Hi,
having just finished a long course of 'English as a foreign language' it has really given me a different prespective on language pedagogy (and as a consequnce learning).

After compleation, I feel that Irish aspect (progressive, prospective, and perfective) are under taught, for example in serial order, "I am a' painting now", "I am to paint", "I have just painted".

It seems to me that Irish grammar books focus on direct verb conjugation of tense, while modals and aspectual usage is ignored (the latter in it's entirety).

Given such constructions are not just stylistic, but important in everyday usage, I suggest they receive greater attention in future material.

Also, while I'm at it, while the practical measures in Gael chúrsaí are not too different to some of the classroom managment techniques I encountered in Gleann Fhinne, how work with the verbs, the moods, and aspects is conducted is superior to how we handle them in Irish. Examples on demand!

Níl sé uair an chloig ó bhíos féin ag trácht ar 'ghné an bhriathair' le mic léinn a thuigfeadh a raibh ar bun agam. A bhuí do ACMHAINN.IE, gheobhair anseo, faoin teideal 'Mí-úsáid Aimsire', ábhar a nochtfas roinnt de ghné bhriathair na Gaeilge do dhuine: http://www.acmhainn.ie/athchlo/lorganbhearla/

Interesting comment Brn, but many who engage in Irish are not at the stage where they may benefit from indulging in verbal aspect. Not all at the bottom of the pile share a feeling of interest in fine usage of a target language. I introduce it where it may be understood. Grammar in general, and aspect is at the top of the pile for some, has to dropped like a twinkling little star ever so lightly on timid ears and thin skulls!
(People with thin skulls should not attend the Fair of Mullacrew!)

Caith do shúil anseo, from ACMHAINN.IE, : http://www.acmhainn.ie/athchlo/lorganbhearla/

A Sheosaimh, a Bhirn, a chairde!

I think it is wrong to look at "táim ag ithe" vs "ithim" as an aspect distinction. Progressive tense should be taught first of all as it is normal, the most usual form used by default. There is none other in Scottish Gaelic. Starting to teach from "ithim" is a great mistake pre-programmed by the long term pedagogical misconception. Irish is not Latin, however Irish grammarians for ages refused to see this (ablative in Irish - anyone?). When someone is taught past tense - then caite is taught, not "gnáthchaite" which may well wait till much later. It is the same in present tense, "gnáthláithreach" may well wait till much later, as you don't need this form so often.

For those from basics up, gan amhras a Rómain is a Bhrn, molaim the substantive verb in 3 simple forms, present point of time, past and future. Then they can cover their back with a conditional mood. One can say a hell of a lot in the shortest time when you add a few prepositional pronouns to that combination. 'Progress in Irish' has been praised by many for allowing people to pick their way into the language on such lines and one can skip through present habitual with a pinch of salt.

I'm more interested however in developed learners who still use present for abstract, surmising thought, when a future does that area of work naturally.

Using the point-of-time present for a past dramatic effect is seldom thought of either by the more advanced learner, but many of these learners are capable of taking hold of it. Admittedly, they have almost been programmed not to hear it in good native speech.

Goilleann sé orm a oiread sin Béarla a scríobh d'aon ghlam amháin! Éireod as a chairde!
An nasc úd a thugas do leabhar Mhic Mhaoláin, is maith ann é, ach is beag atá cíortha ná foilsithe ar an nGné. Níl a fhios agam cén fáth.

bhuel, scriobh mé sin mar a bhíonns rudaí cosúil leo i mo ghráthchaint féin (i mBéarla)

mar shampla:

Progressive
Active: He is (a') painting
Passive: The door is been painted by him

Prospective
Active: He is/was to come tomorrow
Passive: The painting is to be done by him

Perfective
Active: He's after painting
Passive: He has the painting done

Bíonn siad duchas liom, ach tréis do nota a léamh, tuig mé anois go bhfuil siad ró-dheacair fá choinne daltaí a mhuineadh mar níl siad simpleach

maith thú

Aontaím leat a Bhrn, molaim don tosaitheoir an t-ainm briathair: péinteáil, teacht, srl., a fhoghlaim agus an aidiacht bhriathair: péinteáilte, tagtha srl., chomh maith leis an mbriathar féin.

Is míreanna an-fheidhmiúla iad, cinnte. Má tá tú féin á múineadh do dhaoine, molaim duit coinneáil ort mar atáir.

A Bhrn, gabh mo leithscéal ach más múinteoir thú, ghníonn tú meancógaí go fóill... (gráthchaint > gnáthchaint, bíonn siad dúchas liom >???tá siad agam ó dhúchas??, tuig mé > tuigim, simpleach > simplí...)

Seosamh, I wonder if you can give a few examples of the points you raised. These are:

1. The future for abstract thought.
2. The present for past dramatic effect.

Can you give examples in simple Irish with a translation afterwards. It wouldbe interesting.

1.
Tiocfaidh tú isteach anseo lá éigin, abraimis, agus cad é a fheicfeas romhat ach ríomhaire úrnua.

Imagine you come in here one day and find ..

1.
An té is mó a íosfas, is é is mó a .....!

The person who eats most is the one .....



2.
Oíche ghaofar réabghealaí, dhruid sí an geata ina diaidh, mhothaigh sí grean an chosáin faoina bróg, theann sí suas le doras an tí, bhrúigh isteach é, chaith súil de leataobh agus cad é atá ann, ag comharthú di, ach ....

... and what does she see, signaling to her, but ....

(Aimsir Láithreach na Staire/Drámaíochta)

"ach más múinteoir thú, ghníonn tú meancógaí go fóill."

Níl mé i mo mhuniteoir, a Lughaidh! Rinne mé a lán meancógaí mar níl mé ach dalta...níl aon fadbh le 'gr' i mo thuirim...

Thank you, Seosamh, for the examples.