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Helping you choose
Junior Cycle Subjects

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Junior Cert
H Economics
Materials Wood
T. Graphics
Metalwork
Art, Craft & Design
Music
Business Studies
Science
Leaving Cert
H Economics (S&S)
Construction Studies
Design, Comm. Graphics
Engineering
Art, with Art History
Music
Business
Biology
Physics
Chemistry

Like

A. Business/Art/Metalwork
Then choose 3from
(if available!)
B. French/German/Woodwork
C. Technical Graphics/ Home
Economics/ French

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Why do Home Economics?
Provides students with knowledge and skills necessary for managing their own lives, further education and work.
Fosters independence, confidence and self-esteem.
Prepares learners for a consumer orientated society.
Nurtures and develops a spirit of enterprise, aesthetic awareness, creativity and problem-solving skills.
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Syllabus: 5 Core Areas and 1 Option
Food Studies
Social and Health Studies
Consumer Studies
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Resource Management and Home Studies
Textiles
Option: Craftwork and Design Project.

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Junior Cert Assessment at Higher Level:
50% Practical and 50% Written Exam
Craft
Project
15%
Food Studies
Practical Exam
35%
Written Exam
50%

Why?
• Encourages creative thinking (INNOVATION) and critical analysis (PROBLEM SOLVING)
• Connects pupils to their environment and to their culture
• Working from concept through design to realisation of an art piece builds confidence and self-esteem an essential channel for personal expression
 SYLLABUS :
The Curriculum is as broadly based as the Junior cycle incorporating Art, Craft and Design
4th year allows for new learners to access the subject
Art Appreciation and Art History are introduced and developed over the 3 year curriculum
 ASSESSMENT - No more big projects!!!!!
4th & 5th Year school exams based on the following LC criteria.
Imaginative Composition and Still Life 100 Marks
Design and Craft Work
Life Sketching
100 Marks
50 Marks
Art History and Art Appreciation(37.5%)
 CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
150 Marks
Advertising, Animation, Architecture, Archaeology, Art Worker, Art Therapy, Fashion and Textile
Design, Film Making, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Photography, Theatre Design, Product
Design, Web Design…….Endless list of careers that reward creativity and innovative thinking.
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Only 3 courses definitely require you to have Art in your Leaving Cert – 2 @ WIT and 1 @ Letterkenny IT
HOWEVER
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Almost all art and art related courses such as architecture require you to submit a portfolio.

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Subject Overview
Metalwork provides an introduction to materials and process engineering and an insight into associated technology. It is founded in practical activity that seeks to link observation and action with ingenuity and creativity within a problem-solving context.
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Techniques and Design:
Health and safety
Benchwork
Drilling
Hot and cold forming of materials
Fitting and assembly
Heat treatment
Decorative finishing of materials
Lathework
Design
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Materials and Technology:
 Health and safety
Communications and planning
Materials technology
Tools technology
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Machine tool technology
Assemblies and mechanisms

Assessment
For both Higher and Ordinary level Metalwork
50% of the marks go for the practical project
50% of the marks go for the terminal written exam
Uses
Skills in shaping, cutting and joining materials how to use a wide variety of tools and machines correctly and safely the properties of different metals and how they are made the importance of metal in our everyday lives

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Subject Overview
Technical Graphics involves students in the development of the range of skills associated with the management of spatial problems and the graphical communication of spatial ideas and solutions.
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Plane Geometry:
 Constructions
Plane figures
Loci
Transformation geometry
Areas and figures
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Descriptive Geometry:
 Orthographic Projection
 Pictorial drawing and projection
Scaled drawing
Surface development
Communication Graphics
 Freehand drawing and sketching
 Graphics in designing
 Computer graphics
Assessment
Technical Graphics is assessed at both Ordinary level and Higher level by means of a terminal examination paper.

Why choose business?
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Practical day to day information which helps students make informed decisions in everyday business living.
Develop a greater understanding of the wider business community and the government and economy.
Develops students presentation and organisational skills through basic keeping.
Encourages initiatives and a positive attitude to the creation of wealth and its attributes.
Curriculum / Syllabus
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Business of Living
Business Environment
Record Keeping
ASSESSMENT
Two Papers
Paper 1: 20 Short questions and 6 long questions and do 4 questions 2.5 hours
Paper 2: Do 6 long questions and do 4 questions 2 hours
CAREERS
Accountant, Finance – Banking, insurance, corporate , Management – Human Resources
Enterprise, Marketing, Retail , Lecturer / Teacher And many more.....

Why?
 Interested in making and building projects
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Interested in working with tools and machines
Interested in DIY at home
60% of the course is practical
Develop practical skills and knowledge
SYLLABUS:
1 st YR: Project orientated and developing hand skills
2 nd YR: Project and design orientated, further hand skills, introduction to machine skills and book work related to trees, tools and machines
3 rd YR: Design and manufacture project and complete theory course
ASSESSMENT
1st YR: Assessment of Projects.
2 nd YR: Assessment of projects and term exams
3 rd YR: Exam 40%, Project 60% of Junior Certificate
CAREERS
University career., Teaching career., Apprenticeships in trades., Architecture and design.
Civil, Structural Engineering., Renewable energies, furniture design and manufacture

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Le Français
1.
French is the 2 nd most frequently taught language in the world after English and is the native tongue of 200 million people.
Syllabus
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Common syllabus taught to mixed ability groups
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Communication using the target language in the classroom
Language awareness through speaking, writing, listening and reading target language to promote fluency
Cultural Awareness examining Irish and French ways of life
Grammatical understanding and accuracy are relevant in order to exce
A ssessment
Reading 31%
Writing 25%
Listening 44%
Classroom assessment of Four skills: oral, aural, reading, writing
Summer and Christmas Exams
Junior Cert

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As Ireland is home to large multinationals
Google/Microsoft...need for French graduates at home
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French is a key language in the E.U., with 27 nations and a population of 650 million and a gross national product larger than the U.S., the E.U. is an economic super power
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French is the language of Business e.g.
Hewlett-Packard, Xerox, Apple, Michelin, Renault, Bic and many more
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French is the language of technology, of food, of tourism to name but a few

1: I like it and I enjoy the class
2:English and German come from the same family of languages and so have many words in common!!
eg. House-Haus
4 : German is the most widely spoken language in Europe. It is spoken by 110 million people throughout Germany,
Austria, Switzerland,
Liechtenstein and Tirol in northern Italy as their native language.
3: If you choose German at Mt.
St. Michael you will have the opportunity to take part in a
German school exchange with our partner school in Stuttgart.
5: Germany is the biggest exporter in the EU.
Germany is the third biggest exporter in the world.
Speaking German will give you the edge in the job market!

Some of the things you will learn include:
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• how to speak in German about yourself, your family and friends, your hobbies, your school, etc. This will help you to talk to people who speak the language the skills of listening to, reading and writing in German
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German grammar information about the countries where people speak
German and their way of life.
How will I learn German?
Some of the things you may do are:
• work on your own, in pairs and in groups
• learn through activities and games
• use a textbook, but other materials as well
 watch films, listen to songs and look at pictures and posters.
• By speaking German as much as you can, in and out of class.
You will learn German in small blocks which you will build upon as you go along.

Assessment
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Reading 31%
Writing 25%
Listening 44%
Classroom assessment of 4 skills: oral, aural, reading, writing
Summer and Christmas Exams
Junior Cert
There is an optional oral exam at Junior Cert which is worth 20%.
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Career opportunities:
You may choose to combine German with other subjects at third Level such as
Engineering, History, Media and Journalism, International and European Law,
Accountancy, Business Studies, Travel and Hospitality Management, or European
Studies and many others.
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There is a new course at UCC for Nursing with German. Students will take part in work placements in Germany, and are guaranteed a job in Germany at the end of the course.

Français
Deutsch
Italiano
Español
English
Nederlands
All others
Español
Nederlands
6%
11%
All others
11%
Italiano
16%
24%
Deutsch
Français
16%
16%
English

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You enjoy it
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You’re interested in it
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Useful for possible career
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You’re good at it

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Parents – they play a major role when it comes to
Subject Choice. (ESRI 2011)
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Teachers - they will discuss what their subject is like at Leaving Certificate Level.
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Guidance Counsellor – make sure to ask questions you might have about subjects and future goals.
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Past Pupils - ask pupils who are already studying subjects at senior cycle what they think of them.
N.B. remember everyone has different opinions on subjects – if they say they like or dislike a subject, ask them why!

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www.qualifax.ie
(Official IGC website – very up-to-date info)
It gives information on which subjects are needed for what courses, as well as information on all college courses www.careersportal.ie
(Subject information + personal assessments. Also gives information on jobs such as qualifications needed.) www.careerdirections.ie
(Gives information on jobs such as qualifications needed.
Also has a careers matching section – you answer questions and it matches you with jobs that may be suitable)
All Colleges/Universities/etc. have their own web sites e.g. UCC.ie, CIT.ie, UL.ie, FAS.ie, etc.

BLOCK OPTION : CHOOSE 1 SUBJECT IN EACH GROUP
Group A Business Art Metalwork
Group B
Group C
French
Technical
Graphics
German Woodwork
Home
Economics
French
Note: Depending on numbers, the full range of subjects outlined above may not be on offer.