The Miracle of Words

Most everybody remembers the classic story of the Miracle Worker and her young pupil.
Although she was deprived of the senses that most of us rely upon, she had a never - ceasing yearning to learn and to learn more. This story has inspired countless people over the years. Of course, I am talking about Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller.

Helen writes in her books that Annie's hand was the one that propelled her in the right direction. Some of us have had a valuable interaction with an amazing teacher, and the effects have lasted for a lifetime. For Helen, it was the connection she made to the word, "water."

All in all, she was learning words, fast and furiously. The more her teacher would spell the words to her, the more she wanted to learn and remember. There was one thing missing, however, and that is what the miracle was all about. When Annie took her to water and let Helen feel it as she spelled the word, something amazing started to happen. The mind of her eyes opened, and she knew what "water" was.

So, I want to encourage you today as you pursue the study of Irish. When you learn the words, make it a point to really connect with them and what they mean. This may be done in self study or using a brilliant person that facilitates the process for you. That essentially is the duty of a teacher. This person fosters the ability in you to learn and retain it for a lifetime. When you teach yourself, do the same.

I challenge you to make a list of words first. If you are up for learning phrases or proverbs, go ahead. Slow down as you need to. Choose a category that you are comfortable with. If it is something that involves living in your house, then choose a space: kitchen, dining area, chambers, etc. If you like a general or broad topic, choose: cars, objects in an office, computer words, basically anything that will motivate you to investigate and study words. The categories are important, because you will be the one using them in the future.

Years ago, I asked a Polish student to purchase some index cards. At the time, she was learning English. I asked her to write words in English and using scotch tape, label objects around the house. She said she really enjoyed the process. It was fun, and it felt like a game. She said she had been afraid of making mistakes in learning English. I reminded her that we do learn from making mistakes, but what is fun for you usually doesn't intimidate you at first. She said, she would also remove the cards and test herself from time to time. Then when she was too busy to tutor, she had a safe and secure way to learn while she was at the home site.

I saw her some time later at a library, and she was brimming full of confidence and cheer. She was not afraid to articulate in English, and she even showed me a translation site she had found on the internet. A lot of the time, people are afraid to talk to new immigrants, because they are afraid to face the anxiety of a new learner. I find, however, for both parties to escape that fear is of utmost necessity. Life cannot be lived in a full or rich way without interaction.

If some of you would like to label parts of your homes, offices, or cars, or the like, then go ahead and do so. Be careful with the cats and dogs, though. They make give you the run around. :) Inanimate objects cooperate best!

Use the translator that I gave you in a previous post, or use an alternative site.
You can choose the words you want to use in the event you use a translator. An example of site that lists words for you is helpful, but then you are forced to use those words. Here is one page with a list of Irish words. Choose the particular categories you want.

http://www.irishlanguage.net/irish/words.asp

You may omit the phrases for now. Words are your first lesson in learning Irish. Children in their basic literacy also start with words. There may be those of you who choose to learn by cassettes or by auditory sound. I suggest using a text in this case, and follow the words with your fingers. Also helpful, is to write out the words and sounds you hear. That is crucial for you to connect to the language.

As usual, happy studying!

We'll meet here again, next month!

Please have a collection of words ready. Practice all the while. :)

Translating and Practice

This morning, (or whenever you see this post :), try using the google translator I gave to you in the last post. You can also visually skim the passage or passages with your eye and see how many words you recognize and can attach a meaning.

Let's take a page from "Beo" again.

If you haven't seen this newsletter page yet, it is wonderful.

http://www.tg4.ie/scei/beo.asp

After you have visually skimmed the passage for a brief bit, practice using the translator and see if it is giving you the gist of the meaning. This also helps you to write and visualize Irish in print.

After a while, click for the English translation on the page. It is there at this page:

http://www.tg4.ie/bearla/scei/beo.asp

You can try the same activity with different pages. If you are fascinated by how Irish appears in print, you may want to find similar passages and move forward. Isn't it an entrancing tongue? It almost feels the same way that French may appear to a new learner?

Curiosity is a spark that engages you and connects you to new language learning. So, remain in that, and don't let that die down.

Browse on "Beo" a bit more. There may be other pages you will find interesting.

Translator from Google Site

I have been looking at some translation sites and Irish blogs.
I have tried to use several in the translation of Irish. Usually, a student finds his or her favorites to use. The internet particularly provides many, many options.


If you like google, then you can access translation from English to Irish here:

http://translate.google.com/#en|ga|

Other sites, too, may give you a general sense of a language or translation of typical phrases and catch - phrases.

Nothing beats the actual study and research, though, in the quest of learning. Your hunger and passion for a subject shines forth, and that is what should be sought.

You can either let something stand in the place of the work,or you can make the work your own. Your process in acquiring a tongue will be radically different from another's.The things you stumble across will be unique only to you.

The internet, although a valuable tool and resource,cannot stand in the place of your learning. So,please do remember to be diligent and practice (memorize) and really use what you are learning.

This is the connection you need with language studies.

Either make Irish your own or let something else do it for you.

You do have a choice in the matter.

Thanks again for visiting.

~Ms. A.

Private or Personal Research

Dia dhuit.

After the holiday here, I was conscious of what we celebrate and what we give a focus to, and why we have days off consecrating those celebrations.

Many holidays are patriotic in ways your countrymen understand. If new immigrants come, sometimes they don't always have a clue as to why the day is acknowledged.
Other times, holidays are so tied in to peoples of the past and their histories. Which one of us will not acknowledge the history behind "Thanksgiving Day" or even "Columbus Day?" And why?

In this vein, I started thinking about Ireland and its people. Why, when and where was Irish spoken, what were their holidays and even foods, and what is their exact history? If things of this nature interest you, you may want to conduct some research to fulfill your desires to know.

I always recommend doing some preliminary research. If you are already advanced, a trip to the Newberry Library, or Loyola Libraries (lol! Jesuits!!!), or other such scholary centres are recommended. If you want to function as a novice or a virtual beginner, as I want to, because I want to embark on a journey from the beginning with you, then a page like this will suffice:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_language

I also found some links that will take me to the Royal Libraries (Irish, etc.,), so when you are ready for that, please do contact me, or make a comment on the bottom of my posts. I do value the scholarly pursuit, and it is a magical journey that you do not want to miss.

Then there are the places you may stumble upon, because you were somewhere at the right time and right place. One example is the "famine" page(s). There is one I saw by chance on a social media site, and it involved the Choctaws.

I hope that you enjoy researching as I do. Not only is it fun, but it takes you on fun adventures right in your own home.

So, dear readers, thirsting for new knowledge. Start with a few pages on the link provided above. Then let me know what you think.

I am especially interested in the language portions of this site.

Happy Reading & Research!

Your fan and interim teacher,

Ms. A!