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Help for non-native irish learner

  • 20-06-2013 10:31pm
    #1
    carolb0101
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1 ✭


    Hi All

    Can anyone please advise me, as an English person trying to learn Irish from scratch, the best way to start?

    I now live in Ireland and have attended a few courses. However, they are all aimed at people who have learnt Irish at school, not for someone who has not.

    Over the past 2 years I have built up a large vocabulary, but am unable to have a conversation. I feel I need to understand the grammar, verb tenses and spelling rules, but don't know where to start.:)

    Thanks


Comments

  • #2
    jarvis
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,497 ✭✭✭jarvis


    I'd imagine your best bet would be to get one on one instruction. Then you can have the tutor tailor the lesson to your needs. Or befriend a native Irish speaker who's willing to have 90 chats about Irish with you.


  • #3
    pog it
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,912 ✭✭✭pog it


    Start with the verbs next. Get yourself some grammar books and dictionary and start looking up the verbs section and learn the tenses, etc. After that move into other sections of the grammar books, maybe even opening up pages at random for sneak previews while you are still mastering verbs.

    Verbs are prob the most important thing to learn to become competent in a new language.


  • #4
    solas111
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 399 ✭✭solas111


    There are some good books and tapes out there.

    "Now You're Talking" (may not be still available) and "Abair Leat" are two that come to mind.


  • #5
    uch
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,020 ✭✭✭uch


    Try Buntús Cainte, they have a cd for each of the three books so you can listen to what you're reading, they are a bit dated but I found them extremely handy when I was trying to learn, I never learned Irish in school as I was exempt due to Dyslexia so I'd have been in a similar situation to yourself when I started. Book & DC is a tenner IIRC

    21/25



  • #6
    craoltoir
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 781 ✭✭✭craoltoir


    Your local library should have some tapes/cd's for learning Irish. They may also have conversation groups to practice the language. Go n-éirí leat.


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  • #7
    endacl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,412 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    If you fancy a bit of immersion OP, the Oideas Gael in Glencolmcille run courses over the summer. Aimed at adults, and with class levels beginning at 'gan focal at bith'. You may come away with an ulster twang, but you'll learn a lot.

    Also, if you're based in Dublin, Áras Chrónáin in clondalkin is a great resource. They run conversation classes, and the ethos is 'Irish spoken, English understood'. A nice 'no pressure' environment. Also, good music and good cheap pints!


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