What is the best self-learning course out there? I've seen courses from general languages companies such as Rosseta Stone, Pimsleur, Transpart Language etc. I've also seen plenty that just focus on Irish such as Tus Maith, Michael O. Siadhail's course, Teach yourself etc.

I've got Tus Maith but I find that its not very practical for everyday use.

My primary goal is to be able to read Irish.

Any recommendations would be most welcome.

There's not one single "best" course out there: it depends a lot on your own background, learning style, motivation and the amount of time you have to spend.

What is it about "Tús Maith" you particularly don't like?

I suppose my main issue was that it just wasn't very mobile. I like courses which I can take almost completely on the computer, so that I can do it when I'm travelling.

The other thing is that when I got through Tus maith I didn't find that I had anywhere near enough vocabulary to enable me to read Irish language books. That's my main goal, to be able to read because I live in an area where I wouldn't get many opportunities to speak Irish on a regular basis.

Thanks.

Padraig.

I found an earlier version of 'Tús Maith' (called 'Cúrsa Closamhairc Gaeilge') by Risteard Mac Gabhann very useful when I began learning the language. The repetition and gradual exposition of key structures was very well thought out. Some people have criticised the scenarios as being a bit stolid or even childish, but we're not talking about a novel here! I suppose the same points hold true for 'Tús Maith.'

I take Hogan's point about vocabulary but you have to walk before you can run. There's no point having a large vocab if you can't construct a sentence. And really, isn't that what dictionaries are for?

Get Buntus Cainte, then read the dialogs from book 1 to 3 until you understand them immediately on sight. Then read the supporting material till you are again familiar with them. This can be done when you have a spare moment at work, or just before bed, and again in the morning

Then go for listening to the CDs until you comprehend immediately on hearing them every phrase.

After this you could go transcribing down random scenes to see if you know them well enough to do so, or go straight to writing out sentences.

After that, one could go on to speaking!

Thanks Bearn, that sounds like a good approach for the "learning to read" part. I'd like to go to a computer based course when I get on to the speaking part.