Dia Daiobh,

I recently rec'd my copy of the book "Speaking Irish" by Siuan Ni Mhaonaigh and Antain Mac Lochlainn.
I think the book is GREAT, but wanted to get the free download mentioned. ...on page xii.
The authors mention that there is a free download at
www.mhprofessional.com site for
"Classroom activities for each of the 20 units"
in the book. I tried to go to this site, but cannot find it,..or says site not available, and of course cannot find any mention of a free download

If any of you know, or have tried to get this info can you please tell me how to access this
option and/at this site..?
As I said I think this book is very good and want to take advantage of all its
learning suggestions.
GRMA in advance

Here you go, Jeannette.

http://www.mhprofessional.com/product.php?cat=114&isbn=0071475621

This book is way too advanced for me, but hopefully, someday I'll get the chance to use it.

GA

Go raibh maith gat, A Gaillimh,
Immediately after I posted the original message, I tried one more time to find the site and the download. Of COURSE, I then found it..followed the directions and got what I was looking for.
Guess I am getting too old to do computer stuff..as I miss something or other freguently.
Thanks for your trouble and you should try the book..esp the CD's and just listen to one of the interviews over and over,...it's amazing what you pick up...it's sort of like the way one learns one's language as a child...by listening, then repeating/ imitating.
Would like to say "Good Luck" to you, but my mind will not bring up the phrase...(someting that happens frequently anymore) think its adh mhor or adh maith..(:<)

Bhuel, I just can't help it...I just have to say more about "Speaking Irish" book and CD....I just listened to another "interview" by Helen Ó'Murchú.

I really like her interview because 1) speech pace is a little slower and I can follow each word pronunciation better since she does speak a little slower than some of the others...
2) she speaks, I think, with the Munster dialect which I am particularly interested in and
3) she reminds me, and her voice brings back memories of an Irish/American aunt who had an accent and who I knew when I was a kid!

Even if you don't recognize the meaning of the words...you can get the pronunciation down pretty good by repeated listening. Also, you can definitely hear the difference in word sounds and progression between the Native speakers and the American speakers at the end.
I am a beginner/advanced beginner, I guess one would say, and at my age I may
never learn this language very well, but this book and CD definitely puts one on one's way to at least having a good shot at it.

Greetings,

I too am trying to learn the language of my grandfather of long ago. Is the book you are speaking of one that would be for one who speaks very little Irish and stumbles every now and then in English ? I am trying to 'self teach' myself and don't have any plans on giving up but am having a hard time not thinking in English and trying to put the Irish words in the same order. If this book is too advanced are you aware of any books/CD's etc. that would be geared toward a 48 year old but easy enough for a first grader ?

Thanks for any help.

Well, Doug,
I'm prob not the best person to offer advice on what books, etc someone should use to learn the lang..maybe you should check the archives of this forum for others more learned advice on learning materials to use. Everyone learns a subject in a different fashion, though..so find the one best sequence/book/ for you...visual, audio, phrases, vocabulary, pronunciation,sentence/grammar, and so on...then use several books and audio/visual.

Having said that, I too have mostly been self-taught and I can tell you I am MUCH older than you, so don't give up.
Started to learn Irish because I had a g-grandfthr who spoke it ..I started with Buntus Cainte with the tapes at an adult evening course at local hi sch years ago That helped with the pronunciation and language structure AND basic phrases that one can repeat.
I also have sev dictionaries..thank God that Foclor Poca is small and easier to hurl across the room when one becomes frustrated...much easier than the hugh and heavy Gaeilge-Bearla...(:))
I also have TYI Grammar, as well as Learning Irish, and sev other books....I often pick one up at a random page and learn that page. Short studies,.. because I find not able to concentrate longer...and those short little sessions stay with me better than a long lesson.

I still think, though, even as a beginner, that even though the book might be daunting,..(is to me, in a way,) that "Speaking Irish" and its CD's are good for this level because you begin to hear the rhythm ( though rapid ) and pronunciation of the language (provides a sound that is different than audio tapes/CD's from the various other books (worry abt the meaning later). That is encouraging...repetition .. begins to sound NORMAL to an English-language speaker. ( Also the short photos/ movies of the surrounding areas.... Dingle, Dublin, etc and also the music are an added bonus!)
As I said I am a beginner/slightly advanced beginner...so what do I know except for my own experiences but there it is for what it's worth.
SORRY that this is such a long message (rules are "keep it short") but I seem to have inherited the IRISH gift of gab!
Good Luck and don't give up. Hope this helps.

Thanks for your advice. I'll keep chipping away.