s work. Our TEG exams have been conducted in a number of international locations, from Los Angeles to Sydney, and we have run Irish language courses for learners in Paris and Beijing. The research and expertise of the Centre has played a central role in informing the development of policy and practice in the teaching and assessment of Irish, as well as in language planning and multilingualism in Ireland. In 2016, the Centre was relaunched as the Centre for Irish Language Research, Teaching and Testing.