Domhnall's other recent threads got me thinking more about assessing progress in learning the language. I would like to improve my spelling, writing, grammar, reading, and conversation - speaking and listening - skills.

To this end, I have been reading, writing, and speaking everyday. I know that improvement is happening, but I was wondering how to measure this. For instance, I have read An Tobar twice and have gone through the first thirty chapters of Progress in Irish and Book One of Buntus Cainte, among other things. When I feel optimistic, I would classify myself as a beginning intermediate when it comes to learning the language. On the other hand, I sometimes feel stuck just above beginner stage.

So my question is, what do you do to measure your own progress? How do you assess your improvement? Do you give yourself tests? Do you have benchmarks of achievements that you use? Are there milestones that you accomplish? Do you rely on what others say? When we attend online or face-to-face classes, we receive feedback but I am wondering about what people do when not doing these kinds of activities.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh.

A Mhíchil,

I think I see progress when I understand more of consecutive sentences in Ros na Rún. Just watch the same episodes after the time and I notice I understand more and more.

A Mhichil

I am in the fortunate position to spend a lot of time in the Corca Dhuibhne gaeltacht as I have a house there. One of my little self-tests of progress is to attend Sunday mass from time to time and see how much of the priest's sermon I can follow.

I am working on the premise that I am improving my understanding of Irish while earning brownie points with the Man Above.

Buiochas le Dia, ta feabhas ag teacht ar mo chuid Ghaeilge ach nilim ro-chinnte an bhfuil feabhas ag teacht ar m'anam

I go to the immersion weekends every three or four months (3x a year but not evenly spaced). Outside of class, it used to be that I had to conduct myself in english in 14 out of 15 exchanges. now it seems i only need to resort to resort to english outside of class perhaps two exchanges out of five.

I'm also not counting the friends I bring who have no Irish at all. Typically I'll say what I need to to them in Irish first, and then explain what I said in english.

I'll also try to read An Tobar or Dunmharú ar an Dart. It used to be that I had to look up two words in every three sentences. Now I'm only looking up one or two words per page.


Anyway, that's my benchmark. I still only catch scattered words off Turas Teanga, Éist and Éist Arís and can't understand the RnaG news.

I compare myself to others around me, Gaeilgeoirí with more or less than myself.. The only important thing being that i still strive to learn, and i don't think i'll stop :) Ní thiocfaidh deireadh leis!
I don't give myself tests - Lecturers look after that far too often!!
The impression i get is that although yes i may make the odd botún ó am go h-am, my passion and charisma shines over that ;)
Go team!

I compare myself by listning to R na g as often as I can and of course the best thing that has ever happened to Irish telivision TG4.The live coverage of sports on TG4 is very good also because there are no subtitles to fall back on.Ros na ruin is excelent but the different dialects can be quite challenging if you close your eyes and try it without the subtitles.Of course nothing can ever be as effective as being immersed in "comhra os Gaeilge"even if some of us struggle with our grammer and being put on the spot by a citizen from Germany/ Austrailia/Holland or Poland who seem to have quite a good grasp of our native toungue and speak it with passion.The only advice I can give to you is,"If you cannot be the best then be the best you can"