Programmes in DALC

PVP |IT Programme | Family Learning programme | PIE | BEU | ESOL
FETAC 3 Day Programme | Part-time Programme

PVP, Pre Vocational Programme
Pat Golding - contact

The Pre Vocational Programme has been designed for people who have few or no qualifications and who wish to enter or return to the workforce. Over the course of the programme, students will develop the confidence and skills needed to gain employment or go on to further education and training.
The course runs three mornings per week and includes

• General literacy
• Computers
• Interview skills
• C.V. preparation

There is no fee for the course and students will not lose any social welfare entitlements.

IT Programme
Liz Stein - contact

As the need for computer literacy skills has increased over the last decade DALC developed a Basic Computer Skills Programme. This programme is especially designed for Basic Education students and aims to build confidence in using the computer. A group consists of a maximum of eight participants in which individual learning needs can be addressed.

If students successfully complete the Basic Computer Course a follow on course is available. This course follows the FETAC guidelines for the Computer Literacy Foundation Module.

DALC Family Learning Programme
Pat Golding and Miriam Weadick - contact

At DALC we have developed and extended our Family Learning programmes to include

• Family Learning Programme
  
• Read to Succeed
• Family After School Project

Family Learning Programme
Parents are now recognised as the primary educators of their children yet many parents lack the confidence in their own literacy skills and are unfamiliar with the primary school curriculum and how it works. Our programme focuses on

• Developing oral language skills,
• Developing numeracy skills
• Books and storytelling,
• Recognising and helping the emergent reader
• Understanding the Primary School Curriculum

Over the course of the 8-10 weeks parents often raise other issues around parenting etc. As in any Family Learning Programme, development is ongoing and designed around the needs of each group.

Read to Succeed
Reading to Children Theory and Practice

A thirteen-week programme accredited by the Open College network of Northern Ireland. The course combines practical skills and experience of reading stories to children with knowledge and understanding of the underpinning rationale and theory.

Required tasks for OCN accreditation:

• One observed story reading session
• Participation in course discussion
• Course work assignment combining discussion and analysis of theory and practice.

Theory
Examination of the importance of looking at picture books and listening to stories. The focus will be on how this can have a positive effect on a child's development and subsequent literacy achievement.

Practical work with books
Investigation and examination of the range of children's books available. What makes a story interesting to children, to adults? Opening up the world to a child through story.

Developing story reading and story telling techniques
Techniques explained and examples shown. Explanation and discussion of props and activities linked to books

Learning to read
Discussion and information about how children learn to read. Relevant sections of the Primary School Curriculum explained and discussed.

Who can take part?
Anyone interested in reading or telling stories to children
Parents,
Carers,
Grandparents,
Class room assistants,
Crèche workers

You don't need any previous experience or qualifications and the course is interesting and fun.

PIE, Partners in Education
Sinéad Hawkins and Carol McDermott - contact

The Partners in Education programme (PIE) funded by Fás is an outreach programme and offers classes in basic education to participants on Community Employment projects. They are offered courses in Basic English, Spelling, Maths and Computer Literacy. Some of the courses are accredited by the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) and by the Department of Education (Junior Certificate or Leaving Certificate). We also offer short taster courses, which integrate literacy into other areas of interest e.g. family learning, photography and creative writing.

BEU, Basic Education Unit
Fionnaigh Connaughton - contacts

The BEU provides tuition for beginners in Reading, Writing, Spelling, Computers and Numeracy. We cover all topics to help with basic skills. The course runs from 10am to 1pm every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

FETAC 3 Day Programme
Sylvia Caldwell - contact

The FETAC 3 Day Programme provides an opportunity for students who want to improve their reading, writing and spelling skills while also gaining FETAC accreditation.

Participants can gain FETAC Level 3 accreditation in Communications, Computer Literacy and Personal Effectiveness.

The course runs from 10am to 1pm Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

ESOL: English to Speakers of Other Languages
Joint co-ordinators: Esme England - contact; and Miriam Naji - contact
   
Courses

• Basic literacy classes for speakers of other languages.

Students

• Speakers of other languages looking for literacy classes, students with little or no formal education.

When

• September to June

Times

• Morning: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 10-12 am
• Afternoon: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 2.30-4.30 pm
• Evening: Monday and Thursday 7-9 pm

Registration
Contact us any time to talk to a coordinator about whether our classes are suitable for you. If there is space in a class it is possible to join at any time.

Part-time Programme
Mary Maher or Deirdre Byrne - contact

One to One tuition is available in DALC every week-day from 10.00 am to 9.30 pm. Classes usually run for two hours. The One to One programme is delivered mainly by Volunteer tutors. Content of the tuition is based on the needs of the learner and can range from very basic literacy and numeracy to improving skills for a specific purpose, for example, writing work reports. Students who attend for One to One may also avail of group tuition.

Part-time Programme - Groups
Anne Doherty - contact

The part-time programme offers a wide range of courses in small groups. Group tuition is given in literacy and numeracy from a very basic level up to Leaving Certificate standard. DALC also provides courses in Creative Writing, Spelling, Language and Literature.  New courses may be introduced as the need arises.   Course content is Learner Centred. Learners may attend one or more day or evening classes a week.