Isobel NI Riain

I was born in Cork in 1969. I studied Irish and sociology in UCC between 1986-1994. BA (Irish and sociology); MA (sociology); Ph.D (Irish). I taught Irish in London between 1994-1996 (University of North London, St. Mary's University College, two secondary schools and two Irish clubs). I taught English and English literature in Egypt between 1997-2001 (City University and Mansoura University). I worked on a place name project between 2001-2003 (Logainmneacha Chorcaí and Áitainmneacha Chiarraí). I taught English (ESOL) in London between 2003-2005 (East London Mosque). I returned to the place name project in 2005. I worked on an MPhil on place names between 2006-2008 in UCC and continued my association with the place name project until 2010. I completed a CELTA qualification in ESOL in 2011 and worked in the Language Centre in UCC. I took up a full time lectureship in the Modern Irish Department of UCC in September, 2011 and I am still employed there on a temporary basis. In 2013 I completed a PGCERT in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. In 2014 I completed the PGDIP in Teaching and Learning and in 2017 I was awarded the master's in Teaching and Learning MATLHE. My main interests are in language teaching, Irish literature and world literature, applying sociological concepts to my research on Irish literature, and the importance of the native speaker. I am currently researching Blaskett Island literature. I have also written a book on four modern Irish writers (2018) and I have written three novels in Irish. I have been awarded a COGG bursary to enable me to do a research project on the difficulties associated with students' spoken Irish. I am also involved in the MA in translation and have co-supervised a thesis that was done in the German Dept (UCC) on the translation of Peig Sayers' biography. In 2019 I published a book based on my MPhil in place names.

I am currently translating poetry from German into Irish. I am also working on a theoretical text of a sociological nature. I have recently published my research on Blasket Island literature (2019). I have just published my research on the problems Irish language students experience with speaking Irish to each other. This research was funded by COGG (2019). I have also published my research into the use of role-play as a teaching method of Irish (2017).

I am interested in teaching and learning. I have been awarded the master's degree in Teaching and Learning (MATLHE). The following are my main fields: Irish grammar Blasket Island literature Modern Irish poetry The novel and short story in Irish Translation Teaching Methods I attempt to encourage Active Learning in both the classroom and lecture hall. I use the Learning Journal with my MA students as a way of exploring new threshold concepts. I also use Discussion boards to allow students to respond to material covered in the lectures. I use group work and role-play in many of my classes.