Points S1 En Ireland

Academic & Administrative Framework

  • Course Identification & Purpose:

    • Course Name: Discovering Ireland.

    • Target Proficiency Level: B1+ (a university-specific intermediate level structured between B1 and B2, designed for students working from a B1 base toward B2 competency).

    • Target Student Audience: L2 / L2i university students.

    • Language Priority: Practical application and active use of English to build linguistic confidence and fluency.

    • Course Scope: A comprehensive overview of Irish history, culture, language, and social policy, simplified to suit the B1+ level while offering pathways for advanced research.

  • Instructor Contact & Affiliations:

    • Full Name: Mr. Rysael Sheridan (addressed professionally as Mr. Sheridan).

    • Primary Email Address: Formatted using the standard university suffix ([name]@survandeville.[edu/fr]), serving as the exclusive communication channel.

    • Educational Background: First-generation university graduate and the first member of his family to complete the Leaving Certificate (the Irish upper-secondary terminal examination equivalent to the French baccalauréat).

    • Current Teaching Posts:

    • Professor / Adjunct Professor of English Language, Literature, and Civilization at Universitatis o Rendezvous / University of Saint Martin (teaching Art History, Contemporary Art History, and English).

    • Adjunct Professor at University of Gustave Eiffel Saint Laurent (teaching British History, Oceania, Australia, and New Zealand civilization, alongside communication skills).

    • Visiting/Adjunct Lecturer at Sciences Po.

    • Professional Consulting: Active consultant and coach in cultural policy management.

  • Instructional Materials & Pedagogical Policy:

    • Presentation slides and digital learning materials are distributed to students following each lecture.

    • Classroom Code of Conduct: Standardized under the principle "Be kind," expecting self-directed, mature behavior appropriate for L2 university-level students.

Instructor Academic Research & Thesis Work

  • Undergraduate Studies (Trinity College Dublin):

    • University Status: Trinity College Dublin is recognized as the top-ranked university in Ireland and among the oldest institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

    • Degree Program: Bachelor of Arts in European Studies.

    • Thesis Title: A study of biopower through HIV and AIDS in Frank Sinha.

    • Conceptual Framework:

    • Analyzed Michel Foucault's theory of biopower (the mechanisms by which political power regulates, manages, and controls the human body and population).

    • Examined the representation of HIV/AIDS (noting Foucault's own death from AIDS-related illness).

    • Theoretical Argument: Challenged Foucault's linear historical trajectory of biopower from the classical to modern eras, arguing that the transition from the modern to the postmodern/contemporary era shifted non-linearly into a metaphorically existential model.

    • Thesis Award: First Class Honors.

  • Postgraduate Fellowship (École Normale Supérieure / ENS Ulm):

    • Position: Visiting Fellow in Philosophy and History of Art.

    • Core Research Focus: The philosophical and sociological concept of The Body (Le Corps).

    • Key Interrogations:

    • The ontological question of whether a human is a body or has a body (être un corps ou avoir un corps).

    • Defining humanity within an increasingly non-human world driven by technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

    • Interdisciplinary intersections including sexuality, aesthetic standards of beauty versus ugliness, disability studies, race theory, and queer studies.

    • Qualification Awarded: Diploma from the ENS.

  • Cultural Management & Policy Studies:

    • Thesis Title: Rhythm or restriction of the night, policy failures and prospects for nightlife in Ireland.

    • Academic Supervision: Supervised by a prominent Art Historian; awarded highest honors (mention très bien).

    • Publication: Scheduled for publication as a book in Ireland, with plans to expand the scope across Europe.

    • Case Study Data on Irish Nightlife:

    • Year of Instructor's Birth: 522522 active nightclubs across the island of Ireland.

    • Historical Peak (19521952): Over 1,2001{,}200 active venues.

    • Current Total: Only 8383 active nightclubs remain for a total island population of 6,000,0006{,}000{,}000 people.

    • Socio-Cultural Rationale: Nightclubs, warehouse parties, raves, and free parties represent highly democratic, dynamic expressions of modern culture, drawing larger regular youth participation than museums or libraries.

    • Literature Recommendation: Alain Oignon, [Work on Nightlife/Third Spaces] (Paris-based researcher and Sorbonne professor specializing in philosophy, sociology, urban studies, and third spaces / tiers-lieux).

Course Syllabus & Weekly Schedule

  • Week 1: Introduction & Course Overview:

    • Academic expectations, baseline diagnostics, Irish cultural stereotypes, and foundational language exercises.

  • Week 2: Hiberno-English & Languages of Ireland:

    • Examination of Hiberno-English (the distinct English dialect spoken in Ireland) and the Irish language (Gaeilge).

  • Week 3: Sport & Well-Being:

    • Analysis of traditional Irish sports, expanding into the unique Irish socio-cultural emphasis on health, body care, and personal well-being.

  • Week 4: Unique Irish Traditions:

    • Exploration of distinct Irish cultural practices, folklore, and preparatory briefing for the field trip.

  • Week 5: Field Trip to the Irish Cultural Centre:

    • On-site cultural visit to the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris.

  • Week 6: History Part I – The Great Hunger:

    • In-depth study of the mid-19th century demographic collapse.

    • Historiographical Terminology: Termed The Great Hunger (rather than the "Great Famine") by Irish historians because sufficient food was produced on the island but extracted by the British Empire, meeting various definitions of genocide.

    • Demographic Metrics:

    • Pre-Hunger Population: 8,000,0008{,}000{,}000 inhabitants.

    • Post-Hunger Population: 3,000,0003{,}000{,}000 inhabitants.

    • Net Demographic Impact: 5,000,0005{,}000{,}000 people lost (2,000,0002{,}000{,}000 deaths due to starvation and disease; 3,000,0003{,}000{,}000 forced emigrants).

  • Week 7: History Part II – Emigration, Independence, & Partition:

    • Historical and modern Irish emigration patterns.

    • The political struggle for Irish independence and the resulting partition of the island into the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

  • Week 8: History Part III – Northern Ireland & Modern Geopolitics:

    • Examination of Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom.

    • Sociological analysis of remaining structural segregation (religiously divided neighborhoods, schools, pubs, and restaurants).

  • Week 9: Irish Film & Literature:

    • Study of Ireland's literary tradition and cinematic history as a culture centered on storytelling.

  • Week 10: Final Written Examination:

    • Administered in-class on December 3.

  • Weeks 11 & 12: Group Oral Presentations:

    • Conducted in-class on December 10 (Session 11) and December 17 (Session 12).

Assessment Scheme & Learning Objectives

  • Core Learning Objectives:

    1. Identify and detail 55 fundamental elements of Irish history and culture, including application to the student's specific academic discipline.

    2. Formulate and express coherent opinions in English regarding contemporary social issues.

    3. Deliver structured oral presentations using pre-arranged research materials and answer live follow-up questions in English.

  • Grading Structure (Standard SIS Track):

    • Written Exam (50%50\% of Final Grade):

    • Date: December 3 (Week 10).

    • Format: Listening comprehension exercise based on audio recordings, syntax/grammar/vocabulary sections, and short-answer questions testing course concepts.

    • Oral Presentation (50%50\% of Final Grade):

    • Dates: December 10 (Week 11) or December 17 (Week 12).

    • Format: Pairs presentation lasting exactly 6 minutes6\,\text{minutes} total (3 minutes3\,\text{minutes} per speaker).

    • Requirements: Visual slideshow required; speaking notes permitted but reading directly from a script is strictly prohibited; live Q&A session with instructor and peers.

    • Scheduling: Pairs selected and topics registered via an online shared spreadsheet.

    • (Note for SITI Track: Evaluated via a 100%100\% written exam format consisting of a extended paper).

  • Evaluation Philosophy:

    • Assessment rewards consistent personal effort, active engagement, and quantifiable linguistic progress between Week 1 and Week 12.

    • Marks of 18/2018/20, 19/2019/20, and 20/2020/20 are attainable for high effort and improvement; unexcused non-attendance or zero effort results in 0/20$.\n\n# Experiential Learning & Field Trips\n\n- **Excursion Principles**:\n 1. Financial Accessibility: All organized trips are 100\% free of charge to eliminate financial barriers.\n 2. Timetable Flexibility: Held primarily outside regular class hours (with the exception of the mandatory Week 5 visit to the *Centre Culturel Irlandais*).\n 3. Voluntary Participation: Non-mandatory extensions to foster authentic networking and cultural exposure.\n\n- **Past Excursion Destinations & Student Outcomes**:\n - UNESCO Headquarters (Paris): Direct interaction with international diplomats and executive board leadership. Resulted in a bilingual student securing a position at the Tunisian Embassy.\n - *Centre Culturel Irlandais* (Saint Patrick's Day Event): Traditional cultural exposure.\n - Artist Residency (*Le Marais* / *La Recyclerie*): Direct engagement with international contemporary artists in residency programs.\n\n- **Traditional Irish Attire Detail**:\n - Aran Sweater: Traditional Irish garment distinguished by its intricate heritage knitting patterns associated with specific families and regions, rather than merely its physical cut.\n\n# Irish Demographics, Culture, & Historical Facts\n\n- **Geographic & Demographic Data**:\n - Island Population: Approximately 7{,}000{,}000totalinhabitantsacrossbothjurisdictions(RepublicofIreland:total inhabitants across both jurisdictions (Republic of Ireland:5{,}056{,}935;NorthernIreland: ; Northern Ireland: ~1{,}900{,}000).\n - Global Diaspora: Over 80{,}000{,}000 people worldwide claim Irish ancestry due to centuries of mass emigration.\n - EU Accession: Ireland officially joined the European Economic Community (EU) in 1973\n - Border Dimensions: The land border separating the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland stretches 400\,\text{km}.\n - Major Urban Centers: Dublin (Capital); Cork (Second-largest city in the Republic of Ireland); Belfast (Second-largest city on the island overall, with ~500{,}000 inhabitants).\n - Land Utilization: 62.96\% of total Irish land is classified as agricultural.\n - County Structure: 26countiesintheRepublicofIrelandandcounties in the Republic of Ireland and6countiesinNorthernIreland.Politicalexpression:"counties in Northern Ireland. Political expression: "26 + 6 = 1" signifies the political goal of a United Ireland (recently cited by New York political figure Zohran Mamdani).\n\n- **Linguistic & Cultural Identity**:\n - Primary Native Language: Irish (*Gaeilge*) is an independent Celtic language, completely separate from English. Native daily home speakers total between 6{,}072andand30{,}000 (including native speakers raised in *Gaeltacht* regions).\n - Cultural Phenomena: Contemporary hip-hop group *Kneecap* performs exclusively in Irish.\n - Nobel Laureates: Ireland holds 4 Nobel Prizes in Literature (including W.B. Yeats, Seamus Heaney, George Bernard Shaw, and Samuel Beckett).\n - Eurovision Record: Won the Eurovision Song Contest 7 times (tied for the global record with Sweden).\n - Claddagh Ring (*Fáinne Chladaigh*): Traditional Irish ring symbolising love, loyalty, and friendship.\n - National Flag Mechanics: Green, White, and Orange (Green = Catholic tradition, Orange = Protestant tradition, White = lasting peace between them). Caution: Reversing the flag to Orange, White, and Green creates the flag of Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast).\n\n- **Phenotypical & Social Stereotypes**:\n - Red Hair Prevalence: Approximately 10\% of the Irish population has natural red hair.\n - Biological Characteristics: Irish populations biologically feature very fine/thin hair strands, larger average cranial circumferences, and ectomorphic physical builds.\n - Religious-Political Paradox: Historically devout Roman Catholic population that simultaneously maintains left-wing political views.\n\n- **Gaelic Athletic Games**:\n - Team Composition: Traditional sports such as Hurling and Gaelic Football field 15$$ players per team.

Grammar, Question Inversion, & Language Nuances

  • Question Inversion Rules (Jeopardy Model):

    • Direct Question Structure: Formed by inverting the subject and auxiliary/modal verb, or introducing auxiliary do/did.

    • Sample Inversions:

    • Statement: "I am happy to be back at university."

      • Inversion Question: Are you happy to be back at university?

    • Statement: "No, I didn't go to the cinema yesterday."

      • Inversion Question: Did you go to the cinema yesterday?

    • Statement: "After this class, I'm going to the library."

      • Inversion Question: Where are you going after this class?

    • Statement: "Only €10, it wasn't expensive."

      • Inversion Question: How much did it cost? / How much were the shoes?

    • Statement: "There are only 10 students in this class."

      • Inversion Question: How many students are in the class?

  • Tenses & Modals Inversion Examples:

    • Present Perfect Construction:

    • Statement: "He has never been to Ireland."

    • Question Formation: Has he ever been to Ireland? (Spans past experience to present context).

    • Past Simple Inversion:

    • Statement: "Her sister called last night."

    • Question Formation: Did her sister call last night? / Who called last night?

    • Modal Auxiliary Inversion:

    • Statement: "He should try to help his friends more."

    • Question Formation: Should he try to help his friends more? / What should he do?

  • Hiberno-English Pronoun Usage:

    • Second Person Plural Pronoun: "Ye" (or "Youse") is used in Hiberno-English as an informal, distinct plural form of "you". Example: "What do ye think?"

Class Action Plan & Deadlines

  • Immediate Tasks:

    1. Form presentation pairs and select research topics aligned with Irish history, culture, sports, literature, or social policy.

    2. Log group compositions and chosen topic titles into the online shared spreadsheet.

    3. Verify digital access to the university classroom portal.

    4. Prepare for Week 2 material covering Hiberno-English and language policy.