Irish in School

bevan619

I moved here from England when I was ten years old. I didn't learn much Irish in Primary school and haven't even attempted it in Secondary school. They say I have to do it because the cut off age is 11. Any loopholes around this?

P.S. I don't hate the language. I wouldn't mind doing it if I had been doing it since Primary school.

dlofnep

What age are you now?

bevan619

dlofnep wrote: »

What age are you now?

I'm 14 and turning 15 in October. Which means next year I have the Junior Cert. The rest of my class does Higher Level and I'm doing Ordinary Level (which to me is harder than them doing Higher Level).

dlofnep

I can understand why you don't feel the need to learn the language coming from England. If there is no way out of the classes, I think if you could get yourself off to the Gaeltacht this summer for a week or two, your level of Irish will come up alot - and you'll get to meet alot of new friends.

Des Bishop came from America, and is now a fluent Irish speaker after he took on the language for himself. I know of another chap from America who's studying Irish in University here. Don't feel that because you're from England, that you can't learn the language. If you need help with anything in particular, we're always willing to help on here and I'm sure there are conversational groups nearby - or Conradh na Gaeilge office to offer you advice.

pog it

You will need Irish if you want to get into university in Ireland (apart from Trinity College).

Just thought I'd mention that, since you seem like a bright kid.

Also- can I say that people don't learn all that much Irish in national school here really- it's in secondary school that the proper learning starts really.. would you consider going to the Gaeltacht for a short course to give yourself a chance to catch up that little bit?

bevan619

Well there is no chance of me going to a Gaeltact. No money = No Gaeltacht. Plus I don't see it fair that my brothers (twins that re one year older than me) got out of it as soon as they entered Secondary School.

pog it

Maybe you should ask your parents to ring the Department of Education and find out about your options?
But seriously, don't forget to take into consideration that if you'e going to university when you finish your leaving cert, you'll need Irish (that is, if you think you want to go to university).

spurious

bevan619 wrote: »

Well there is no chance of me going to a Gaeltact. No money = No Gaeltacht.

That's not true.
There are a number of schemes all over the country to allow people with limited funds to attend Gaeltacht colleges.

dlofnep

bevan619 wrote: »

Well there is no chance of me going to a Gaeltact. No money = No Gaeltacht. Plus I don't see it fair that my brothers (twins that re one year older than me) got out of it as soon as they entered Secondary School.

You can be funded if your family is short on cash. Alternatively, maybe you could find a conversational group for free Where do you live?

bevan619

I just want a way out of it. I can't revise for it even if I have the stuff in front of me. I can't memorize any words and I am terrible at verbs. I don't even see the point of learning Irish. You don't need it for the kind of work I want to do (computers and technology).

dlofnep

bevan619 wrote: »

I just want a way out of it. I can't revise for it even if I have the stuff in front of me. I can't memorize any words and I am terrible at verbs. I don't even see the point of learning Irish. You don't need it for the kind of work I want to do (computers and technology).

If that's the case, get your parents to speak to your local TD and see if he can do something about it. If you don't want to study it, this is probably your only way out of it.

I study multimedia application design in college - and all of my projects so far have been based around Irish. I designed a language assistant for a mobile phone for my 2nd year project, and I'm designing a more intense language learning system for my 4th year project.

The point of learning Irish is to be able to converse in Irish and understand it. This is clearly not your desire, so I would recommend that your parents speak to your teacher - and a TD beyond that.

However, if that fails - given that you live in Ireland, you will have to go along with it's academic program. It might not be fair - but I certainly wouldn't complain about having to learn Welsh if I moved to Wales, despite English being used predominantly there. I'd accept it and move on. I'd probably even be happy with the fact that I could speak it.

Just understand that if you do choose to take on the language, there is alot of support there for you - and alot of people on here who will be willing to help you out with any questions. I'll be more than happy to burn you some CD's with material, and give you some literature.

djcervi

Memorising words alone won't help you to learn a language in general. You need to know the pronounciation of the word, repeat it to yourself regularly and by that way it sticks into your head. Also you need to have these words in a certain notebook so that you can revise them which aids the memory process. If you take a few words a night and learn the pronounciation and practise them to yourself- you would be learning them more effectively. Also arrange your notebook for different themes e.g. numbers, city vocab, house vocab, etc.

The verb system in Irish is pretty straightforward in theory. You have three declines one of which is the irregular verbs. (There are only 11, whereas there are hundreds in French, Spanish, etc). If you learn how to conjugate each verb by adding the endings and by practising the method- you should manage. I take it you are also studying a foreign language- It's pretty much similar. Language acquisition can only be achieved through practice and the willingness to do so and improve.

If possible I think you should do a Gaeltacht course. There are scholarships availiable and it will definitely change your sentiment on the Irish language, provided you go in with an open mind. Personally I didn't like Irish in primary but I loved it from the minute I started secondary. I also went to the Gaeltacht which was good fun and I made some good friends who I still talk to. The set up might be strict and controlling but the atmosphere and fun makes up for it tenfold. Don't knock it till you try it?!

Watch 'in the name of the fada' by Des Bishop. It's on DVD. That'll give you an insight into the Gaeltacht. (I know you are looking for advice on what you should do but this forum is kinda pro Irish so you are gonna be persuaded to stick with Irish anyway)

Good Luck with whatever choice you make.. Just don't regret it!

bevan619

I've talked to my teacher and nothing happened. Next step is the principal. He knows my mum so he won't be a b***h like my teacher. Thanks for all of your help. I know I should learn it but I honestly can't be bothered putting a lot of time into it to catch up with everyone when I won't even need it. And people saying that I need Irish to get into college/university, maybe I don't want to go to college/university over here?

dlofnep

Whatever your decision, if you decide to keep it up - we'll be here to help you.

Prolatarian

How long have you got till the exam?I know that your looking for a way out of it but having another laungauge is always a good thing.if you have to sit the exam and you have time say a year it really isent hard to pick up enough irish to pass the ordineary level exam.try watching some of the cartoons on TG4.it will melp you when your trying to make sentences and with pronuncation. Go n-eirí leat.