Bloomberg : The Irish are urging their children to emigrate.

[jetttxyz]

Unless we change it.
Is there any other country in western Europe where emigration is considered a lifestyle choice? I doubt it.
As long as droves of us up sticks and settle somewhere else the vicious circle will continue and continue and continue.

It will, most definitely, continue for decades.

Just say we've 300,000 unemployed and there are 30,000 jobs created per year....and no more become unemployed.
It'll take 10 years to get rid of unemployment if this scenario is true ie 2,500 jobs created per month, every month, for 10 continuous years.

It won't happen.

So...the government can only collect more taxes from those still employed; introduce taxes on people's possessions ie houses, cars, pensions and continually drastically reduce social welfare payments...no matter what payments they are.

This means poverty of different levels for all.

Get our children out...but, we stay and fight the good fight!

[BlackLion]

Look at number 6 on the list.

List of countries by external debt - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Picasso Republic]

Do you think introducing a European language at primary level would be of benefit??

Absolutely.

However I would advise commencing in the final three years of primary school and spend the first two of those years exclusively on the spoken word (no writing, spelling etc). Moving on into secondary school, if it were me putting the curriculum together, I would exclude poetry and classic writings (leave that for third level), its fine for native speakers to study Keats, Thomas Hardy, Charles Dickens and Sheakespeare etc in English - but we need to get real on the way we teach foreign languages in Ireland - at final 2nd level exams (Leaving cert) there is no requirement for an appreciation of French, German or Spanish classics.

If tackled correctly, it would not be beyond the bounds of the Irish education system (which is of a high standard generally) to equip 'graduates' at 2nd level stage with two foreign languages, one at advanced level and a second at basic level.

[antiestablishmentarian]

Absolutely.

However I would advise commencing in the final three years of primary school and spend the first two of those years exclusively on the spoken word (no writing, spelling etc). Moving on into secondary school, if it were me putting the curriculum together, I would exclude poetry and classic writings (leave that for third level), its fine for native speakers to study Keats, Thomas Hardy, Charles Dickens and Sheakespeare etc in English - but we need to get real on the way we teach foreign languages in Ireland - at final 2nd level exams (Leaving cert) there is no requirement for an appreciation of French, German or Spanish classics.

If tackled correctly, it would not be beyond the bounds of the Irish education system (which is of a high standard generally) to equip 'graduates' at 2nd level stage with two foreign languages, one at advanced level and a second at basic level.

Eh, there's no requirement for a knowledge of foreign literature in French at least at Leaving Cert level. The main problem (and I say that as someone who sat the LC not too long ago and who studied French in college) is lack of skilled teachers, students aren't immersed in the language and they study it primarily to pass the leaving cert rather than to have any competency in it. Thus my sister, who got a B3 in Honours French last summer, couldn't hold a conversation with or understand some Belgian guests who I invited to visit me in August last year, before I emigrated. Conversation, especially the ins and outs of contemporary speech (phrases like, for instance, enchanté, which you say when you've been introduced for the first time are unheard of in the curriculum, while proverbs which you never hear anyone use in real conversation are widespread in the classroom) Concentration on speaking, with continuous refresher courses for teachers and a culture of immersion in the classroom are key to improving language skills in the Irish education system.

[Nemesiscorporation]

Eh, there's no requirement for a knowledge of foreign literature in French at least at Leaving Cert level. The main problem (and I say that as someone who sat the LC not too long ago and who studied French in college) is lack of skilled teachers, students aren't immersed in the language and they study it primarily to pass the leaving cert rather than to have any competency in it. Thus my sister, who got a B3 in Honours French last summer, couldn't hold a conversation with or understand some Belgian guests who I invited to visit me in August last year, before I emigrated. Conversation, especially the ins and outs of contemporary speech (phrases like, for instance, enchanté, which you say when you've been introduced for the first time are unheard of in the curriculum, while proverbs which you never hear anyone use in real conversation are widespread in the classroom) Concentration on speaking, with continuous refresher courses for teachers and a culture of immersion in the classroom are key to improving language skills in the Irish education system.

Try:

Learn French - Bonjour, Online Free French Lessons to Learn French

Learn French online FREE with French language lessons and unique question generator!

[Picasso Republic]

Try:

Learn French - Bonjour, Online Free French Lessons to Learn French

Learn French online FREE with French language lessons and unique question generator!

Coffee Break French OR Spanish etc for the iPhone and iPod is highly rated (they are free podcasts)

[beazlebottom]

Of course Ireland will need another Bailout (loan) - if the rates on offer prevent re-entering the bond markets next year, Ireland will of course require a bailout - but its no different than selling bonds as almost every other country on the planet does.

I really wish people would stop using the word bailout - its a loan.

its neither a Bailout nor a Loan - its a stitchup, thanks to that useless lying pair of f**wits, Clowen and Lendihand.

Fianna FFrauds - bringing incompetence, corruption and delusion to new heights since 1926.

[Partizan]

Yup it's bad alright. I have a brother leaving for Perth in Oz tomorrow morning. Very sorry to see him go, but sure what can you do? He is a plumber by trade and there simply is no work. The man is not content to draw the dole and fair play I guess.

Fingers crossed that we see some kind of prospects in Ireland for tradespeople in the future. For now the pressure valve is definitely open for better or worse.

Says your man with the Zanu FF avatar. Irony not lost there?

[Partizan]

At last a sensible post related to languages.

Some time ago, I was effectively 'shouted down' by some posters with 'european experience' who argued that foreign/local languages are not really necessary. My point at the time was that although perhaps not entirely necessary within many multinationals, if you actually want to look for work or do business at 'the street level' in europe, knowledge of the local language is essential.

I've been 'on the road' over 20 years and having left Ireland with questionable english, can now do business in French, German and Hungarian and socialise in Italian and Spanish and am currently tyying to improve my very basic Arabic (I stress that it has taken more than 20 years to get to this stage and I have the benefit of a 'foreign' spouse and 'tri-lingual' children).

Although Australia and the USA may seem easier from a language point of view, it is a shame to see so many Irish immigrants ignore the vastness of europe on their doorstep, with the added benefits of only being a 1-3 hour cheap flight from home. For married men wanting to make that leap, most of europe is easily within the realms of a monday-friday commute and the impact on ones family would be no different than a Dub taking a job in Cork or Tralee.

Many many Irish are almost 'scared' of language issues, this is a very negative trait we have picked up from the UK and it is absolute garbage. Does anyone really think all of the Poles, Lithuanians, Germans, Italians etc who have made Ireland their home were born speaking english - once you have a smattering when you arrive at a location and you interact, the language will come very quickly (childrens TV is excellent to move from very basic to conversational).

Although I'm a little different, the benefits of europe for many Irish would be that it is close enough not to have to give up on Ireland and returning at a later date would be easier.

The Irish were once known for the mastery of many languages. Up to the mid 19th century, many Irish people had a good knowledge of Latin, French and Greek as well as being bilingual (Irish and English). The Famine, the British suppression of the Irish language, the Church and successive governments since 1922 put paid to that.

I cannot emphasis how important is it for young kids to me exposed to foreign languages at an early age yet this Zanu FG/Lab gombeen administration is cutting back on language teachers to pay off unguaranteed bondholders who lent money to an insolvent bank.

You couldn't make it up.

[Partizan]

Do you think introducing a European language at primary level would be of benefit??

Yes. Scrap religious instruction from all State schools and use that time to introduce a choice of French, Spanish and German. Extend class hours by 5 hours a week. Into secondary and students be given the option of either FR/GER and or Spanish to be added by Russian and Mandarin choices.

Example, Johnny chooses FR in 4th standard and studies it for 2 years. Into secondary and he adds Russian to his choice. Drops Irish after Junior Cert to concentrate on French and Russian as his languages into the Leaving.