mainoff.gif
lastdyoff.gif
lastwkoff.gif
treeoff.gif
searchoff.gif
helpoff.gif
contactoff.gif
creditsoff.gif
homeoff.gif


The Daltaí Boards » Archive: 1999-2004 » 2003 (October-December) » Hello, I'm new here :) « Previous Next »

Author Message
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Odhren
Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 04:05 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

Hi, I've decided to try to teach myself Irish, since about two weeks ago. I've been lookin for resources to help me out. This seems like a really kool place, the forum and the whole site. Any tips you could give me for trying to learn it on my own? (esp since i've never learned another language before ever) But I'm really determined to learn it! I'm even thinking of trying to see about doing a learning abroad program in Ireland (i'm in college right now). Thanks for any replies, i hope to be around here for a while and get lots of help, and give some hopefully, in the future heh.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Ceilí
Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 07:03 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

Dia duit, a Odhren!

I just found a really nice tutorial/lesson thing for Gaeilge.. and I'm using that. I'm only on lesson 5 but it really explains everything.. Here's the link: http://www.irishpage.com/irishpeople/
Hope it helps. Slán go fóill.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Seosamh
Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 07:20 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

You can start off on your own, but if you want to become capable of conversation you have to go out there sooner or later and spend time with Irish-speaking people. Just like learning any other language. If you just want to read, you could of course go the whole route on your own.

I would recommend two things:

Get at least one textbook that has exercises with a key giving you the answers. The best book, Learning Irish by Micheal O Siadhail, has this feature, and there is at least one website with supplementary exercises (sponsored by Nancy Stenson). The old, out-of-print Teach Yourself Irish (Munster dialect) is also good. The current TYI has ex. w/key. It is not as good as the first two books, but it is fairly easy to obtain and is the least daunting. You could get a decent start with the language but you would want to continue with or supplement it with something closer to the actual spoken language. Irish on Your Own is okay but has little grammar -- best if you want to learn Ulster (northern) Irish.

The second thing I recommend is to get tapes. Use them intensively. I think the worst problem for people teaching themselves is not the somewhat complicated grammar but the relationship between what they see on the page and how it is pronounced.

As far as grammar exercises, reading, conversational materials, and tapes are concerned, the rule is Practice, Practice, Practice. Language learning is over-learning.

If you are in the U.S. or Canada, try one of Irish language weekends! There are similar opportunities in Ireland, Australia (at least, an Irish language week in the summer) and the U.K.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Odhren
Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 07:39 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

yeah, i have a good site that has lessons, i think its pretty much the same as the link you gave me. i'm learning it with a friend, we're learning it together. so, i think it might help in that we're actually talking to each other and saying it. i'm in west virginia so there's nothing around here, i checked. but i'm just going to try to do as much as i can without a teacher or anything. thanks for the replies!

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Oliver Grennan
Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 07:50 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

Hi Odhren,

Your name already sounds Irish. I yjink i's ery important for learners to listen to Irish radio http://www.rnag.ie and now you can also see Irish TV http://www.tg4.ie .

It may not make any sense to you at first but it will help you with your pronunciation and in six month's time you'll probably be able to understand some conversation. Even just play it inthe background and it really will sink into your mind. That has been the case with one learner I know of.

Ádh mór ort,
Good luck,

Oliver.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Odhren
Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 08:32 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

Yeah, Odhren is my confirmation name, it's the name of an Irish Saint. :) Thanks for the radio link! i'm really enjoying it!

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Seosamh Mac Muirí
Posted on Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - 04:45 am:   Edit Post Print Post

Tá céad míle fáilte romhat chun na Gaeilge ' Odhren. You're very welcome to Irish, as is your friend go deimhin - indeed.

Some info, which may be slightly dated, from An Teanga Mharthanach, but it may still be of some help to you both:
LABHAIR GAEILGE INNIU!
Where to find Irish classes in your area:

Fairfax County

Springfield
Cóilín Owens
703-971-4265

Caitríona Bn Uí Dhraoda
2419 Newton St
Vienna, VA 22181-4053
703-938-4396

Slán go fóill,

Seosamh

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Jamie On
Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2003 - 05:21 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

Hi, just thought I'd ask - are there many Irish-speakers in London? I'd like to get good enough to use it as a main language in conversation, but that's useless if there's no one here who speaks it!

Also, is there a daily / weekly newspaper in Irish in London, or magazines?

Thanks for your help. :- )

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Larry
Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2003 - 06:33 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

"Lá", an Irish language newspaper, is available on subscription but you'd probably struggle to find it in any London newsagent. If nobody else can help, you could try an email to and ask them if they know of an outlet in London.

"Saol" is also available here in the UK for the cost of postage from Ireland, but that's a monthly publication. They can be contacted on telephone number +353 1 639 8400

Le meas,

Larry.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Jamie On
Posted on Saturday, October 18, 2003 - 05:45 am:   Edit Post Print Post

Thanks for that info - I guess I could order Lá.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Michael Noonan
Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 10:58 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

Dia dhuit Odhren;
There is no susbstitute for carrying on a conversation. I found conversing with people encouraging and enjoyable. It gave me confidence in speaking Irish.
I have several books for learining Irish and the one I find most practical as a beginner is "Buntus Cainte." (Small Talk)

Slan go foil
Michil

Add Your Message Here
Posting is currently disabled in this topic. Contact your discussion moderator for more information.


©Daltaí na Gaeilge