thread // lá 1

~ why thousands of teenagers turn their backs on the Irish language in early life, and what can be done to instill a 'grá don teanga' in them from an early age

An fhadhb bhunúsach //the basic problem

Meon i leith na teanga // attitude towards the language
(1)

For too many teenagers, Irish is seen as a total burden, in secondary school in particular.
(2)

It is often looked upon as merely an exam in need of passing or a grade in need of getting, placing it on the same level of importance as Accounting, Biology, Geography etc.
(3)

In reality, an Ghaeilge, especially for an Irish person, ought to be much more than just a childhood experience.
(4)

For many, you might have associated Irish with memorising *too many* sraith phictiúirs, learning off essays on topics you don't fully understand and trying to scrape through an often nightmare-inducing 10 minute 'conversation' known to many as the scrúdú béil.
(5)

Now, this isn't to say that lots of students who attended English-speaking secondary schools didn't have wonderful experiences in school with great teachers who helped them discover a grá don teanga.
(6)

HOWEVER, it IS to say that *too many*, an iomarca, young people decide they don't like the language on the basis of the flawed curriculum. Seo í an fhadhb... this is the problem!
(7)

But can we blame them? Of course not. Young people are largely not to blame.
(8)

We can, however, pin the blame on those whose job it is to curate the syllabus and who decide that 12 sraithphictiúir and difficult poetry is the way to teach a *love for* this language, one that means so much more than that.
(9)

We're doing things ar*eways. As a 21 year going into my 3rd year of a languages course, I've witnessed first hand how languages can be taught well and in a way that helps develop a student's confidence rather than (sometimes) shatter it.
(10)

In my opinion, the key is craic. Yes, craic. Ní hionann an Ghaeilge agus ualach mór oibre. Irish is not just a heavy workload, it is a poetic, historical (and frankly sexy) language (sorry Frenchies, an Ghaeilge does something to me that la vocabulaire français cannot)
(11)

Conversation groups and coffee mornings need to become INTEGRAL in schools. Maybe the image of a bunch of sweaty teenagers sitting around drinking tea is a funny one, but what I'm getting at it is the need for the association of an Ghaeilge with relaxing with friends.
(12)

We all know that when it comes to proper language learning, the key is to strike the iron while it's hot.
(13)

The reason why this narrative of 'ah feck, I really wish I kept up my Irish' is so prevalent among older people is because in those crucial adolescent years, they develop a dislike don Ghaeilge rather than a love for it. THIS is they key issue that needs changing.
(14)

It saddens me to see countless college friends of mine who have little to no confidence ag labhairt na teanga, because of the notion of 'gaeilge=ábhar scoile' that the curriculum has instilled in them... when in reality....
(15)

gaeilge=ár gcultúr. An Ghaeilge is yet another reason to be proud of your Irishness.
(16)

So while enjoying your staycation this summer and admiring our gorgeous coastlines, our beautiful national heritage sites and our breathtaking countryside, I encourage you to take a moment to be proud of an Ghaeilge.
(17)

Regardless of your experience learning Irish in earlier life, know that this language is a mark of pride and that being fluent in it does not suggest any kind of superiority nor does struggling with it suggest any kind of inferiority.
(18)

Ár dteanga atá ann, agus tá sé ar mbeolaí chuile dhuine againn.
(19)

There's only so much anyone who wants to learn Irish should be expected to do 'as a stuaim féin' (on their own accord). How the language is taught is in dire need of rethinking if we want 'an chéad ghlúin eile' (the next generation) to love it as much as many of us do
(20)

Though I've been learning Irish everyday since I was 5 years old, I still consider myself a learner.
My goal this week is to connect with other learners. Though I love my circle of gaeilgeoir friends, I'd love even more for it to be a bigger one.
(21)

end of thread :))