Hi!

I live in Santa Monica, CA and I really want to learn the Irish language. Any advice on where to begin? Beginner doesn't even describe how little I know at this point. This is my first day and first time to the site. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Dia dhuit a Shannon, (Hi!)

This is a helpful link with reviews of many different Irish courses:

http://www.learnirishgaelic.com/productcomparison/

Best of luck.
-GA

Hiya Shannon, there are lots of us here that can help you. I learned Irish in school originally so I can't give you the best advice on starting completely from scratch, but others will be able to.

Are you listening to the Irish language radio station -RnaG (Raidio na Gaeltachta)- online? As far as I know you will be able to access TG4 online too from where you are, which is the national Irish language tv station. A lot of the programmes are subtitled in English. Listening to the radio and tv will get you used to hearing how Irish sounds and will be well worth doing alongside whatever course you decide to take on.

http://www.tg4.tv

If possible, get yourself into a class in your area:
http://www.daltai.com/classes/sw.htm

Self-study is ok in a pinch and can make you a decent reader/writer, but interacting with real flesh & blood people will help make you a better conversant, and usually helps to widen your "circle" of known Irish speakers with whom you might learn and/or converse.

Definitely at the very very beginning with any language, going to a class is essential. But really if you want to get anywhere decent with it, you will need to do the work on your own, and read and listen as widely as possible. and get an Irish book/cd course- if you only rely on a class, your progress will be so slow, you will not get very far with it.

Also I would say and I firmly believe this from experience, don't necessarily believe that going to classes and speaking with other learners will be the only way to progress your speaking skills.

Believe it or not, listening to the language, and getting used to hearing yourself speak Irish, are the two best things that will help you actually speak the language fluently. Better than struggling along at the beginning with other beginners struggling as much as you.

But without a doubt, a class at the beginning will help you make contacts, and friends you can speak your bit of Irish with, and it will motivate you through the harder stages at the very beginning.

From my own experience - and I have to say this as it really surprised me- it's self study that 90% got me able to converse in Irish. That's just my experience of it.

See www.thelinguist.com

This is his philosophy too. I agree with loads of what he says.

Hi Shannon,
Below are three resources to try near you. I am in Orange County, but honestly I am not at a level to teach others beyond small bits and pieces. Sign up for this forum (see the Register button above) and you can ask all the questions you want. For a native speaker, try the resources below. First lession:

I live in California.
Tá mé i mo chónaí i gCalifornia.

I am learning Irish.
Tá mé ag foghlaim Gaeilge.

Darn, I made a mistake!
Och, rinne mé meancóg!


The Celtic Arts Center - An Claidheamh Soluis
Teacher: Tadhg Ó Máirtín (Tim Martin)
Credit or non-credit classes.
Contact school for information.
4843 Laurel Canyon Boulevard
Studio City, CA 91607
Phone: (818) 760-8322
Email:

Pilib O Faolain
Will tutor two or three, or even one student at a time. There is no charge, but a desire to learn is a must.
Non-credit classes. Contact teacher for information.
6251 Coldwater Canyon Ave., # 104
Valley Glen, CA 91606
Phone: (818) 762-2188
Email:

Gaeilge Beo
Caitriona Weafer
Classes for all levels in teacher's or student's home or at school in Thousand Oaks, CA. Teacher is a qualified N.T. with a B.Ed. and H.Dip. from Ireland. Experienced working as a teacher in the Gaeltacht (Irish- speaking region) at Colaiste Cholumba in Carraroe.
Non-credit classes.
31950 Doverwood Court
Westlake Village, CA 91361
Phone: (818) 991-1932
Email:

(Message edited by seánw on April 24, 2010)

Going to a class isn't essential to becoming fluent in a language, nor is it even preferable. As long as you have sources to learn from /and/ a fair amount of audio, there is no need to take a class in Irish or indeed any other language you're trying to learn. There are many self-study courses available; I'd personally recommend Ó Siadhail's "Learning Irish". In days passed, classes were considered more essential due to the lack of easily-accessible audio sources. Since this is no longer the case, there's no reason to place your faith in a class that'll - in all likelihood - not take you past the beginning stages of the language learning process.

That being said, going to a class won't /hurt/ you at all; however, you will not become fluent in any language by merely taking a class.

Simply meeting others interested in the same language as you was enough of a reason for me to take language classes in the past; going in expecting them to make you fluent, however, will only leave you disappointed.

Once again, I'd recommend a dictionary, "Learning Irish" and the vast amounts of audio sources on the internet as a solid path to becoming competent in the language.

(Message edited by lundvithr on April 25, 2010)

(Message edited by lundvithr on April 25, 2010)

I recommend that you buy:

Tús Maith cuid a-haon - Self instructional course for Adults
Foclóir Scoile - English/Irish-Irish/English (with pronunciation guide!)
Glance Card - http://www.litriocht.com/

Litriocht will have all of these in stock and can send them immediately. The Tús maith has a little of an Ulster slant in it, but they pronounce things mostly in a standard sort of way. I have been able to talk with people from all over Ireland. It is what it says, "Tús maith" ( a good start).

Then, get some vocab under your belt and find some folks who will Skype with you. Go to a few classes if there are any in your area. (I have NONE in south central Texas where I live).

Get ready for THE linguistic magic carpet ride of your life. Enjoy!
Faberm

Faberm, there is no standard way of pronouncing Irish - and hence Tús Maith does not employ it! The course Tús Maith is a good one, and it uses a mixture of native speakers and learners with heavy accents to illustrate the pronunciation - but it should be clear which are the native speakers - they use Donegal pronunciation, and it would be great to copy them!