Hello Everyone,

I am glad to join you guys here to learn the Irish language. I want to learn the language because of business purpose,I am currently working in US.I hardly get this language, I understand very few words which is written or spoken in Irish.

I have started to take classes but they are not that much helpful. Can you guys suggest me some tips or anything for this?


Thanks

While you're certainly welcome, I'm not sure why you'd need Irish for business. Most businesses in Ireland operate through English.

I can't recommend much more than taking classes. If they're not helpful, you might want to discuss with your teacher what you're finding especially difficult, and perhaps discuss your goals for the language with him or her.

Redwolf

Your not really going to understand much of any language that youve had little or no exposure too unless it close to something you already speak, which in this case is very unlikely.

What is your goal for the lanaguge, what do you want to achieve and in how much time ?

As Redwolf said that vast majority of business transactions in Ireland are through English. Even in the Irish speaking regions they will all take place through English unless everyone present is known to be an Irish speaker.

When there is any uncertainty the default language is always English.

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Bíonn rudaí maithe mall

All this now having been said, here are some things I recommend for my beginners:

Labels!: Get a packet of Post-it notes and label things around your house. You may find it useful to do this one room at a time. Be sure to include the definite article with the word (with the proper inflection). More advanced learners can also include the genitive. Every time your eye falls on one of these labels, say the word out loud (if possible) or at least say it in your head. This helps with vocabulary and pronunciation practice.

As you get more accomplished, start using those words in simple sentences. For example, instead of saying "an bórd" (or "an tábla") or "pláta," say "Sin é an bórd." "Tá an pláta ar an bórd." "Cuirfidh mé an pláta sa chófra." Etc.

Practice counting and numbering in your head when you're out shopping. For example, as you're putting canned goods in your basket you can be thinking something like "A haon, a dó, a trí, a ceathair. Tá ceithre channa agam." Count the people in line ahead of you: "Duine, beirt, triúr, ceathrar. Tá ceathrar romham."

Practice descriptions in your head while you're shopping or otherwise out and about, for example "Is bean rua í an bhean sin. Tá an fear sin ard. Tá na páistí sin callánach."

Listen to Irish at every opportunity. Have an Irish language radio station playing as you work around the house (several are available on-line). Watch TV shows on TG4 (also available on-line, and mostly subtitled). Have either language-teaching CDs or music CDs in Irish in your car. The more you listen, the better your ear will be. Especially useful for new learners: When you're learning about weather terms, be sure to watch/listen to the weather reports! See how many words you can pick out!

Read! There are lots of books in simple Irish out there, written for adult learners. Buy some and start reading! Try to read an entire page without looking anything up. See if you can get what the unfamiliar words are from the context. And don't neglect reading out loud! It helps a lot with speech.

If you're taking classes, see if you can get a conversation/study group going: Practicing between classes is vital, and much easier if you have other people to practice with!