Question 1

What should I focus on for CCEA A-Level ESOL & Literacy?

Accepted Answer

Prepare a bank of high-level topic-specific vocabulary and phrases (e.g., for discussing the Gaeltacht, language revival, or cultural traditions) and practise integrating them naturally into spontaneous responses.

Question 2

What should I focus on for CCEA A-Level ESOL & Literacy? (2)

Accepted Answer

Focus on communication in the moment: if you forget a word, use a related term or describe it in Irish to maintain fluency rather than pausing or switching to English.

Question 3

What should I focus on for CCEA A-Level ESOL & Literacy? (3)

Accepted Answer

Listen carefully to the examiner’s questions and use them as prompts to expand your answers; a successful conversation demonstrates interaction, not monologue. Show engagement by asking for repetition or clarification if needed, in Irish.

Question 4

What should I focus on for CCEA A-Level ESOL & Literacy? (4)

Accepted Answer

Record yourself practising with a partner on Ireland-related topics, then review for accuracy of verb forms and mutations. Prioritise a few key errors to eliminate rather than trying to be perfect.

Question 5

What should I focus on for CCEA A-Level ESOL & Literacy? (5)

Accepted Answer

During the assessment, aim for a natural rhythm; it is better to speak at a moderate pace with clear articulation than to rush and lose control over grammatical endings.

Question 6

What are common mistakes in CCEA A-Level ESOL & Literacy?

Accepted Answer

Directly translating idiomatic expressions or structures from English into Irish, resulting in unnatural or incorrect phrasing (e.g., using ‘Tá mé ag déanamh staidéir’ for ‘I am studying’ instead of the more natural ‘Táim ag staidéar’).

Question 7

What are common mistakes in CCEA A-Level ESOL & Literacy? (2)

Accepted Answer

Over-reliance on the present tense when recounting past experiences or future plans, indicating a limited grasp of verb conjugations beyond the habitual present.

Question 8

What are common mistakes in CCEA A-Level ESOL & Literacy? (3)

Accepted Answer

Persistent errors with initial mutations, particularly lenition after the article ‘an’ (e.g., missing the séimhiú in ‘an bhean’ but applying it incorrectly in ‘an fear’).

ESOL & Literacy

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