Students star in national radio series

STUDENTS of Gaelcholáiste an Chláir in Ennis are the stars of a new series on RTÉ Raidio na Gaeltachta which will be broadcast nationwide next week.
The programme, Scrúdú Béil na hArdteiste, will provide a showcase of oral Irish to aid students preparing for this year’s Leaving Certificate examination. The four part radio series has been made by Ennis company Edgecast Media and will be broadcast from March 18 to 21.
Five Gaelcholáiste students can be heard in the series, each one participating in four of the interviews. They are Conal Ó hAiniféin, Sally Ní Mheadhra, Nicole Ní Chathasaigh, Áine Mhaoir and Alex Maguidhir. Teachers Íde Bhreathnach and Orla Ní Dhonncha worked to prepare them for the show presented and produced by Conn Ó Muineacháin.
Since 2012, the percentage of marks for the oral Irish exam has increased from 25% to 40%, and the exam itself has also changed significantly. This new series will focus specifically on the picture sequence element of the exam introduced in 2012, which accounts for 33% of the total marks.
Each programme in the series will focus on five of the picture sequences on this year’s course, with sample exam scenarios.The full set of 20 picture sequences on the 2013 Leaving Cert will be covered over the four programmes and students will be able to download individual podcasts at www.rte.ie/rnag/scrudubeilnahardteiste.html .   
The series will help students to build on their vocabulary for the picture sequence and give them ideas about questions they may be asked. The programmes will also include a commentary, indicating where students could improve their answers.
Scrúdú Béil na hArdteiste will be broadcast at 7pm four evenings in a row from March 18 -21 on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, and will also be rebroadcast during Easter Week from 2–5 April. Students can also listen live online at www.rte.ie/rnag or listen back on RTÉ Radio Player.