French - #JC - Diego Brule

Diego Alonso Brule Galleguillos - Coláiste EindeIf there's one thing I love more than learning sciences, it's learning languages. There's something about it, that makes learning languages so interesting. Maybe it's because of the culture they carry, maybe it's the fact of being able to speak more than one language, or maybe because you think flirting will be easier in other languages.Anyways, French for me was quite simple. Grammar and vocabulary wise it's very similar to Spanish, which made the reading comprehension and written section very simple. But, Listening to it, always has been my nightmare. And of course, the exam has to start with this.Luckily though, this year's listenings were probably the easiest listenings that have come up so far (I've done all the exam papers for this too). Or maybe it's because I stayed up late last night listening to Emmanuel Macron's speeches in French?The rest of the exam was a breeze. Reading comprehension, and written. There was only one question that I can remember that asked for a word that I had absolutely no idea what it meant. But apart from that, the rest of the test went pretty good.I have to point a funny thing about this exam though, our exam centre has around 35 students, but only 6 of us did French. It's safe to say the examiner was disappointed, as she is a French teacher in her school.For the JC I'll be doing Spanish and French, hopefully for the LC I'm able to sit Italian as well! #StateExams2017

Press Statement: Education Reform must be a key focus under Minister Richard Bruton

PRESS STATEMENT 6th May 2016

Education reform at second-level must continue to be a key focus under Minister Richard Bruton.The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU) welcomes the appointment of Richard Bruton as Minister for Education and Skills and calls on the Minister to ensure that education reform continues to be the key focus of the second-level agenda during this term in government.Education reform is vital in order to cater for varying abilities and learning styles, to promote critical thinking and real engagement with learning, to address current skills gaps and to ensure that Ireland boasts a knowledge economy in the future. It is, therefore, crucial that Minister Bruton and the Department of Education and Skills builds on the foundation stones laid by his predecessors in revitalising and modernising our education system.We look forward to engaging with Minister Bruton and to our continued work with his Department over the coming years.***ENDS***Contact ISSU Main Office 01 443 4461 / communications@issu.ie

Minister Quinn welcomes Second Level Students’ Union proposals on naming the reformed junior cycle awards

Ruairi Quinn, T.D., Minister for Education and Skills today thanked the Irish Second Level Student’s Union for their report entitled “Naming the Reformed Junior Cycle”.Commenting on the report, the Minister said “I warmly welcome the effort that has been committed to this project by the ISSU.  Their use of text messaging, social media, email and consultation sessions to engage students on the topic has set an excellent example for creating dialogue with the students themselves.”The report is being published on the Department’s website www.education.ie, and is being forwarded to education stakeholders for further discussion.The report includes a number of potential names for the reformed junior cycle, including STARS (School-based, Teacher-led Assessment and Reporting System) and ICA (Irish Comprehensive Assessment).The report shows that students strongly welcome the proposed reforms and particularly the emphasis on active learning and the changed approach to assessment.  One participant in the consultation stated “I think it will prepare students for life after the exams, instead of just for the exams”.In welcoming the report, Minister Quinn said “Young people are uniquely placed to take the lead in redesigning their learning. It is precisely this engagement and enthusiasm for self directed learning which we are trying to promote in the reforms, developing important skills which will serve throughout life”.