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Where
can I learn Irish Gaelic?
A
Guide to Online and Offline Learning Resources
We frequently hear from people who want to know how and where
they can learn the Irish language. There are many
resources available, from online lessons and electronic mailing
lists to books, cassettes and classes.
Our
recommendations follow. If you have information that you would
like to have listed, please send it to the site
administrator.
1. Enroll in a class in your area.
Classes
are one of the best ways to learn a language; they provide
the moral support of a teacher and other students to help
you stick with the learning process.
For
info on Na Gaeil's classes in Chicago, click
here.
An
Teanga Mharthanach (www.ceantar.org/ATM)
maintains a comprehensive listing of teachers and classes
throughout the world, including the U.S.
Daltaí
na Gaeilge's website also has an excellent listing of teachers
in the U.S. and Canada: www.monmouth.com/~daltai/classes.htm
The
University of Minnesota's Less
Commonly Taught Languages (LCTL) Project maintains a
database of LCTL courses offered at some 2,000 colleges
and universities in North America, including Irish
courses.
2. Gaeltacht (Immersion) Weekends.
Gaeltacht
weekends, which have become increasingly popular in recent
years, are a good way for beginners to break the ice.
Seosamh
Mac Giolla Bhearaigh maintains a listing
of weekend retreats offered in the New England area.
Daltaí
na Gaeilge also maintains a calendar
of events held throughout North America.
3. Textbooks, dictionaries and grammar books.
There
are a number of quality textbooks available, some of which
come with cassette tapes. We recommend:
- Irish
On Your Own — comes with 5 cassettes
(orig. published by Gael Media as Now Your Talking)
Éamonn Ó Dónaill & Deirbhile Ní
Churraighín
Passport Books (Chicago, 1998) [purchasing
info]
This comprehensive course is structured in similar fashion
to college language textbooks. Arguably the best textbook
currently available!
- Buntús
Cainte — cassettes available
Tomás Ó Domhnalláin
Booklets (1-3) published by Oifig an tSoláthair (Dublin)
Cassettes issued by Gael-Linn [purchasing
info]
This 3-part series has been around for years but remains
popular for its simple, non-grammatical approach to the
language.
- Progress
in Irish: A Graded Course for Beginners & Revision
Máiréad Ní Ghráda
published by Longman, Browne & Nolan [purchasing
info]
This older work features simple, short lessons with clear
explanations of Irish grammar. Unfortunately, cassette tapes
are unavailable.
Dictionaries
and grammar books:
- Foclóir
Póca (English-Irish/Irish-English)
An Gúm (Dublin, 1986) [purchasing
info]
This "pocket dictionary" has been a tried-and-true
companion to learners for years. It includes phonetic pronunciations
for each entry; an optional learner's cassette is also available.
- Foclóir
Gaeilge-Béarla (Irish-English)
ed. Niall Ó Dónaill; An Gúm (Dublin,
1977) [purchasing
info]
Your standard big dictionary. Important for more advanced
students.
- English-Irish
Dictionary
ed. De Bhaldraithe; An Gúm (Dublin, 1959) [purchasing
info]
De Bhaldraithe's classic work, now somewhat dated, remains
indispensable for students, particularly those practicing
written composition.
- New
Irish Grammar, by the Christian Brothers
C.J. Fallon (Dublin, 1994) [purchasing
info]
Everything you ever wanted to know about modern Irish grammar.
4. Online lessons.
There
are literally dozens of sites (more than we can list here)
offering online lessons in Irish...
To
view Na Gaeil's online lessons, click
here.
For
other online lessons, see Sabhal Mór Ostaig's links
to online lessons at "Gaeilge ar an Ghréasán."
5. Electronic Mailing Lists.
Electronic
mailing lists (e.g., listservs) provide learners the opportunity
to meet other learners and speakers, ask questions and practice
their skills.
Na
Liostanna Gaelacha (The Gaelic Lists) are the largest
and best known of Irish-language listservs. In recent years,
the original Gaelic-L
list was divided into several smaller lists. Gaeilge-B
is specifically geared to beginners and learners. Check
these pages for information on how to subscribe.
6. Additional Information.
For
additional information on Irish-language resources, "Gaeilge
ar an Ghréasán," maintained by Sabhal
Mór Ostaig, is the authoritative listing of
links, webpages and other online materials pertaining to
or presented in the Irish language.
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