Just curious if anyone has ever been to the Imersion weekends sponsored by Daltaí? Or if anyone is attending in February?

I have never been and I am attending over Valentine's weekend. I am so excited to go. I am new to Gaelige and am enjoying learning, but its rather difficult to teach yourself and I think it will be great to have the oppurtunity to hear native speakers and be able to ask questions.

I was hoping someone could tell me a little bit about what's its like or what kind of workshops are offered. Go raibh maith agat.

Angie

Well, I see you are going to the immersion weekend in Esopus and I envy you that I am not going. I can assure you that the instruction and the camradarie you will find there will more than make up for what the program lacks in culinary appeal. There will be plenty of structured events such as the different levels of classes, the dances and the duine ar dhuine(face to face) encounters during the day. At the meals, free time and in the dorms, you will have as much opportunity to speak with others at all levels and in a variety of dialects.

Brían

Angie, a chara,

I look forward to meeting you at the weekend. If it helps, I went to my first immersion weekend without knowing anyone, and only a little Irish from a course I'd taken years earlier. I've been attending them ever since. Beidh fáilte romhat,
Rath

Angie, a chara,

I have been to two Immersion Weekends (Sept 2001 & 2002) in Esopus. I was disappointed they didn't have one in 2003. :-( I had a wondeful time both times even though I am (especially than) a real Gaelige newbie. Even if I couldn't understand what was being said simply listening helped me. In fact, I had such a good time the first year, I brought my sister and niece the second time.

The weekend is fairly structured with classes. Friday night is a quickie crash course in Irish followed by get-together. They explain the "rules"
and everyone gets to introduce themselves.

Saturday starts the classes, etc. They try to put you in a class at your level. If you find the class is beyond you, ask to be moved to a more beginners type class. There is no need to be feel uncomfortable in asking. Everyone there is friendly and willing to help.

There is a break in the class during the morning and you take a short classes in céilí dancing, or learning the tin whistle and another class which escapes me at the moment.

Back to the language class, lunch, language class again. Then you are paired up with a more advance speaker; more or less one on one. You can ask any questions you want. Then back to class.

There is a Catholic Mass said in Irish before dinner. Even if you aren't Catholic, it is worth going just for the added chance to learn. Otherwise, you can hang-out. After dinner, is a seisiún followed by the céilí! Who needs an aerobics class?! :-)

Sunday morning is the final class followed by a "wrap up", lunch and everyone heads for home. (I found the last the saddest part.)

Have yourself a great time! Wish I could be there, but that's not possible. I'm hoping they have another Weekend in September! Pl-e-e-ase, Ethel! :-)

Roibeárd

A Roibeárd, a chara,

I'm very sorry to have to say that Daltaí will be unable to hold a September weekend. The Summer Immersion week had to be moved to the last week in August which overlaps into September, when the meeting center we had been using was put up for sale. We were thrilled, however, to find that Esopus had a week available, the last one in August. It would just be extremely impractical for everyone to leave Esopus after a week and then come back a few days later for a weekend.

But maybe you can join us for another weekend, or even the week itself! Besides the February weekend, we are in Esopus in May, and in Bucks County, PA in November. Click the Events link on the main navigation to go to a calendar of events all over the US and Canada for 2004 - there are even several 1 day events, and one might be in your area.

Tá súil againn go bhfeicfidh muid go luath thú,
Rath

A Chairde,

Are there many people in attendance at these events who have little to no Irish? I've had an interest in the language for a long time and have lurked on this site for a couple years now, yet I've not made much progress in actually learning the language. I REALLY want to attend one of these weekends, but I suppose I've shied away because I won't really be able to communicate with anyone in Irish. Would I feel out of place???

Le buíochas,
Jen

Go raibh maith agat for all the kind responses. I have already sent in my registration form and am looking foward to the weekend.

Rath, I guess I will see you there if you are in a beginner's level class because that's where I will be.

Jen, I am also a beginner to Irish. I am self-taught throught tapes, books, cd roms etc. and I have only been learning for about a month or two. I only yet understand basic sentence structure and vocabulary. I think the weekend will be great for hearing native speakers and proper pronunciation as well as getting to ask teachers questions about grammar and translation.

I'd say don't shy away if you are truly interested in learning... I'm not. I'm sure no one would make fun of you for being a beginner. Everyone started somewhere afterall.

Jen,

Please, seriously consider coming to a weekend. Believe me, you needn't shy away because you are a beginner.

The weekends always have at least one class of virtual beginners - some have no Irish, some have a bit from studying on their own, and some might have only had one or two classes.

I remember I did a lot of nodding and smiling my first weekend, afraid to open my mouth, but I honestly found it exciting to hear all the Irish being spoken all around me. And I made a promise to myself right then and there, that I would learn this beautiful language.

Please sign up - and when you get there seek me out. (You too, Brígid) I will do my best to show you around a bit and make you feel comfortable.

Tá súil agam go mbuailfidh mé libh go luath,
I look forward to meeting you both soon,

Rath

A Rath, a chara,

No September Immersion Weekend again this year either?! :-( That is a disappointment. I thought last year's canceling was a one-time thing.

I can't make it this Feb. Maybe in Aug. But if I have to wait until Jameison (sp?), PA in November. That's...that's like 11 months away! :-( But I understand Daltaí's reason for moving; just sad it had to happen. I'm in NJ so Esopus and PA will have to do for now. It is better than not having an opportunity to get together at all.

And Jen, don't be shy about going! My first time I was an absolute newbie. My vocabulary was limited to "hi", "thank you", "my name is" :-) and a few other words before I went there. I had just started teaching myself Irish a few months before when I stumbled across this website. I, too, felt a bit lost being there alone; but everyone is very helpful to beginners. After listening to and inhaling Irish for an entire weekend, I went home determined to learn it. I'm still at it--as I think we all are! :-)

And, Jen, with Angie, Brigid and Rath going, you won't be all alone! :-) Do go! Maybe I'll get to meet y'all in Jameison in Nov.

Roibeárd

Is the November meeting a weekend also? I am also considering going to the event in May.

Angie

Angie, a chara,

November is indeed a weekend event - the biggest one for attendance. It's in Bucks County, PA, not far over the NJ border. People come from as far as Mass. for this weekend.
May is a weekend in Esopus. Esopus draws people from Virginia to Canada, and Maine (we miss you, Brien!!)
Distance just doesn't seem to matter when it comes to the Gaelgeoirí and a chance to speak Irish.

Feicfidh muid go luath thú,
Rath

Rath,
Well that's great. I'm a native of PA so I may just sign up for that as well.
Is the campus at Esopus large? I was reading in the info. sheet that people bring their own sheets, and that kind of thing as well as food and drinks. Sounds like a good time.
I have a few books on Gaeilge and my dictionary. I guess I will need those.
Is there anything else we may need?

Angie -

Call this all you ever wanted to know about a Daltaí weekend but were afraid to ask . . .

In Esopus we sleep dormitory style - 10 or so to a room. They give you a woolly blanket & a pillow - but most people bring their own. You do need sheets & a pillowcase though - they are not provided. A sleeping bag works best - then you can travel light and omit the sheets & the blanket!! You might want to bring an alarm, and a flashlight is always a good idea.

You'll need towels - the shower room is huge with plenty of showers, sinks, mirrors and electric sockets for hair dryers. It's also a great place to practice your Gaeilge. A robe and slippers are handy since the showers and bathroom are down the hall. Women and men are on separate ends of the building. There's plenty of heat and hot water.

Meals are simple. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate and whatever people bring for the snack table are available throughout the day. If you want soda, wine, beer or anything else, you'll need to supply your own. There are huge refrigerators to keep items cold.

The grounds are large and beautiful - they back up to the Hudson River. Most people will have classes in the main building, where we also eat and sleep, never needing to step outside, unless they choose to. But if you like to walk through the woods in winter, you'll find it lovely there.

I'd suggest a dictionary and notebook. Most teachers provide handouts to work from, since everyone uses different textbooks. If you have a grammar book you like, you might bring that. If you like to tape lessons, bring a recorder.

Dress is casual - there's a Mass & a céilí Sat. night if you want to dress for those - some people do, some don't - but do bring shoes you can dance in. If you play an instrument, bring it along. Friday night is pretty informal, with people hanging out in the dining room to chat. Sat. night we have a seisiún and a céilí. After that we hang around, 'til quite late, chatting, singing, and laughing.

As for workshops - there's usually one to teach the tin whistle (they'll have some for sale), and there's always one to teach céilí dancing (a must-attend just for the fun of it). Both great workshops for beginners. There will be other workshops and lectures too, but they don't need any advance preparation.

Most of all, come planning to learn in class, to practice your Gaeilge with others, and to have some fun.

Feicfidh mé ansin thú,
Rath

What type of food is served?