Irish Class, September 15, 2008

Irish Class, September 15, 2008

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Fadas: áéíóúÁÉÍÓÚ

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All-Class session

New Year’s Resolutions (it a a new school year, also Samhain is not too far off).
We “swore” to each one by saying, “I take the book [Bible]!” — Tugaim an leabhar ann! From the Gaeltacht Minnesota All Class Meeting page:

1. If an opportunity to volunteer arises, I do not have to feel guilty if it doesn’t work into my schedule, but I will wag my finger at myself if I avoid the event because I am afraid my Irish isn’t good enough.
2. I will visit the web site once a week (www.gaelminn.org). At the least, I’ll check the home page and the page for my class.
3. I will work harder at using the Irish I already know, and worry less about the Irish I have yet to learn. In particular, I am going to go hog wild in using the Irish expressions for hello, goodbye, thank you, and so on. I will even use a few Irish words with my classmates before class starts.
4. I will find just a little time to review my class notes on Tuesday or Wednesday, because I know that will do me more good than spending a longer time on it Saturday or Sunday.
5. I will use my dictionary as my dictionary before I use my teacher as my dictionary.
6. Quantity is important.! When doing a drill or activity, if I finish while others are still working, I’ll start over.
7. There is no finish line. I’ll measure my progress by looking over my shoulder, instead of far ahead.
8. After I miss a few classes, if I hear a little voice in my head that says, "I’m getting rusty, so I’ll stay home next Monday and work hard on brushing up before I go back to class the following week," I will recognize that as the voice of The Devil.

Some talk about administrative matters followed, then Will introduced TJ to us. He is a native speaker of Irish currently teaching at St. Thomas on a Fulbright. He talked
about his experiences as an Irish speaker in Ireland.

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