Irish Language Resources at Queen’s: Academic, Social and Everything in Between

By Jacqueline Bonner

Acmhainní Gaeilge i mBéal Feirste

Acadúil, Sóisialta, agus gach rud idir eatarthu.

Mar is eol daoibh go léir- is mise eagarthóir Gaeilge an nuachtáin ‘the Gown’ Ach, tá rún dorcha, folaithe agam – níl mo chuid Gaeilge iontach! Tá mé ag staidéar, agus is breá liom an teanga, ach ní cainteoir dúchais mé, agus ní dheachaigh mé go scoil Ghaeilge. Mar gheall air seo, tá an-suim agam i spásanna agus ciorcail chun staidéar a dhéanamh aici. Tá go leor spásanna sóisialta ann, ach beidh mé ag liostú roghanna nach bhfuil an iomarca idirghníomhú sóisialta ag teastáil uathu freisin- má tá tú cosúil liomsa, agus neirbhíseach as é a labhairt amach os ard! Ar an gcéad dul síos, ceann de na buntáistí is mó a bhaineann le cairde a bheith agat ón bPoblacht ná a gcuid seanleabhair scoile a ghoid. Tá an chuid is mó againn ró-leisciúil chun fáil réidh lenár seanleabhair scoile go léir, agus ní féidir liom a dhóthain iad a mholadh. ‘Fiúntas Nua’ an t-ainm a bhí ar mo théacsleabhair do dhaoine ar spéis leo é – ach is cabhair iad donedeal agus ebay chun aon bhranda de sheanleabhair shaora a aimsiú.

Tá an cúrsa Gaeilge (Arna dhéanamh ag ionad teanga na hollscoile) an-struchtúrtha, rud a d’fhéadfadh a bheith cabhrach má tá tú cúthail nó nua. Ach tá an méid a fhoghlaimíonn tú teoranta – tá na cúrsaí gearr agus ní mhúineann siad mórán stór focal.

Tá sé an-fhaiseanta fuath a thabhairt do chúrsa Gaeilge Duolingo…

Ach!

Ba mhaith liom a mholadh ar a shon. Tá sé éasca a dhéanamh isteach i gcaitheamh aimsire agus bealach éasca chun focail nua a fhoghlaim. Tugann sé tús láidir d’fhoghlaim na Gaeilge, cé gur fearr duolingo a fhoghlaim LE modh eile, más mian leat a bheith in ann í a labhairt – ach do dhaoine atá ag iarraidh frásaí agus píosaí gearra, tá sé foirfe!

Agus ní féidir liom mórán béime a chur ar thábhacht ‘An Cumann Gaelach’ – is iad a eagraíonn formhór mór na n-imeachtaí Gaeilge ar ár Ollscoil. Ceann de na himeachtaí rialta is ócáidí atá acu ná na Ciorcail Chomhrá a bhíonn ar siúl acu sa ‘The Parlour’ gach Luan ó 19:00-20:00. Reáchtálann siad ceachtanna (ceachtanna ar leith ón ionad teanga) don Ghaeilge bhunúsach agus don Ghaeilge ar an Déardaoin, agus tá sé saor in aisce!

Chomh maith leis sin sa cheathrú Ghaeltachta, eagraíonn ‘Glór na Móna’ go leor imeachtaí ar nós Féile na Carraige (ag an am a bhfuilim á scríobh) atá ar siúl faoi láthair – imeachtaí mar thurais reiligí agus óráidí!

Buíochas arís le Storm Eaton, oifigeach Gaeilge na Banríona, a chabhraigh leis an mbailiúchán seo de sheirbhísí agus de chúrsaí Gaeilge!

As you know, I am the Irish Language Editor for the Gown newspaper. However, I have a dark, hidden secret… My Irish isn’t particularly good! I’m not a native speaker, and I didn’t go to an Irish language school. Because of this, I’m very interested in finding spaces to study and practice it. There are many social spaces, but I will be listing options that don’t require too much social interaction as well- if you’re like me, and nervous of speaking it out loud!

One of the main benefits of having friends from the republic is stealing their old school books. Most of us are too lazy to get rid of all of our old school books, and I can’t recommend them enough. My textbook was ‘fiuntas nua‘ for those of you interested- but donedeal and ebay are helpful for finding any brand of cheap old textbooks.

The Irish Language done by the Queen’s language centre is very structured, which can be helpful if you’re shy or new. However, what you learn is limited- the courses are short and don’t teach much vocabulary.

It’s very fashionable to hate Duolingo’s Irish course, but personally I would advocate for it. It’s easy to make into a hobby and an easy way to learn new words. It gives a strong start for learning Irish, although it’s better to use it with another method, if you want to be able to speak it- but its a great place to start for people who want to learn short phrases and pieces, it’s perfect!

I also cannot emphasise enough the importance of ‘An Cumann Gaelach’; they organise the vast majority of Irish events at Queen’s. One of their most casual regular events is their Conversation Circles- held in ‘The Parlour’ every monday from 7-8pm. They also hold lessons (separate lessons from the language centre) for basic Irish and Irish on Thursdays, and it’s free!

Also in the Gaeltacht quarter, ‘Glór na Móna‘ organizes many events such as Féile na Carraige which is currently taking place – events such as graveyard tours and speeches!

Thanks again to Storm Eaton, the Queen’s Irish language officer, who helped collate this collection of Irish language services and courses!