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Question about the Modern Irish course

  • 10-02-2013 08:19PM
    #1
    Dropping No Eaves
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 178 ✭✭


    I'm interested in Irish and in doing it at third level. But, despite really liking the language, I'm not fluent or anything.

    What is the standard like for studying MI in TCD? I'm aiming for around a B in the LC, but I've found my interest in the subject growing more and more this year.

    Thanks in advance.


Comments

  • #2
    Corruptedmorals
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,195 ✭✭✭Corruptedmorals


    Dropping No Eaves wrote: »
    I'm interested in Irish and in doing it at third level. But, despite really liking the language, I'm not fluent or anything.

    What is the standard like for studying MI in TCD? I'm aiming for around a B in the LC, but I've found my interest in the subject growing more and more this year.

    Thanks in advance.

    The standard is really high. You need to be extremely good at grammar, and have a wide vocabulary or you will struggle. In 1st year, exercises will include oral language classes (don't pick Connacht, you'll just watch Ros na Rún in that one), translation, essays on short stories and a lot of work on grammar. The short stories are very difficult, a far cry from An Triail. Two of the books are 'Dúil' and 'Scothscéalta', available from the Harcourt street Irish shop if you want to have a look.

    I got a B in the LC and because I was far and away the best student in the class I had an inflated sense of how good I was at Irish. I really struggled in college with it, as the grasp you're expected to have of grammar is so far above. Quite a lot of the others had either been to Gaelscoileanna for primary and/or secondary, and spoke Irish at home. You have to spend 3 months total over the 4 years in the Gaeltacht (Carraroe), but I'd recommend trying to go yourself before 1st year if it's really what you want to do.


  • #3
    Dropping No Eaves
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 178 ✭✭Dropping No Eaves


    Yeah, I didn't attend a Gaelscoil unfortunately, or grow up in a Gaeltacht region. That is one of my primary concerns, that I will fall behind due to most others in the course being fluent.

    Thanks for the advice. I'll definitely look into the books. I do live in Galway though, so Connacht Irish is where it's at for me. :P


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