I'm currently in my second year Arts degree in College, the future and what it holds for me is buzzing around in my mind. I have decided to a Postgraduate; but in making my decision of what to do it in I have consider where I see myself in the future. I always wanted to live abroad, America, more than anywhere else. If I do a Postgraduate sa Ghaelinn, does that mean that I'm stuck to living in Ireland and teaching in a University here or what?
Thanks

A chara,

You are not stuck in Ireland. America needs more people to teach Irish. More universities are offering Irish as an option to learn but it just isn't enough. If you wanted to you could also use a post graduate degree to start Irish studies programs, including the language of course in universities here.


Beir bua agus beannacht

I don't understand could you explain more?

If I could build my professional career around Irish I would not live in the US.

There is simply no one to talk to, and your Irish improves only by living in the language.

I have often wondered why Europeans like to visit the US. My parents hauled me back and forth across the country several times when I was growing up, so I know it quite well.

The US does have some good scenery and wonderful national parks (though some are getting too well-traveled). Otherwise, I would stay in Europe if I had the choice.

(Message edited by William on November 20, 2006)

There are more people in America who want to learn Irish than you may think. Some universities, not enough but some, have classes in Irish. You could teach one of those, expanding the program at whatever school you teach at, perhaps you could teach a more advanced class than they already have. Abigail mentioned how she has already reached the highest class level at her university so students like her would probably like to have something more advanced. You could also try and start up an Irish language program at a university that doesn't currently offer it. Obviously this isn't quite as easy as I may be making it out to be, but the point is that there are ways to use a degree in Irish teaching in America.

Beir bua agus beannacht

I'd imagine that an Irish literature degree would serve this enquirer better, Riona, as something to entice American or Canadian universities. In that capacity, at least, this person could at least also teach in English and then ply their Irish-language skills on the side.

Although I'd love to see more teachers of the language on our shores, the fact is this enquirer would fare poorly here by trying to offer their services as a teacher of Gaeilge, because the demand for such services is infinitessimally small. Irish teachers have to eat, too!

As to William's comment, if I could build my career around Irish (assuming that some day I actually become fluent), I would by all means remain here in the US. At least here we have people clamoring and clawing for instruction.

I would be very surprised if you could make a living teaching Irish in the US--at least in Ireland it is a possibility. It would definitely be something done on the side in the US. I mean, there are actual teachers of Irish in Ireland who draw a salary, even if meager. Have you thought of teaching in the north?

If I was a citizen of the EU, I would stay there.

The grass is always greener. . . :-)

quote:

I would be very surprised if you could make a living teaching Irish in the US

http://www.nd.edu/~irll/

quote:

(tá breis agus céad mac léinn anois ag leanúint do chúrsaí Gaeilge i Notre Dame) ceapadh triúr eile le blianta beaga anuas. Trí bliana ó shin ceapadh Breandán Ó Buachalla (Ball d'Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann) ina ollamh le Gaeilge (The O'Donnell Chair of Irish Language and Literature) san Institiúid agus is faoina stiúirsean tá an roinn nua curtha ar bun. Le dhá bhliain anuas ceapadh beirt eile: An Dr Sarah McKibben agus An Dr Brian Ó Conchubhair.

There are three examples!

Yes, I find this very encouraging, Aonghus, and I was aware of Notre Dame's program, but I think I have a pretty realistic view of the career potential of Irish in the US.

Why not teach in Ireland, and live in an Irish-speaking community of some type?

That's what I would do, but I know it's near to impossible for a non-EU person.

(Message edited by William on November 21, 2006)

but if you are fluent, would that not decrease dramatically the pool of your eu competition? it's not like suppy exceeds demand for gaeilge teachers in ireland, and you're not likely to get too many people outside of ireland with the language required for the post. that may very well be your 'foot in the door'

remember, it's not that you can't be given a post as a non-eu citizen, but that qualified eu citizens get preference.

Indeed.

Here are references to an American and an Australian working in Irish in dublin:

http://debates.oireachtas.ie/DDebate.aspx?F=TOJ20060314.xml&Page=1&Ex=12#N12

quote:

Chairman: Cuirim fáilte roimh Julian de Spáinn, ard-rúnaí, Daithí Mac Cárthaigh, uachtarán, Colleen Dollard agus Ariel Killick ó Chonradh na Gaeilge agus iMeasc. Is seachtain mhaith í Seachtain na Gaeilge don chruinniú seo, agus níl Lá Fhéile Pádraig chomh fada sin uainn ach oiread. Beidh mé ag caint as Gaeilge agus as Béarla, ach tá aistriúchán comhuaineach ar fáil dúinn go léir. Tá fíorfháilte roimh na finnéithe. Tá pribhléid pharlaiminte ag na Teachtaí agus Seanadóirí, ach níl a leithéid ag na cuairteoirí. Níl sé chomh tábhachtach sin inniu, ach bhí orm é a rá. Bheinn buíoch de na finnéithe iad féin a chur in aithne dúinn.


Ms Ariel Killick: Is mise Ariel Killick. Chuir mé iMeasc ar bun, líonra d’inimirceoirí le Gaeilge líofa. Ar ndóigh, tá na cúiseanna ansin. Chuir mé féin agus Alex Hijmans an líonra ar bun i mí Aibreáin an bhliain seo caite i ndiaidh dúinn aithne a chur ar roinnt inimirceoirí eile a raibh Gaeilge acu. Ba é an chúis gur chuir muid an líonra ar bun ná go bhfacthas dúinn go raibh rud ag tarlú go leanúnach sna meáin chumarsáide, is é sin, go rabhthas ag baint úsáide as inimirceoirí mar uirlis i gcoinne na Gaeilge agus le ceisteanna a ardú maidir le stádas agus sochaí na hÉireann sa lá atá inniú ann. Mar inimirceoirí le Gaeilge líofa, mheas muid go raibh sé sin thar a bheith contúirteach, agus b’shin an fáth gur tháinig muid le chéile. Tá duine eile de na hinimirceoirí atá sa líonra seo, Coleen Dollard, anseo inniu. Bíonn sí ag múineadh na Gaeilge d’inimirceoirí agus teifigh agus mar sin de in ionad SPIRASI sa Centre for the Care of Survivors of Torture ar an North Circular Road.


Ms Colleen Dollard: Is mise Coleen Dollard, agus bím ag múineadh Gaeilge d’eachtrannaigh san ionad seo, ach tá an rang eagraithe le chéile le hIonad Buail Isteach na Gaeilge. Tá mé páirteach in iMeasc chomh maith.

So what are you saying Aonghus, that if I proceed with Irish there's a chance at some stage I could emigrate?

Ní raibh deacracht riamh ag éireannaigh dul ar an mbád bán.

Ach níl mé cinnte go mbeidh post ag teagasc gaeilge ar fail do foghlaimeoir seachas duine a bheadh líofa. Fútsa atá sé, dar ndóigh.

Considering placing a resume with the US State Department (IE/ the CIA)the theory is, if you can learn Irish, you can learn almost any other language, you're trainable. Contact the US embassy in Ireland or find them on the net

There's as many Gaeilgeoirí in the U.S. as full time Gaeilgeoirí sna Gaeltachta ( circa 25-26,000)

They need services so provide them, and the u.s. ain't the only place..

That's not very encouraging?:)
Could someone explain to me how my lecturers at college have travelling and thought in different universities abroad? 2 of the more senior lecturers have studied in Harvard?