Irish Classes

Free for students and staff

Hilary Term 2017

***Registration closes at 5pm on Tuesday 24 January 2017. Please register at https://goo.gl/amcOiK

***An email will issue to all those who have registered by 27 January (the classes themselves commence the week beginning 30 January).

Registering for our classes in January 2017

Timetable

Important Dates Hilary Term 2017

General Information

• The classes are free of charge
• Both TCD students and staff are welcome (including retired staff)
• Emphasis is on spoken Irish
• There are a range of levels available (see Guide to Levels below)
• The classes are provided by the national organisation Conradh na Gaeilge
• The courses are compatible with the syllabus for the European Certificate in Irish (TEG), an internationally-recognised qualification. Specific support is given to those who want to earn this qualification. And, if you're a staff member, the Irish Language Office will pay the fee of the oral exam (€50) for you.
• An Information and Registration Day is held at the start of each term.
• Each class is one hour a week, for 8 weeks, with a break for Reading Week.
• For more information, please email gaeloifig@tcd.ie, or call 01-896-3652.

Guide to Levels

• Beginners (A1)            
  For people who have never learned Irish before. You will be able to hold a basic conversation by the end of the course.
• Beginners (A1+) for those who have taken an A1 class previously but are not yet confident enough to undetrake level A2.

• Basic Refreshers (A2)             
  For people who have learned Irish before, but who only remember a little of the language.
• Intermediate (B1)  
  For people who have a reasonable level of Irish but who may lack confidence in using it.
• Upper Intermediate (B2)  
  For those who have a good level of Irish and wish to further enhance their spoken Irish and grammatical accuracy.

• Comhrá / Conversation (B2)
  For those who have a high level of Irish and who wish to practice informally and widen their vocabulary.

The Selection Process:

• Every effort is made to provide a space for every applicant to the Irish classes, however registering for a class unfortunately does not guarantee a place in that class.
• When a particular class is oversubscribed, places are awarded by lottery, in the following order:
  1. staff who have Irish language training requirements
  2. other staff members
  3. students who have never taken an Irish class in Trinity
  4. students who have taken a Trinity Irish class in another term / other terms
  5. students who are taking Irish language modules as part of their normal course of study
• Efforts will be made to provide an extra class in the case that a large number of applicants are still without a place after this process.
• Any class may be cancelled if not enough people register for it.

Important note: If you are a staff member, you should get permission from your line manager before registering for a class that takes place during your normal working hours.

Practice

There are many ways you can practice your Irish outside class within Trinity College:

• An Chéadaoin @ an Bhutrach is our Irish conversation circle held in the Buttery Restaurant every Wednesday during term from 10.30am to 11.30am. It is open to staff, students and the general public.
• An Cumann Gaelach hold a conversation circle in Seomra na Gaeilge every Tuesday during term from 7.30pm to 9pm (things usually continue afterwards in Club Chonradh na Gaeilge, the Irish speaking pub on Harcourt Street)
• An Lón Gaeilge is an informal Irish lunch for TCD staff, hosted by the School of Education in room 3104, Arts Block, every Wednesday during term from 1-2pm. Please bring your own lunch. Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided.
• Seomra na Gaeilge is open 9.30am - 4.30pm, Monday - Friday during term, and all TCD staff and students are welcome to drop in and have a chat as Gaeilge.