Folklore: Festivals, Traditions and Superstitions

Folklore: Festivals, Traditions and Superstitions
€249.00
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From 11 September 2024
10 Weeks
20 Hours
Online
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Description

Are you interested in the old traditions of the Irish language? Would you like to learn more about the magic and the mysterious superstitions at the heart of the language? If so, this brand new course will be of great benefit to you. This 10-week course focuses on customs, superstitions and merry-making which revolve around the calendar. It will cover Christian and pre-Christian traditions and explore a wide range of events related to Irish culture.

The course is suitable for people who already have advanced language skills. Complex Irish-language concepts and terms will be explored during the course. Participants will have the opportunity to get to know each other through the facilitation of creative and deep conversations. This unique course will entail a fascinating historical and linguistic journey in which vocabulary and complex aspects of grammar will be highlighted (such as the continuous past tense and the subjunctive mood) in context, giving learners the opportunity to enrich their Irish.

What does this course comprise?

  • 20 hours of live classes online
  • A digital handbook filled with high-quality learning materials

    Who is this course for?
    This course is targeted at people who are fluent in Irish (C1 or C2) or who have already completed an advanced-level course. It will be of great benefit to those who have an interest in the folklore of the country or who wish to learn more about Irish culture.

    Learning Outcomes
    Below are the learning outcomes for students who successfully complete the programme:

  • They will expand their vocabulary and the richness of their Irish by reading and listening to texts from old native speakers.
  • They will broaden their understanding of Irish grammar by reading texts containing a high standard of Irish.
  • They will be knowledgeable about the folklore and culture of the country. Furthermore, they will appreciate and respect how present-day customs trace their origins to the distant past.

    Learning Approach
    The course will last ten weeks and there will be a two-hour class each week. The entire course will take place online. The Gaelic festivals and the folklore associated with them will be highlighted throughout the course: the New Year, St Brigid's Day, Imbolc, St Patrick's Day, Bealtaine, Columba, St John's Eve, Lúnasa, Hallowe'en and Christmas.

    Tutor
    Donegal native Dubhán Ó Longáin is an Irish-language tutor at the University of Limerick. He has a keen interest in folklore and literature (and, in particular, in illustrating folklore in literature). He is also a creative writer and in his work enjoys recasting the old stories of Ireland with a contemporary outlook.

    This course and/or the course Folklore: Story-telling, Heritage and Traditions may be undertaken in any order.

    • Book the course

    10 Weeks
    |
    20 Hours
    |
    |
    €249.00

    Advanced 1 (C1) Aimed at those who have a reasonable fluency in Irish but who have little experience of discussing more challenging topics (current affairs and technology, for example). Participants have an opportunity to add to their vocabulary and range of idiomatic expressions and to improve their grammar. A wide range of topics is discussed in the classes.

    Levels Day Time Start Date
    Advanced 1 (C1) Wednesday 7:00 - 9:00pm

    Space available

     11 September 2024 Register now

    Our teaching approach

    Gaelchultúr has developed comprehensive syllabuses and every class at every level follows these syllabuses.

    The communicative approach to language teaching is used by Gaelchultúr’s teachers, giving learners the opportunity to play an active part in each class.

    A strong emphasis is placed on group and pair work and learners therefore have a chance to practise what they’ve been taught. The main focus is on speaking and listening in all classes (with the exception of Cruinneas sa Ghaeilge), but reading and writing activities also feature.

    Learn more about us

    FAQs

    You will need a laptop or desktop computer, a reasonably good broadband connection and a headset with a microphone (a USB headset, if possible). Headsets can be purchased online on Amazon and other websites.
    You will be sent an invitation by email about 20 minutes before the class begins. This email message will come from Zoom, the video conferencing platform used to deliver the classes.
    You can, indeed. Every learner will be given the opportunity to do a technical test before the course commences and any technical issues that emerge during this test will be resolved. You don’t need to organise this – we will contact you to arrange a time after you have registered for the course.
    You can but you will not be able to participate in pair work and group work activities. It is better, therefore, to use a laptop or desktop computer, if possible.
    We recommend that learners switch on their camera during class as it makes the learning experience more immersive. If you do not wish to turn on your camera, however, that’s perfectly fine.
    There will be at least six other learners in the class and a maximum of eighteen people.
    Pair work and group work activities will be an integral part of each class, therefore you’ll have plenty of opportunities to speak Irish. You will also be able to raise a virtual hand and ask the teacher questions whenever you like.
    No. A digital booklet containing all the material you’ll need during the course will be emailed to you before the course commences and you will be able to use this booklet during the classes and for studying between the sessions. The cost of this booklet is included in the course fee. You will also be able to access all of the notes online. The beginners and lower intermediate classes are based on the books in the Gaeilge gan Stró! series but learners in those classes are not required to buy those publications. Note: Those attending Accuracy 1 and Accuracy 2 will be required to buy the grammar book Gramadach gan Stró! before the course commences. They will be able to buy this book at half price (€10), plus postage.
    In the case of the beginners and intermediate level classes, there will be written exercises from time to time but the emphasis will be on the spoken language for the most part. We will teach grammar in context, as it’s required, and we will always ensure that there isn’t too much focus on grammatical rules. There will be a greater emphasis on writing and grammar in the higher level classes, particularly in the accuracy in Irish classes.

    Terms and Conditions

    • Course fees may be refunded in full to a learner up to five working days prior to the commencement of the course. The refund must by requested by contacting Gaelchultúr’s staff by email or by phone. (Our contact details can be found here.)
    • If, following the first class, the student decides that he/she would like to discontinue the course, 60% of the total fee will be refunded to him/her. Thereafter, no refund will be made to the student.
    • Gaelchultúr Teoranta has the right to cancel a class or to amalgamate classes.
    • If it is necessary to cancel a class, every effort will be made to place the participants in another class or to register them for an online course. A full refund will be made to the customer if these options do not suit him/her.
    • A student may defer his/her registration only once. If he/she wishes to defer registration, he/she must notify Gaelchultúr’s staff of this by week three of the course. No refund will be made to the student if he/she does not accept a place on the next course he/she is due to attend.
    • Gaelchultúr will accept no responsibility in the event that a student registers at the wrong level. We advise our students to do our online Irish test or to seek our advice to ensure that they are undertaking the correct level.
    • If a student wants to move to another level, we cannot guarantee that a space will be available for him/her at that level. Should a space be available, Gaelchultúr will charge a €10 administration fee for making the change. A change may only be made to another level following the first class.
    • Course fees must be paid in full prior to commencement of the course. Attendance on a course is subject to full payment of fees.

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