Irish Courses

Hello all. I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for Irish study tools. I have Pimsleur’s Irish audio program, which I have found to be useful, but not perfect. I see that many of us in this group have Diarmuid O Se’s Irish: A Complete Course for Beginners, I have just begun to use it, and so far I find it good, but a little disorganized at times. I have explored the idea of attending a course for Adults in Ireland from Foras na Gaeilge, but recently they have only held weekly classes, not the daily week-long courses that I am told the have had in the past. Does anyone have any other suggestions? Thanks.

It's beneath what you need, but for those looking for an initial taste for free on the net, there is Interactive Irish Lessons.

Much depends on your preferred method for learning a language. You say that you found Pimsleur 'to be useful, but not perfect'. Does your statement mean that you have a preference for listen-and-learn and did not find enough in Pimsleur? Or, perhaps, does it imply a small amount of annoyance with the *lack* of much written material to accompany the audio?

People learn a language using two senses: (assuming you are not blind): sight (reading),or sound (listening / conversations) , and sometimes both in some sort of combination. Myself, I strongly prefer sight or a combination favouring reading the language. Everyone has their own preference.

Another matter to consider in that line of thought is the approach. Is it easy for you to learn by understanding formal grammar and spelling conventions? Or do you subscribe to more recent language learning trends in 'immersion' with the language to be learnt, absorbing the language without immediately studying the rules underlying the language? There are other approaches as well, and plenty of 'grey area' in between them. It is vital to understand how one best learns a language before selecting the materials with which to learn. If this is difficult, think about classes in school. Did you learn more from instructors giving lectures or from the textbook and supplementary texts?

Additionally, in order to advise regarding Irish study tools, one would need to know at what level you consider yourself to be in terms of knowledge gained. For an excellent self-judging method, go here:

http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/europass/home/hornav/Downloads/LangPassport/EL...

Select the .PDF document in the language of your choice, then go to the second page in the document. The chart that you find in the second page should be helpful in enabling you to judge your level of proficiency in Irish. If you post the results here (A1, A2, et cetera, in each of the six categories), along with answers to the questions posed above, then it would be much easier to answer your query with recommendations that are suitable for your own self-education.

Very true, mine is a broad question!

In answering your question regarding Pimsleur, I can draw from your example about learning in school. While I like lectures, I have always learned more from textbooks. I can sit down with a textbook on almost any subject and learn very well from it; not so with lecturers. This is probably part of my problem with Pimsleur; as you say, their lack of written material. And I think that I do subscribe more to the “immersion with the language” style of learning.

So far I would say that I like the Irish: A Complete Course for Beginners best, as it has everything I am looking for. Though as I have said, it seems a bit disorganized; it seems to expect a better understanding of the language from the user than I currently have.

Thanks for the help An_Fear_Glas, it will help to keep in mind how I learn when looking for a course.

Conas mar atá ag éirí libh an Ghaeilge a fhoghlaim? An bhfuil sibh líofa go fóill?

Seanán Ó Coistín