Dip in Irish

xp90

Hi all,
Anyone have any info on the option to study a dip in irish alongside your primary degree??

gaeilgegrinds

What do you want to know?

xp90

Whats involved pretty much, just got word of it yesterday. Can it be done alongside any degree?

ethernet

xp90 wrote: »

Whats involved pretty much, just got word of it yesterday. Can it be done alongside any degree?

I got a letter about it last year with the registration docs. Costs around the 1k mark. Know a few people who did it. Yes, it's alongside your degree. Think it's just a few hours a week with assignments. I'm sure someone who did it will come along and give you more info.

Carsinian Thau

Yep, do the Irish diploma.
Because you're a student in NUIG you'll get a reduced fee (actually very reduced, it's about €150 or €160 compared to the non student rate of about €1k).
You do three hours worth of classes every week (attendance is taken at every class and if you don't attend a required number of classes they'll get cranky).
The course focuses equally on written and spoken Irish although the assignments are only written. They don't take very long and some lecturers would even allow you to email them in.
You'll have examinations to attend throughout the year. They occur a fair bit ahead of the main university exams so you won't lose any precious revision time when they come around and they tend not to impact on you at all really. You'll have one comprehension exam, one listening test and an oral. Then they'll be the main written paper.
In first year (and that's all I've done so far) you also have a weekend course to attend. This focuses on different aspects of the Irish language aside from the language itself (e.g legal status, history of gaeltachts, irish language media and even analysis of other minority languages {if irish can be classified as a minority language}). This weeked is surprisingly enjoyable.
You'll need to have at least a C3 at higher level to do it though.
Aside from that, it's totally manageable and even enjoyable.

Feel free to post with any other questions you have.

xp90

Thanks for the info! so how long is the course? Im pretty fluent in Irish so it wouldnt be much of a problem, I got a B2 in the leaving cert.

Carsinian Thau

The course lasts two years.
A B2 will be fine. Tha's what I got and they really only want someone to have an honour in the LC.

xp90

Oh cool so after two years you get the dip, so a graduation ceremony apperance and all that? Many essays/assignments?

TheInvisibleFie

What happens if you go missing for a year in between the first and second year of the course? I'm going into second year but I hope to do Erasmus. Would that mean I couldn't do the diploma?

Carsinian Thau

xp90 wrote: »

Oh cool so after two years you get the dip, so a graduation ceremony apperance and all that? Many essays/assignments?

Not sure about the ceremony. My friend's older sister did it and she had the diploma posted out to her. Of course that could have been due to holidays, work, illness etc. You could ask when you sign up if you want (tip: look up the Irish words you'll need to do this and ask as Gaeilge. If nothing else, it'll give a good impression).

TheInvisibleFie wrote: »

What happens if you go missing for a year in between the first and second year of the course? I'm going into second year but I hope to do Erasmus. Would that mean I couldn't do the diploma?

I don't know tbh so I'd advise you to email them. I don't remember the name of the organiser but I know I have it on a sheet at home if you need it. (PM or post here if reqd).
But in my personal opinion, I'd imagine that that would be okay due to the fact that Erasmus is a recognised break from study that doesn't affect Irish in the Arts degree so you'll probably be perfectly fine. Definitely email though.

TheInvisibleFie

Carsinian Thau wrote: »

I don't know tbh so I'd advise you to email them. I don't remember the name of the organiser but I know I have it on a sheet at home if you need it. (PM or post here if reqd).
But in my personal opinion, I'd imagine that that would be okay due to the fact that Erasmus is a recognised break from study that doesn't affect Irish in the Arts degree so you'll probably be perfectly fine. Definitely email though.

Thanks! I'll e-mail them after the weekend and find out for definate.

starrycircle

Just thinking about doing the h.dip and wondering how and when can one sign up ? Would it be necessary to contact nuig before college starts??
Any idea of what the merits of taking the h.dip , apart from personal satisfaction!Thanks for the help

Carsinian Thau

starrycircle wrote: »

Just thinking about doing the h.dip and wondering how and when can one sign up ? Would it be necessary to contact nuig before college starts??
Any idea of what the merits of taking the h.dip , apart from personal satisfaction!Thanks for the help

No, you don't need to contact them before the year starts. Just pop into Áras na Gaeilge within two weeks of the semester starting (last year it was the 24th of September but they will accept late comers. Within reason.)
Go down to the office just across from Bia Léinn (the café at the back) and there should be a notice up on the door. I'm sorry but I can't remember the room number but the person you're looking for is Máire. I also can't remember the surname. :rolleyes:
The fee is about €150 or €160. And you'll get a book when you pay. The book is pretty big but it contains a lot of worksheets (you won't have to do all of them!) so don't be put off by that. Then you select your class times from the sheet (it's best to stick with the same teacher but they are very accommodating, especially if you have demanding hours like engineers would).
Apart from personal satisfaction there's the fact that your Irish will greatly improve. You'll meet new people and make new friends. You'll be able to go on Gaeltacht trips (if you choose to, they're optional) and it's great to have it on your C.V.

Feel free to post if you have any questions.

Btw, not to be a pain, but it's not exactly a h.dip, it's a diploma.

Btw btw, don't under-estimate the personal satisfaction. I was far more proud of my exam results from the first year of the diploma than I was of the exam results of the first year of my degree. Although, that's probably due to the fact that I never was any good at Irish (had the same teacher for all of secondary and used to equate my hatred of him with a hatred of the language) and it was only when I realised that I'd spent fourteen years learning a language that I can't speak at all that I decided that I just had to do something about that. I'm still not fluent and I make a load of mistakes but I now enjoy speaking as Gaeilge and sometimes text in it too. Not to mention bebo commenting.

starrycircle

Ok, sounds good thanks for all your help! Much appreciated.

chat2joe

You'll need to have at least a C3 at higher level to do it though.

Is there anything for anyone who didn't get a C3 in higher?

A lot of people drop to pass coming up to the LC as they aren't using Irish for points and spend the extra time on their top-6. Damn LC point system!

Carsinian Thau

chat2joe wrote: »

Is there anything for anyone who didn't get a C3 in higher?

You could try the B2 diploma. Then you could do the C1 diploma.
That probably needs some explaining so:
"All" language courses are supposed to be organised according to the level of fluency they confer. It starts at A1 and then progresses up along with A2, B1, B2, C1 and ends with C2 (completely and absolutely fluent; equivalent to native speaker).

NUIG offers the diploma in Irish to C1 and B2 standard. The entry requirement to C1 is the honour in Irish but it is possible to do the B2 and then the C1.
You'd have to get on to them regarding pass Irish and the B2 diploma but I think it would be allowed.

chat2joe wrote: »

A lot of people drop to pass coming up to the LC as they aren't using Irish for points and spend the extra time on their top-6. Damn LC point system!

I know. Unfortunately it happens with a lot of subjects. I've found that the ones that suffer the most are Irish, French and Maths. Ironically, I ended up counting on French for points even though I was sure for most of the year that I'd never need it and putting the effort in for higher level was a waste of time.

Carsinian Thau

Carsinian Thau wrote: »

Irish, French and Maths

I say "Irish, French and Maths" but I really mean "Irish, Chosen European Language and Maths.

Pippacoo

I am planning to do the diploma in Septenber.. I am wondering what is the timetable? September to Christmas and then January to ??. Also could you tell me whan the exams take place? Thanks so much..

Nuggles

There are different categories of the Diploma in Irish. A,B and C. By the sounds of the other people in this thread, they did the C, which would be for people who would have a decent level of Irish. B is for less strong people. And A would be very basic Irish. From what I remember, they evaluate you and put you in the category most suited to you.

http://www.nuigalway.ie/courses/adult-and-continuing-education-courses/irish.html

http://www.nuigalway.ie/courses/adult-and-continuing-education-courses/gaeilge-irish.html