Hey everyone. So, I have to take the Testas Eorpach na Gaeilge B2 this year for a grant I received so that I can get a masters in Nua-Ghaeilge. I was just wondering if anyone had any tips for improving listening ability. It's by far my weakest skill, and the section of the exam I am most worried about. I listen to Nuacht TG4 every day since it does't have English subtitles automatically turned on, yet is nice because the video usually gives hints about it, and I have been using the material from Maynooth's Vifax webpage, but other tips are appreciated.

Also, any tips about the M.A. in Nua-Ghaeilge at NUIG or student visas in Ireland, or the TEG, etc. are all welcome.

Thanks!

Níl aon leigheas air ach cleachtadh, good luck! it seems to be of a very high standard.

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Ah, tá's a'm é. Ach, mar a deirtear i mBéarla: Practice smarter, not harder.

Dia dhuit a chara - I'm probably the worst person to answer this, but anyway you might like to have a look at this - Shortcuts to Success: The Irish Oral - Leaving Certicate - Higher and Ordinary Level - An Scrúdú Cainte by Peadar Ó Ceallaigh 7 Elaine Mullins. Apart from having a CD that goes with it - always a good sign - in the section where they have the transcriptions, they also have written transcription of how it's pronounced, under the text. That's a nice idea as it gives you quite a precise idea of how to pronounce it, especially when you have groups of words that run together or where you get elisions between the words.
It might be nit-picking on my part, but even so - on the front cover they've managed to put - An Scrúdú Cáinte.
It's published by Gill & Macmillan - ISBN 978 0 7171 3832 6

They also publish - Irish (H): An Aiste; Cluastuiscint; Stair na Teanga (includes CD)
and Irish Essay Writing (H) & (O)

An Scrúdú Cáinte - "The exam's fault or blameworthy'' - maybe by design

If you click on the book cover to enlarge it, you can just about see it there -

www.gillmacmillan.ie/secondary-irish/se ... irish-oral

Listening while reading is a good exercise in my opinion -- you get to tie what you hear to what you have in your head. Then relisten at intervals.

Most people's listening lags behind their knowledge of grammar and vocabulary, so learning to listening can (should?) be done with material that is within your language repertoire already -- that way you're literally just learning to "listen", rather than learning survival tactics for getting through a conversation without really listening.

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A language belongs to its native speakers, and when you speak it, you are a guest in their homes.
If you are not a good guest, you have no right to complain about receiving poor hospitality.

I'm not disagreeing with you, but trying to pick up some of the more elusive consonant sounds isn't always easy. Recently Bríd Mhór said something about somebody's pronunciation of a broad 't', she thought it wasn't quite right. She can do that as she knows how to listen out for it, I'm not sure that I can, even when listening to a recording of a native speaker. I can practise saying ort with a soft-sounding 't', but when it comes to pronouncing a broad 't' at the beginning of a word, I really think you need a native speaker in front of you to get it right. I see that it's a similar story with Gàidhlig.

'Sé sin an mana a bhíonn agamsa leis .

Is fiú an chluas a chaitheamh leis an nuaíocht anois is aríst cinnte, feictear dom, tr'éis dom stracfhéachaint a chaitheamh ar an bpaipéar samplach go mbíonn mír nuaíochta ar an sgrúdú gach bliain. 'bhfuil an ceart agam?

'bhfuil sibh i n-ann tréithe canúna a dh'úsáíd agus an triail á ndéanamh agaibh? Nú 'bhfuil bac ar na canúntí fós?

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Níl's a'm má tá an ceart a'd, dáiríre. Ní fhaca mé aon rud ach na rudaí 'tá ar an suíomh. Agus, is féidir leat cainiúint a úsáid (mar shampla, ní bheadh mise míchart dá déarfadh mé "sa nGaeltacht" nú srl, ach ní cheapaim go bhfuil mórán futhu ar an teastas.