The GaelMinn Gazette: August, 2016
THE GAELMINN GAZETTE (#134): AUGUST, 2016
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The GaelMinn Gazette, a monthly e-newsletter from Gaeltacht Minnesota, carries helpful items for anyone studying the Irish language, anywhere, as well as news of interest to local and regional students.
Please FORWARD this newsletter to any friends who may want to learn Irish. And if you received this Gazette from someone else, go to www.gaelminn.org to sign up.
To read this newsletter as a web page, go to www.gaelminn.org/lastgaz.htm .
Content (C) 2016 Gaeltacht Minnesota
CONTENTS
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Tips, Tools, & Tricks
---Learn Irish And See The World!
GaelMinn News & Announcements
Lessons Learned: From the Classroom
---The Book Project
About Gaeltacht Minnesota
TIPS, TOOLS, AND TRICKS
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----------THE BOOK PROJECT
In some of our classes, from time to time, we tackle a book. And even if you're working on your own, you may be ready to work your way through a book sooner than you think.
You can, of course, start with children's books. And there are a lot of thin books written especially for "Adult Learners", you can find them at the usual online sources like litriocht.com. Many of these even provide footnotes with translations of phrases or idioms you might not know.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
1. Don't think of your book as a TRANSLATION project. Even a simple text can give you lots to do besides figure out an English version. Even in a short kids' story, you can give yourself exercises like changing tenses, replacing adjectives, etc.
2. Work to a SCHEDULE. That is, tackle your book at the same time every week. That's easy if you have a study group. But even if you are working on your own, it is important to get to your book on a regular basis. If you let too long a time go between sessions – likely to happen if you do not set an explicit schedule – you forget not only elements of the story, you forget the vocabulary and grammar you have been learning through the book.
3. WRITE DOWN an English summary of every unit, or even smaller section, as you finish it. When you miss a few sessions later, and are trying to remember parts of the story, this will allow you to go forward, instead of backing up. (This isn't a word-for-word translation, necessarily, a brief synopsis of the section will do.)
4. KEEP MOVING FORWARD, even if you have to take some shortcuts. If you're in a group, continue on even if some people miss a session. That's why a study-buddy can help, by making sure at least one of you is always moving forward. And if you're bogging down, just get a rough idea of what happened, and don't worry about every word. And then share your summaries (in English) with your comrades when they miss a session.
5. RELAX and enjoy it. Our students have found a continuing story really motivating, but we all have busy days (weeks) when we fall behind. Just plunge ahead, don't try to catch up.
6. Go through the whole story or book once -- and then DO IT AGAIN! The second time through you'll be able to fill in the gaps from the first pass, and in less time than it might take to go back for every word. And you'll enjoy the book more because you won't be looking stuff up all the time. (Hint: keep your English summary at hand as you re-read the story and use it to fill in gaps in your vocabulary.)
Again, working with a small book is something you can start to do even if you're at a beginner's level. Naturally, as your skills improve, your book selection will change. But the habits and learning skills you have developed will transfer to the new book and make it easier to stick with it.
Happy reading!
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GAELTACHT MINNESOTA NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
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----------"INTRO" CLASS OFFERED THIS FALL
Our four-week "Introduction to Irish Gaelic" will be offered through St. Paul Community Education starting at the end of September. This class will get you into our regular Monday night sessions. Learn more at our web page at http://www.gaelminn.org/commed/index.htm .
Registration is on-line through Community Ed and opens the day after Labor Day. When registration opens, you can go to http://commed.spps.org/ and click on the "Register Online" button.
----------THANKS TO OUR IRISH FAIR VOLUNTEERS!
Thanks to everyone who signed up to help at our booth at the Irish Fair on Harriet Island. In the course of that weekend, we had perhaps a couple of thousand interactions with visitors (based on our name tag output!)
And special thanks to Maureen for taking the lead on the Irish Fair effort this year!
----------GREAT MADISON WORKSHOP IN OCTOBER!
Be sure to head to Madison, WI, the weekend of October 14-16, where the Celtic Cultural Center has long held a spectacular fall workshop. Organizer Dineen always recruits an unusual roster of instructors combined with enthusiastic students at all levels.
For more information and a registration form, keep an eye on their web page, where materials will be posted soon. You don't want to miss this one! http://www.celticmadison.org/events/irish-weekend.html .
----------CONFERENCE IN MONTANA, OCTOBER 21-22
The American Conference for Irish Studies will hold their conference at the University of Montana this year. The theme is "Her Exile Children: Ireland and Irish America", and the conference will be addressed by the Irish Ambassador to the US and by the state's Governor. Many additional cultural activities are planned. For more information, contact Traolach at Traolach.oriordain@mso.umt.edu .
----------CLASS SCHEDULE
Will's class will meet on August 29.
Regular Monday classes resume in Central on September 12.
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LESSONS LEARNED: FROM THE CLASSROOM
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We've learned a few things in our Monday night classes -- from both instructors AND students.
----------LEARN IRISH AND SEE THE WORLD!
Well, your little part of the world, at least.
If you have a group, or at least a study buddy, and you have a regular place and time to meet, that's excellent. (Believe us, we have bounced around enough to really appreciate a steady home.) Regularity helps everyone build good habits, benefiting from routine.
But it doesn't hurt to get out and meet someplace new once in a while. Yes, children, we are suggesting a FIELD TRIP!
Every once in a while, plan a session that will get you out and about your local community. Instead of the usual spot, have your group meet at the zoo, in a pub, at the mall, or at a museum.
Getting out on a field trip is, first of all, fun, and adds a little energy to your meetings. It also provides a natural focus -- for each of these events, the group can assemble some special vocabulary, whether the names of animals at the zoo, or the kinds of items you shop for at the mall.
So whether you're part of a formal class, or an informal study group, why not plan a little adventure? Here are a few tips:
1. PLAN & CONSULT. Make sure the location and time are convenient for everyone. Give good directions, and make sure someone is in charge of vocabulary, copies, or props. A bad field trip will put an end to such excursions pretty quickly -- and won't teach much Irish.
2. Extend your vocabulary list BEYOND NOUNS. At the gardens or conservatory, don't just list plant names, learn to talk about things like digging and planting, describe colors and sizes. Lots of places offer opportunities to practice talking about what people like or don't like (e.g., stores, restaurants).
3. Consider ACTIVITIES beyond simple vocabulary. At a field trip to the pub, hold a "pub quiz" in Irish. And at the mall, you can practice giving directions to find a store, or role play buying a favorite item.
4. Control your EXPECTATIONS. You're dealing with new vocabulary in a different environment, so you'll make lots of mistakes. Be ready for that. Once you get on the field trip, just relax, give it your best shot, and have fun.
You only need to do this once in a great while to add a little energy and fun to your group meetings. At your next meeting, pitch the idea of taking your Irish on a field trip!
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ABOUT GAELTACHT MINNESOTA
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Gaeltacht Minnesota is a volunteer organization that has been teaching free weekly classes in Irish for more than two decades. Besides free classes, we offer several workshops each year, a newsletter for learners, and participate in a wide variety of community events.
---------- CONTACT US
You can stay up to date with Gaeltacht Minnesota at www.gaelminn.org , or drop us a line anytime at info@gaelminn.org .
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