Yn Teisht Ghaelg Undinagh (Manx Foundation Course)
Valid from September 2021
This edition: September 2021, version 1.0
This specification may be reproduced in whole or in part for educational purposes provided that no profit is derived from reproduction and that, if reproduced in part, the source is acknowledged. Additional copies of this Course Specification can be downloaded from The Manx Language Unit Website.
Please refer to the note of changes at the end of this Course Specification for details of changes from previous version (where applicable).
© Isle of Man Department of Education, Sport and Culture 2021.
Table of Contents
Relationship between the course and the Manx Curriculum.4
Purpose and aims of the Course. 5
Typical learners who might take the course:6
Course structure and conditions of award Course structure. 7
Assessment Unit 1: Understanding Language. 8
Assessment Unit 2: Using Language. 8
Assessment Unit 3: Added Value. 9
Skills, knowledge and understanding.. 10
Development of skills for learning, skills for life and skills for work. 11
Course outline
Mandatory Study Units: ‘Keim Nane’ 1- 9, ‘Keim Jees’ 10-19.
Mandatory Assessment Units: Understanding Language, Using Language, Added Value.
Skills asessed: Understanding Language (40% of total). Using Language (60%).
Level of Language: CEFR A2 (Pass), CEFR B1 (Distinction).
(A Distinction enhancement is awarded for demonstration of reaching the CEFR B1 level in the Added Value Assessment Unit).
Recommended entry
Entry to this Course is at the discretion of the Manx Language Unit. However, learners would normally be expected to have attained the skills and knowledge required by attending Manx language classes in primary school.
Conditions of award
To achieve the Teisht Undinagh, learners must pass all of the required Units. The Teisht Undinagh is not graded, but a Distinction enhancement is awarded for CEFR B1 performance in the Added Value Unit. The required units are shown in the course outline section.
Progression
This Course or its Units may provide progression to:
Yn Teisht Chadjin Ghaelgagh (Manx GCSE equivalent). Yn Ard Teisht Ghaelgagh
Further study, employment or training.
Equality and inclusion
This Course Specification has been designed to ensure that there are no unnecessary barriers to learning or assessment. The individual needs of learners should be taken into account when planning learning experiences, selecting assessment methods or considering alternative evidence. For further information, please refer to the Course Support Notes, or contact the Manx Language Unit.
Rationale
Manx language courses and formal qualifications reflect the Manx Curriculum’sEssentials for Learning values, purposes and principles. They offer flexibility, provide more time for learning, more focus on skills and applying learning, and scope for personalisation and choice.
The main emphasis of the course is on skills development and the application of those skills. Assessment approaches will be appropriate, fair, summative and enable learners to achieve the highest standards they can.
The courses provides learners with opportunities to continue to acquire and develop the attributes and capabilities of the speaking, writing, listening and speaking as well as skills for learning, skills for life and skills for work.
All Courses provide opportunities for learners to develop breadth, challenge and application, but the focus and balance of the assessment will be appropriate for the subject area.
Relationship between the course and the Manx Curriculum.
Learning a new language enables learners to make connections with different people and learn about other cultures. Learning a lesser-used language enables students to play a part as global citizens in the preservation of linguistic and cultural diversity. In addition, the ability to use language lies at the centre of thinking and learning; learners reflect, communicate and develop ideas through language.
The study of Manx holds unique value in the development of awareness and understanding of the history and culture of the Isle of Man. It provides learners with a means of communicating directly with tradition bearers and first-hand access to the historical worldviews of the Manx people, enhancing their understanding and enjoyment of other cultures, as well as their own and enriching their understanding of active citizenship.
Learners encounter a range of different types of texts in different media. Building on the four skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking, the course enables learners to communicate, be critical thinkers, develop cultural awareness, and be creative.
Purpose and aims of the Course
The main purpose of the course is to develop the skills of reading, listening, talking and writing in order to understand and use Manx.
The course offers learners opportunities to develop and extend a wide range of skills. In particular, the Course aims to enable learners to develop the ability to:
- read, listen, talk and write in Manx
- understand and use Manx
- apply knowledge of Manx
- plan, research and apply language skills
The course contributes towards the development of literacy skills by providing learners with opportunities to read, listen, talk and write in Manx, and to reflect on how this relates to English.
Typical learners who might take the course:
The course provides flexibility, personalisation and choice to enable learners to achieve in different ways and at different paces.
Prior learning in the subject is not essential, although the course provides opportunities for learners to build on prior learning experienced in primary school Manx classes.
The course offers learners the opportunity to develop straightforward language skills in the meaningful real-life contexts of society, learning, employability, and culture.
The course provides learners with the opportunity to: develop skills in reading, listening, talking and writing, which are essential for learning, work and life; develop understanding of how language works; use different media effectively for learning and communication; and use language to communicate ideas and information.
The course also provides learners with the opportunity to: use creative and critical thinking to synthesise ideas and arguments; enhance their enjoyment and understanding of their own and other cultures; and explore the interconnected nature of languages.
The course is designed to be accessible. The units are organised by the receptive (listening and reading) and productive (talking and writing) skills of language.
The course provides opportunities for vertical and lateral progression to other qualifications in Manx and other related fields.
Course structure and conditions of award Course structure
This course is made up of 18 units of study in two books (Lioar Nane & Lioar Jees), and 3 Assessment Units. The course provides learners with the opportunity to develop their reading, listening, talking and writing skills in order to understand and use Manx. The two books and Assessment Units, when taken together, include the four language skills of reading, listening, speaking, and writing.
Both the content of the units of study and the units of assessment can be delivered in a number of ways.
The structure of the course enables learners to focus on the skills required to understand and use Manx, and to integrate reading, listening, speaking and writing skills. Each Unit of assessment also offers opportunities for learners to focus on particular skills.
Assessment Units:
Assessment Units are statements of standards for assessment.
All three units are internally assessed against the requirements shown in the Unit Specifications below.
They can be assessed on an individual unit basis or by using other approaches which combine the assessment for more than one unit.
They will be assessed on a pass/fail basis within centres. An additional Distinction enhancement will be awarded for CEFR B1 level performance in the Added Value Unit. The Manx Language Unit will provide rigorous quality assurance, with a system of validation to ensure standards of assessment are fair, meet the standards of the qualification and are consistant across schools.
Assessment Unit 1: Understanding Language
The purpose of this Unit is to provide learners with the opportunity to develop reading and listening skills in Manx and to develop their knowledge of straightforward language in the contexts of society, learning, employability, and culture.
Learners will be required to provide evidence of their reading and listening skills in Manx, using straightforward language, in one of the following contexts: society, learning, employability, or culture.
Assessment Unit 2: Using Language
The purpose of this Unit is to provide learners with the opportunity to develop talking and writing skills in Manx, and to develop their knowledge of straightforward language in the contexts of society, learning, employability, and culture.
Learners will be required to provide evidence of their talking and writing skills in Manx, using straightforward language, in one of the following contexts: society, learning, employability, or culture.
Assessment Unit 3: Added Value
The purpose of this Added Value Unit is to provide learners with the opportunity to apply their language skills to investigate a chosen topic in a familiar context in Manx and to give opportunities for personalised study beyond the scope of the textbooks.
Learners will be required to provide evidence of their ability to apply their reading, listening, talking and writing skills in Manx on a chosen topic.
Skills, knowledge and understanding
A broad overview of the mandatory subject skills, knowledge and understanding that will be assessed in the course is given in this section.
These include:
- reading, listening, speaking and writing skills in Manx in the contexts of society, learning, employability, and culture
- knowledge of straightforward language required to understand and use Manx for simple communication.
- applying grammatical knowledge studied in the 18 units of study (Lioar Nane and Lioar Jees)
Skills, knowledge and understanding to be included in assessment units will be appropriate to the CEFR level of the course, which is A2:
Students who are able to demonstrate CEFRB1 level performance in the Added Value Assessmnent Unit will have their awards enhanced with an distinction.
Development of skills for learning, skills for life and skills for work
It is expected that learners will develop broad, generic skills through this course that will develop learning skills for personal fufillment and employablility. In particular, the qualities that learners will be expected to improve on and develop through the course are based on the dispositions of DESC Essentials for Learning framework:
- Readiness
- Relationships which are positive
- Resourcefulness
- Resilience
- Remembering Skills
- Reflectiveness
Note: You are advised to check the Manx Language Unit’s website to ensure you are using the most up-to-date version of this Course Specification.