I was navigating the Interweb and came across a fairly new resource for learning Irish. I can't vouch for it directly but the series is popular and usually of good quality. It also has positive reviews of Amazon.com.


Irish Gaelic, Living Language Series
ISBN: 9781400024575
Retail $49.99 USD

Product Description

This simple and effective introduction to Irish Gaelic teaches everything one needs to speak, understand, read, and write in Irish Gaelic. This program assumes no background in the language, and it explains each new concept clearly with plenty of examples, making it ideal for beginners or anyone who wants a thorough review. Living Language Irish Gaelic includes:

·A course book and six audio CDs
·Two unique sets of recordings, one for use with the book, and a second for use anywhere to review and reinforce
·Natural dialogues, clear grammar notes, vocabulary building, and key expressions
·Plenty of practice, both written and recorded
·Notes on culture, cuisine, history, geography, and more
·Real life “discovery” activities and internet resources
·An extensive two-way glossary

I bought a copy from Amazon when it was first released (at a much better price than $49.99!). It's not bad, but I think Colloquial Irish (comparably priced) is a bit better.

On the subject of books, a Cionaodh, my copy of Wong's A Learner's Guide to Irish has arrived from BAC. You're right; that's the goofiest bit of binding imaginable. What's more, it tends to catch the pages in the spiral and fold them under when one closes the cover. I think I'll take it to Kinko's to see what they might be able to do to cut and reattach the cover. Otherwise, great content!

PS: That must be some resource library you have up there in Yankee country.

A Sheáin,
Don't you hate it when they call it Irish Gaeilge? I speak British English, mé fein.


(Message edited by pádraig on September 22, 2009)

(Message edited by pádraig on September 22, 2009)

Just on 'Colloquial Irish'.

I bought this a while ago and I have to say that if you are just looking to upgrade from having the cupla focal it is very good, but if you are serious about learning Irish and already plan to study it properly, O'Siadhail's Learning Irish is the way to go.

Colloquial Irish was just a bit overpriced for what you get- 38 yoyos. But good introduction if you have loads of money and don't care :)

It seems, thankfully, that that use is falling out of use. I understand why Gaelic is used because of the native term, but I think pick one or the other. Here's an easy one, let's see if it will catch on: Irish, Scottish, and Manx. Perhaps they're trying to emphasize the closeness of the languages . Here's one up: Danish Scandinavian, Swedish Scandinavian, and Norwegian Scandinavian. I'm sure they'd all love that up there!

I just speak plain 'Merican.

quote:

On the subject of books, a Cionaodh, my copy of Wong's A Learner's Guide to Irish has arrived from BAC. You're right; that's the goofiest bit of binding imaginable. What's more, it tends to catch the pages in the spiral and fold them under when one closes the cover. I think I'll take it to Kinko's to see what they might be able to do to cut and reattach the cover. Otherwise, great content!

I've unbound mine and used the holes to bind the pages tightly with twine. I haven't yet decided how best to rebind the thing, but I won't tolerate the original arrangement.

quote:

PS: That must be some resource library you have up there in Yankee country.

'tis.