Irish Northern Aid - 36 South Main Street, Pearl River, New York 10965
1-800-Ireland


Irish Language !!!

The purpose of this course is to give Americans, whether of Irish descent or not, a working knowledge of the Irish language. This course begins with the basics and is entirely self-contained. We have planned it especially for persons who are studying alone or in small groups without a teacher, books or recordings.

It may be helpful to print out each lesson and place within a binder or notebook, thereby creating a resource you can access when away from your computer.

Pronunciation and study methods are important for you who are learning Irish in this way. We will say a few words about these two subjects first.

 

Pronunciation:

Americans studying Irish have always learned pronunciation from either an Irish speaker or from one of several recordings accompanying textbooks. Because we will not be able to teach pronunciation in these ways, we will give you a simple pronunciation guide system and then extra instruction from time to time. If you have the chance to listen to a native speaker, however, do so.

There are differences in regional pronunciation in Irish, as in other languages, but if the speaker talks slowly and clearly, you should have little trouble in understanding the words you know.

The pronunciation given in the guide for this lesson series is not based exclusively on any one region of Ireland. Where the differences are significant, we will give you some of the other pronunciations and usage, to make it easier to talk to all speakers.

 

Study Method

Learn the pronunciation guide system and do the practice work for English words that we will give you.

For each Irish word, phrase, or sentence, first look at the pronunciation guide (which will always be in parentheses) and say the word or words several times out loud. Then look at the Irish word and pronounce it several more times. After you have gone over the lesson in this way, write the Irish words, copying them from the lesson and saying them out loud as you copy them.

Each time you say an Irish word or phrase, try to form a picture in your mind of the meaning. Although this is difficult with some single words, persist and it will become easier as the phrases and sentences become longer.

Translation is the next step. Read the Irish word or phrase out loud and then translate it into English. Do this several times, until you are sure that you know it. Then translate the English into Irish several times. If you are learning Irish with others, each person can give another a word or phrase to translate and can take a part in the conversation in the lessons.

In the conversation exercises, look first at the pronunciation and meaning, then look up from the lesson before you say the Irish words out loud. Work phrase by phrase at first, until you can memorize entire sentences. If you study with others, take turns in reading what each character says.

In the conversation exercises, you will see words and phrases that will seem difficult at first. Memorize them and don't worry about the grammar. It will be explained later.



Lessons Lessons Lessons Lessons
Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Lesson 3 Lesson 4
Lesson 5 Lesson 6 Lesson 7 Lesson 8
Lesson 9 Lesson 10 Lesson 11 Lesson 12
Lesson 13 Lesson 14 Lesson 15 Lesson 16
Lesson 17 Lesson 18 Lesson 19 Lesson 20
Lesson 21 Lesson 22 Lesson 23 Lesson 24
Lesson 25 Lesson 26 Lesson 27 Lesson 28
Lesson 29 Lesson 30 Lesson 31 Lesson 32
Lesson 33 Lesson 34 Lesson 35 Lesson 36
Lesson 37 Lesson 38 Lesson 39 Lesson 40
Lesson 41 Lesson 42 Lesson 43 Lesson 44
Lesson 45 Lesson 46 Lesson 47 Lesson 48
Lesson 49 Lesson 50 Lesson 51 Lesson 52
Lesson 53 Lesson 54 Lesson 55 Lesson 56
Lesson 57 Lesson 58 Lesson 59 Lesson 60
Lesson 61 Lesson 62 Lesson 63 Lesson 64
Lesson 65 Lesson 66 Lesson 67 Lesson 68
Lesson 69 Lesson 70 Lesson 71 Lesson 72
Lesson 73 Lesson 74 Lesson 75 Lesson 76
Lesson 77 Lesson 78 Lesson 79 Lesson 80
Lesson 81 Lesson 82 Lesson 83 Lesson 84
Lesson 85 Lesson 86 Lesson 87 Lesson 88
Lesson 89 Lesson 90 Lesson 91 Lesson 92
Lesson 93 Lesson 94 Lesson 95 Lesson 96
Lesson 97 Lesson 98 Lesson 99 Lesson 100
Lesson 101 Lesson 102 Lesson 103 Lesson 104
Lesson 105 Lesson 106 Lesson 107 Lesson 108
Lesson 109 Lesson 110 Lesson 111 Lesson 112
Lesson 113 Lesson 114 Lesson 115 Lesson 116
Lesson 117 Lesson 118 Lesson 119 Lesson 120
Lesson 121 Lesson 122 Lesson 123 Lesson 124
Lesson 125 Lesson 126 Lesson 127 Lesson 128