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Dr. Deirdre Ni Loingsigh

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Biography

My early career teaching physical education and Gaeilge, my engagement with the field of folklore, and my experience exploring the themes of 'People, Time & Place' in the discipline of history and local studies have informed my teaching, learning and research interests. Before joining UL as a member of Faculty in 2001, I taught Gaeilge at GMIT (Castlebar Campus) and worked with Meitheal Mhaigh Eo Teo, the Area Based Partnership for Co. Mayo, on a rural development initiative in the Erris Gaeltacht.I have led a series of materials development, and Irish language teaching and learning initiatives for adult learners in my position as Stiúrthóir na Gaeilge in recent years. The development of a research interest at Aonad na Gaeilge in the Irish language in the organisational context has been a particular focus.
Key Responsibilities
Stiúrthóir, Aonad na Gaeilge [The Irish Language Centre at UL] www.ul.ie/aonadnagaeilge]
Course Director: Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge Fheidhmeach
Subject Leader - Gaeilge: Professional Masters in Education (Languages)
UL Knowledge for Change (K4C) Mentor (Languages and Culture Portfolio)
School Placement Tutor
Module Coordinator: GA4006 Gaeilge Ghairmiúil
Module Coordinator: LP6012/LP6015 (Language Pedagogy).

Research Interests

Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR); adult learners; transformative learning; work-based language learning; Advising for Language Learning (ALL); language policy and organisational change; language anxiety; language networks; new speakerness; problem-based learning; language teacher education, and the life and work of An Seabhac. My training as a Knowledge for Change (K4C) mentor in 2019 and my involvement in the UNESCO Knowledge for Change (K4C) initiative at UL has triggered a new interest in arts-based research methods also.

The title of my doctoral thesis was 'Minority Language Learning in the Workplace: Contextual Practices, Relational Knowing, Mandate, and Change'. I proposed a framework of language advising for the mandated and minority language context in this work. I also mapped the spatial and contextual practices of members of a Language Support Network, a Network which I established as a forum where issues of language anxiety in the professional context might be explored. The findings of this Participatory Action Research (PAR) study inform current practice in language support initiatives at Aonad na Gaeilge, UL.

I am currently coordinating BLÁTHÚ, a PAR project entitled An Rannpháirtíocht Phobail, Líonrú agus an Tacaíocht Teanga do Nuachainteoirí na Gaeilge i bpobail lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht [Public Engagement, Networking and Language Support for New Speakers of Irish in Communities outside of An Ghaeltacht]


Teaching Interests

Language Pedagogy, Language and Culture in the Classroom, Advising for Language Learning (ALL); Adult Language Learners; Language Anxiety; An Seabhac

Professional Activities

Education

  • 2019 University of Victoria, Canada - Knowledge for Change Mentor
  • 2015 NUIM - Doctor of Education
  • 2003 UL - MA History and Local Studies
  • 1999 NUIG - MA sa Nua-Ghaeilge
  • 1993 UL - BA Corpoideachas le Gaeilge

Other

  • External Examiner: Dioplóma i Múineadh na Gaeilge (Daoine Fásta)
    Maynooth University, NUI Maynooth.

Outreach

  • I lead the Knowledge for Change (K4C) Language and Culture portfolio for UL. K4C is UNESCO initiative which aims to train the next generation of Community-Based Participatory Research researchers and promote authentic university-community research partnerships The K4C programme was officially launched at St Munchin's Community Centre, Kileely on 11 Feb. 2020,

Committee

  • UL Engage University Working Group,
  • University Teacher Education Board,
  • An Coiste Seasta um Cháilíocht Teanga, NUIG,
  • UL Official Languages Act Implementation Group ,
  • Coiste na Gaeilge, UL ,

Association

  • Appointed member (2000-2003), Irish Water Safety (IWS) National Education Commission
  • Rúnaí Feidhmeach (2005-2006), Coiste na nOifigeach agus na Stiúrthóirí Gaeilge Ollscoile
  • Member of Executive Committee (1997-1999), Physical Education Association of Ireland [PEAI]
  • Rúnaí Ballraíochta / Membership Secretary 2001-2014, Cumann Merriman
  • Member, The International Association for the Psychology of Language Learning (IAPLL)

Research Collaborators

  • Marina Mozzon- Mc Pherson - Joint Publication -England -Currently collaborating on journal article on language advising for newspeakerness
  • European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) Language for Work Network - Joint Programme -Austria -European Centre for Modern Languages Network (ECML) I will be hosting a national workshop in Limerick in October 2020 to disseminated the ECML Language for Work project materials and meet other needs relating to LFW in the Irish context.
  • COST Action New Speakers in a Multilingual Europe - Other -Member of Working Group 8 on the New Speakers Network Speakerness: Subjectivities, Trajectories, Space
  • Dr. TJ Ó Ceallaigh - Co-supervision of PhD -Student: Emily-Anne Rennison
  • Carsten Quell - Outgoing Visitor -Canada Executive Director, Official Languages Centre of Excellence, Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer, Ottawa. (Project on Linguistic Insecurity) Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat / Government of Canada
  • Budd Hall/Rajesh Tandon - International Collaboration Type -Univerisity of Victoria, Canada & PRIA, India UNESCO Co-Chairs on Community Based Research and Social Responsibility in Higher Education)
  • Language Management Interdisciplinary Group - International Collaboration Type - University of Ottawa -Canada -Invited member of The Language Management Interdisciplinary Research Group (GRIGL https://ccerbal.uottawa.ca/lmirg/members

Publications

Book Chapters

2021

The Bibliographical Legacy of An Seabhac (1883–1964)
Ní Loingsigh, D.
(2021) The Bibliographical Legacy of An Seabhac (1883–1964)
In THE OXFORD HISTORY OF THE IRISH BOOK VOLUME II: The Printed Book in Irish 1567–2000s ; Sewell, F., Ó Ciardha, É., & Titley, A. (Eds.)(Ed.) Oxford : Open University Press

Edited Books

2015

'Rí na Gréine': Aistí i gCuimhne ar An Seabhac
(2015) 'Rí na Gréine': Aistí i gCuimhne ar An Seabhac
Ní Loingsigh, D., Ní Mhunghaile, L. & uí Ógáin, R.(Ed.) Baile Átha Cliath : An Cumann le Béaloideas Éireann

Other Journals

2020

Advising in Language Learning in a new speaker context: Facilitating linguistic shifts
Ní Loingsigh, D; Mozzon-McPherson, M
(2020) Advising in Language Learning in a new speaker context: Facilitating linguistic shifts
In System; Linköping : Elsevier Ltd pp. 102363-
DOI: 10.1016/j.system.2020.102363

Conference Contributions

2021

Bilingualism and Beyond: Advancing the Thinking on Pedagogies, Policies and Practices
Ní Loingsigh, D
(2021) Bilingualism and Beyond: Advancing the Thinking on Pedagogies, Policies and Practices
University of Ottawa (virtual)

2020

Association of University Language Communities in the UK and Ireland (AULC) 2020AULC
Ní Loingsigh, D.
(2020) Association of University Language Communities in the UK and Ireland (AULC) 2020AULC
Maynooth University

2019

CSIS/Translation Commons International Year of Indigenous Languages (IYIL) event
Ní Loingsigh, D.
(2019) CSIS/Translation Commons International Year of Indigenous Languages (IYIL) event
University of Limerick

2018

Multidisciplinary Approaches in Language Policy and Planning Conference 2018
Ní Loingsigh, D.
(2018) Multidisciplinary Approaches in Language Policy and Planning Conference 2018
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto

2018

CALS Research Day 2018
Ní Loingsigh, D.
(2018) CALS Research Day 2018
University of Limerick

2018

SEIMINEÁR GAEILGE ÓGLAIGH NA hÉIREANN 2018
Ní Loingsigh, D.
(2018) SEIMINEÁR GAEILGE ÓGLAIGH NA hÉIREANN 2018
Dún an tSairséalaigh, Luimneach

2018

Lunch and Learn [invited presentation] Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat / Government of Canada
Ní Loingsigh, D.
(2018) Lunch and Learn [invited presentation] Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat / Government of Canada
Official Languages Centre of Excellence, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat / Government of Canada

2018

ECML Language for Work: Tools for professional development
Ní Loingsigh, D.
(2018) ECML Language for Work: Tools for professional development
European Centre for Modern Languages, Graz, Austria

2017

New Speakers in a Multilingual Europe: Policies and Practices (Final Whole Action Conference)
Ní Loingsigh, D., Ní Ghearáin, H., Ó Cairealláin, A., Ó Súilleabháin, S.
(2017) New Speakers in a Multilingual Europe: Policies and Practices (Final Whole Action Conference)
University of Coimbra, Portugal

2017

International Symposium on Bilingualism ISB11
Ní Loingsigh, D; Mozzon-McPherson, M, Bradley, F.
(2017) International Symposium on Bilingualism ISB11
University of Limerick

2016

The New Speakers Network 2nd Whole Action Conference
Ní Loingsigh, D.
(2016) The New Speakers Network 2nd Whole Action Conference
Universität Hamburg

2016

Comhdháil Chumann Idirnáisiúnta na gCoimisinéirí Teanga, 2016
Ní Loingsigh, D.
(2016) Comhdháil Chumann Idirnáisiúnta na gCoimisinéirí Teanga, 2016
Óstán Galway Bay

2016

Psychology of Language Learning 2
Ní Loingsigh, D.
(2016) Psychology of Language Learning 2
University of Jyväskylä, Finland

2016

Supporting & Developing Minority Language Communities: a Seminar for Language Practitioners in Higher Education with a particular reference to Irish & Scottish Gaelic
Ní Loingsigh, D
(2016) Supporting & Developing Minority Language Communities: a Seminar for Language Practitioners in Higher Education with a particular reference to Irish & Scottish Gaelic
Dublin

2015

Forward thinking in Applied Linguistics IRAAL 40th Anniversary Conference 2015
Ní Loingsigh, D.
(2015) Forward thinking in Applied Linguistics IRAAL 40th Anniversary Conference 2015
Trinity College Dublin

2015

Centre for Applied Language Studies (CALS) UL Research Day
Ní Loingsigh, D.
(2015) Centre for Applied Language Studies (CALS) UL Research Day
University of Limerick

2015

Ceiliúradh Lughnasa Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne
Ní Loingsigh, D.
(2015) Ceiliúradh Lughnasa Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne
Baile an Fheirtéaraigh, Co. Chiarraí

Translations

2018

ECML Language for Work: Tools for professional development (Quick Guide)
Bradwell, A. Grünhage-Monetti, M., Portefin. C., Sjösvärd, K.
(2018) ECML Language for Work: Tools for professional development (Quick Guide)
Graz, Austria : ECML