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Odhren
| Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 04:05 pm: |
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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. |
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Ceilí
| Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 07:03 pm: |
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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. |
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Seosamh
| Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 07:20 pm: |
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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. |
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Odhren
| Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 07:39 pm: |
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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! |
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Oliver Grennan
| Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 07:50 pm: |
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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. |
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Odhren
| Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 08:32 pm: |
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Yeah, Odhren is my confirmation name, it's the name of an Irish Saint. Thanks for the radio link! i'm really enjoying it! |
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Seosamh Mac Muirí
| Posted on Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - 04:45 am: |
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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 |
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Jamie On
| Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2003 - 05:21 pm: |
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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. :- ) |
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Larry
| Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2003 - 06:33 pm: |
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"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. |
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Jamie On
| Posted on Saturday, October 18, 2003 - 05:45 am: |
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Thanks for that info - I guess I could order Lá. |
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Michael Noonan
| Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 10:58 pm: |
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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 |
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