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Lisa ORourke
| Posted on Friday, December 28, 2001 - 08:49 am: |
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I am in a class in Akron, Ohio. It is a study group and we have worked through the first Buntus book and are about to finish the second book. We wondered if there is any other group out there that is learning from these books? Or if anyone has any experience with them. We find them good, but they do leave the grammar out and need to be supplemented. Thanks, Lisa |
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Fintan
| Posted on Friday, December 28, 2001 - 07:21 pm: |
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A Lisa, a chara, Yes, the Buntús Cainte books ARE excellent, aren't they? Not bad either for books published in the 1960's and not ever updated since. However, as to the lack of grammar etc.... that is because Buntús Cainte was designed primarily for adult learners (particularly parents of Irish-learning schoolchildren). It is more of an 'immersion' style learning aid, which introduces the learner to a graduated series of basic expressions and vocab lists. By the end of Book 3, you will have picked up quite a large degree of everyday Irish. But, yes, you REALLY need a good grammar textbook (a personal bugbear of mine) as, without one, you can't really get down to the bones of the language. Other more experienced heads out there may know of a better one, but from what I've heard the new Christian Brothers-published Irish Grammar textbook seems to be the bees knees. Ádh mór ort. Mise le meas, Creag 'Fintan' Batty |
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Seosamh
| Posted on Saturday, December 29, 2001 - 05:00 pm: |
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People often supplement Buntús Cainte with another book that won't die: Progress in Irish. It's meant for Irish schoolchildren but foreign adults take to it too. Each lesson is explicitly based on grammar. The book does not contain the answers (ar ndóigh) but they are available at one or more websites. (You might find a link at 'Gaeilge ag an Ghreasan'.) The Christian Brothers Grammar is very good but contains no exercises. A less comprehensive grammar is the McGonigle Irish Grammar published in the U.S. by Hippocrene. Some beginners like it. They also tend to like a verb book called Briathra na Gaeilge. |
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James
| Posted on Wednesday, January 02, 2002 - 11:20 am: |
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Does the verb book carry the various conjugations ie; past, future etc. ? Where might this be available? |
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Seosamh
| Posted on Wednesday, January 02, 2002 - 04:11 pm: |
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Yes, exactly. If you're in the States it would be easiest to contact Irish Books and Media. They should know exactly what you want. If not, just tell them, 'It's the blue one.' |
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