http://www.gaelport.com/index.php?page=news&viewby=date&id=1879

Ionaid Scrúdaithe

Beidh na scrúduithe ar siúl sna hionaid seo a leanas
Ollscoil na hÉireann Má Nuad (gach leibhéal)
Gaoth Dobhair (gach leibhéal)
An Spidéal (gach leibhéal)
Baile Bhuirne (gach leibhéal)

Páras (A1 & A2)
Prág (A1 amháin)
Nua Eabhrac (A1 amháin)
Cambridge (A1 amháin)

GRMA a Aonghus, d’inis mé seo leis ‘forum member’ as Nua Eabhrac cúpla seachtain ó shin - it’s a fact that annoys certain Australian daltaí to no end! :p

Thinking of taking the Teastas Bonnleibhéal at least when I return to Ireland next year.

A Roibird, have any of those "Australian daltaí" actually made a formal application for the exam to be held here? or are they just whingeing because "Australia got left out again" without really checking?

Nothing happens in this world unless _you_ make it happen. Some enterprising people in Paris, Prague, New York and Cambridge have made the effort to make it happen there.

Quit your whingeing and pull your finger out! Contact Ambasáid na hÉireann in Canberra or your local consulate and ask. If enough people ask, they might just make it happen here, too. ;-)

Really friendly of you, Brendan - I wasn't whinging, simply making an observation that it's been raised on this forum before. As I said, *I* am probably going to take it over in Ireland.

Sorry if I came across as unfriendly, a Roibird, but I don't see why Australians should be "annoyed" just because others can sit the test in New York.

We should be pleased that the language has gained enough recognition for the test to be offered outside Europe. If things keep developing this way, we may also have the opportunity to sit the test closer to (our) home one day. Who knows?

In the meantime, it is another great excuse to make the trip to Ireland! ;-)

Thanks, that's alright - saying 'annoyed' was probably an exaggeration on my part, but it was discussed in a 'wouldn't-it-be-nice' kind of way (and recognising that there's surely more Irish learners/speakers in New York than in our part of the world).

There'd be some value in doing what you said though - either as individuals or getting a group like the Cumann Gaeilge na hAstráile on side.

And finally, I'm up to my ears with excuses for the trip, but one more won't hurt!

i gCoiré freisin?

Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if it isn't already possible to sit these exams privately at any Irish consulate or embassy in any country by prior arrangement. After all, I have sat exams for University of Queensland at the Australian consulate in Osaka, and at UQ for the official Japanese proficiency test.

It depends on whether there is an oral component at the level you wish to sit and whether there is a staff member qualified and/or available to administer the test. It wouldn't hurt to make enquiries at the address listed on the site at the link Aonghus provided above, if anyone is seriously interested.


How many speakers/learners of Irish are there in Korea now, a Bhirn?

I think Japan may still be slightly ahead in numbers. They have at least two branches of Comhaltas there, possibly more. I believe there is one in Seoul (?), but there may be more by now. Irish lessons are available at quite a few universities and at two or three private language schools in Japan. Last I heard students at one of the Japanese Universities were translating Learning Irish into Japanese.

But I think both countries are about to be outdone by China as the Chinese become more and more affluent and interest in things outside their own borders. Watch for Teastas availability in an Asian capital near you...

After all, Irish ancestry is no longer a prerequisite for an interest in Irish culture.

http://www.teg.ie/english/faq.htm#4

quote:

The examinations are held once a year in NUI Maynooth, in April or May (A1, A2, B1, B2) and December (C1). Usually, the written exam is held in the morning and the oral exam in the afternoon of the same day. Examinations are held in various locations in Ireland and abroad, depending on demand. Look at the News section for further information.