Intensive Preparatory Course in Written Irish (entirely online), February - May 2021 (Group 3)

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Description

The intensive course focuses on grammatical accuracy, writing style and translation skills. There’s also an emphasis on the technological resources available in Irish, including those available online. The course involves a mix of independent study and live online classes. The schedule for the spring 2021 course is as follows:
Session 1: Friday, 12 February & Saturday, 13 February
Session 2: Friday, 12 March & Saturday, 13 March
Session 3: Friday, 9 April & Saturday, 10 April
Session 4: Friday, 7 May & Saturday, 8 May

Between February and May 2021, the Intensive Preparatory Course in Written in Irish will be offered entirely online giving people from all over the world the opportunity to undertake the course. Gaelchultúr has been offering the Intensive Course since 2010 and nearly 700 people have attended it to date.
*New opportunities* Since Irish became an official and working language of the European Union and since the enactment of the Official Languages Act 2003, new employment opportunities have emerged for Irish speakers who have a high level of competence in the language. Many people who speak fluent Irish have never had an opportunity to learn the grammar of the language properly or to add to their writing skills. To cater for such people, Gaelchultúr will be running the Intensive Preparatory Course in Written Irish (‘Dianchúrsa ullmhúcháin i gCruinneas na Gaeilge') again between February and May 2021.
*Who should attend the course?* This part-time programme is aimed at those who wish to apply for a post-graduate course in Irish - an MA in translation, for example - but who feel that they don't have the required standard in the language. It will also suit those working through the medium of Irish daily - journalists, civil servants and translators, for example - who wish to improve their written skills and grammar. This course will also be of assistance to those intending to take the Foras na Gaeilge exam in order to achieve the Seal of Accreditation for Translators.
*What is covered in the course?* The course will focus on grammatical accuracy, writing style and translation skills. There will also be an emphasis on the technological resources available in Irish, including those that are online.
*Schedule* The course will involve a combination of independent study and live online classes. The online classes will take place on four different weekends, at the following times:

+Class 1+: Friday, 7.00-8.15pm +Class 2+: Saturday, 11.00am-12.30pm +Class 3+: Saturday, 2.00-4.00pm

These are the dates on which the classes will be held:

12 and 13 February 12 and 13 March 9 and 10 April 7 and 8 May

Attendance at these sessions is not compulsory but students are strongly advised to attend them.
*Coursework / Optional exam* Participants will be given access to Gaelchultúr's e-learning site, ranganna.com, where they will have an opportunity to undertake interactive lessons and receive instant feedback. A forum will also be provided on ranganna.com to enable participants to discuss course content with their tutor and with other students. Students will be able to submit homework by email between classes, if they wish. They will receive comprehensive feedback about these lessons within one week. A two-hour grammar and translation exam will be held at the end of the course. This exam will take place on 22 May 2021 but will not be compulsory. Participants will have the option of either (i) undertaking the exam online or (ii) travelling to Gaelchultúr's education centre on Clare Street, Dublin 2 to sit the test there. Option (ii) above will be accepted as an entrance exam for the Postgraduate Diploma in Translation, a course offered by Coláiste na hÉireann/Gaelchultúr since 2013. For more information about the Diploma, please click here.
*Entry requirements* This course is suitable for those who achieve a score of at least 80% in Gaelchultúr’s Online Irish Test. To take this test now, please click here.
*Fee* The intensive preparatory course costs €450. Applicants must pay the full fee before the course commences. You can register for the Intensive Preparatory Course in Written Irish in the following ways: - by clicking on the ‘Book the course’ link above - by calling (01) 484 5220 and paying the course fee by credit card.
*Further information* You can contact Gaelchultúr’s office for further information: (01) 484 5220 | eolas@gaelchultur.com
*Course brochure*

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.

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FAQs

You will need a laptop or desktop computer with a working microphone and camera.

You will be sent a Zoom link by email prior to the commencement of the course. You will need this link to login into the class each week.

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.

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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 Conduct 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.