Gaeilge gan Stró! – Beginners Level is a multimedia language course for adult learners of Irish. It’s aimed at those who have not previously studied Irish or who only know a few words of the language. The course is intended for learners working by themselves and seeks to give them the confidence and language skills necessary to communicate in Irish in everyday situations. The emphasis is on developing speaking and listening skills but learners are also given some opportunities to read and write the language. Grammar is taught in context, as it’s required.
Gaeilge gan Stró! – Beginners Level aims to help the learner who undertakes the course to:
Gaeilge gan Stró! – Beginners Level was written by Éamonn Ó Dónaill. Éamonn is originally from the Gaoth Dobhair Gaeltacht in Donegal and has been teaching Irish to adults since 1981. He has written various books for learners and teachers, including Essential Irish Grammar (2008), Gramadach gan Stró! (2008/2011) and Gaeilge gan Stró! – Lower Intermediate Level (2010). Éamonn has been working as Director of Education with Gaelchultúr since 2005.
Gaeilge gan Stró! – Beginners Level is based on syllabus A1, Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge, and on Gaelchultúr’s classes at beginners level (Courses A, B and C). The emphasis is on everyday speech and useful words and phrases are taught which will help the learner talk about himself and his life. There are sound files available throughout the course, enabling learners to listen as often as they like to the new words and phrases being taught in each unit.
There are 15 units in Gaeilge gan Stró! – Beginners Level, each of which focuses on a distinct topic. Here are the topics contained in the course:
Each unit of Gaeilge gan Stró! – Beginners Level contains the following elements:
The pronunciations which the learner should focus on in that particular unit.
The grammar relevant to the topic covered in the unit. This grammar is presented in context and in manageable chunks, and complicated terminology is avoided.
Four dialogues, with accompanying translations into English. The language contained in these dialogues is natural and authentic, and reflects everyday usage.
Core vocabulary and useful phrases relating to the theme of the unit.
A wide range of fun to-do activities based on the vocabulary and grammar presented in the unit. The written exercises are interactive. Once you’ve completed an exercise, you can click on the “Send” button and receive feedback immediately. You’re told which answers were correct and which were incorrect, you’re given the correct answers and a score. The oral exercises are accompanied by sounds files.
These short passages aim to give the learner information about the history of the Irish language and a better understanding of Irish in the contemporary world.
Handy tips on how to become a more efficient language learner.
The ‘Talking heads’ section contains video segments featuring a range of speakers, filmed on location in Dublin and Galway.
As this course is aimed at beginners, most of the explanations and instructions are in English, and each sentence in Irish is translated into English. Subtitles are used occasionally, particularly in the exercises. Where subtitles are provided, you can click on the ‘Taispeáin Fotheidil’ / ‘Show Subtitles’ button 
in the top right-hand corner of the screen to access all the subtitles on that page. Alternatively, you can click on the plus sign 
beside individual sentences to see the subtitles for that sentence alone.
All of the written exercises in the course are interactive. Once you’ve completed an exercise, you can click on the ‘Seol’ (Send) button and receive feedback immediately. You’re told which answers were correct and which were incorrect, you’re given the correct answers and a score.
At the beginning of each unit, you’re told what aspects of the language are the focus of that unit.
In order to move from one screen to another all you need to do is click on the 
icon, which appears on the right-hand side, at the top and bottom of each screen. You can also click on any line of text under the words ‘PLEAN AN AONAID’ (Unit Plan) on the left-hand of the screen in order to access another part of the unit.
On the last page of each unit, ‘an leathanach scoir’ (Closing page), you are given an overview of the work that you have done in that unit and your total score for the unit. You are given several choices as well: to continue to the next unit, to go back on the unit that you have just completed, or go back to the very beginning of the course.
A forum has been provided for the Gaeilge gan Stró! – Beginners Level course. Those registered for the course have an opportunity to contact other learners through this discussion forum. They can send messages to the forum, ask and answer questions, and express ideas.
Immediately! Students study the course independently of a teacher. This means that you can improve your Irish in the office or from the comfort of your home, at your own pace, and at whatever time suits you.
Write it on the forum! You’ll be able to contact other learners through this discussion forum. You can send messages, ask and answer questions, and express ideas there. Members of the Gaelchultúr team keep an eye on the forum, so they’ll be able to answer any tricky questions.
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