Gréasán na Gaeilge (Irish Language Network)

From 14 June 2024

1 seisiún

All Levels

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Description

Are you curious about your language rights? Or struggling to understand and fulfil your language obligations at work? Maybe you’re in search of Irish language resources and support? Welcome to Gaelchultúr’s new network Gréasán na Gaeilge, an initiative aimed at assisting anyone with an interest in or a connection with the Irish language (including learners, fluent speakers, and public sector employees) with their language requirements.

Network members will benefit from a series of seminars aimed at educating them about relevant events, resources and changes taking place in the Irish-language domain.

To join Gréasán na Gaeilge for free and secure your attendance at the next seminar, please register your interest by clicking on the button to the right.

Join us

Our most recent Gréasán na Gaeilge seminar, “Ar thóir an eolais: Getting the most out of Irish-language dictionaries online”, was delivered by the team at Foras na Gaeilge’s Dictionary Project.

Great progress has been made in Irish-language lexicography over the last decade and as a result of that great work, the Irish-speaking community now has access to high-standard online dictionary resources. There are now over 48,000 entries and 145,000 sense units available on the site focloir.ie (the New English-Irish Dictionary), for example, and thousands of daily users benefit from this progress. In addition to easily searching for vocabulary online, grammar tools and sound files are also available. These resources are invaluable for learners and fluent speakers alike and they are used in a wide range of sectors such as education, translation and in the public sector.

We are currently planning the next Gréasán na Gaeilge seminar, which will be announced here shortly. If you would like to take part, register your interest here and we'll be in contact with you soon.

In case you missed it...

Páidí Ó Lionáird, Communications Manager at Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga (Irish Language Commissioner’s Office) kicked off the seminar series. There have been major changes in the role of Irish in everyday life since the publication of the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021. Páidí discussed these changes and shared useful information on how those working across the public sector can effectively implement the provisions of the Act. He also highlighted to growing number of employment opportunities for Irish-speaking professionals.

The second seminar was given by the team of Foras na Gaeilge's Dictionary Project. The team gave us an insight into the growth of Irish-language lexicography, and the excellent language tools that are available in the New English-Irish Dictionary, foclóir.ie. This comprehensive resource is used by people from a wide range of sectors every day.

Head on over to our Youtube channel to catch-up on any webinar you have missed.

Book the course

1 seisiún

All Levels

English Version

English Version An English version of the upcoming seminar.

Day Time Start Date

English Version Friday 1.00pm-2.00pm

Space available

14 June 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.

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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.
Every student must abide by our code of behaviour when attending a course with us.
People under 18 years of age are not permitted to attend courses other than those specified as being suitable for those under 18 years of age. Our Child Protection Statement can be found here.