This course is divided in two parts. One half of each session focuses on the Irish language and the other half on an introduction to Irish culture. The language class caters to beginners with no previous knowledge of Irish. The communicative approach to language learning used in the course allows ample opportunity for the learners to practice what they have learned. The emphasis is on group work and pair work and grammar is taught in context. The pace and content of the language class may vary according to learners’ needs. The second aspect to this course is an introduction to Irish culture. It begins with the historical background of the several revivals and declines of cultural movements in Ireland set in a political and social context.
The aim of the course is to present a thematic survey of the traditional arts in Ireland, to trace the development of Irish culture and to assess its role in the Ireland of today. The politics of Irish culture are a running theme throughout the course and there is a strong emphasis on demonstration and participation. Students are given the opportunity to familiarize themselves with traditional Irish instruments, Irish song, dance and sports first hand. The course ends with a reflection on the traditional arts today and a survey of international influences on Irish culture and its influence on the rest of the world.
Prerequisites:
None
Attendance policy:
Because IES Abroad courses are designed to take advantage of the unique contribution of the instruction and the lecture/discussion format, regular class attendance is mandatory. Any missed class, without a legitimate reason will be reflected in the final grade. A legitimate reason would include: documented illness or family bereavement. Travel, (including travel delays) is not a legitimate reason.
Learning outcomes:
: By the end of the course, students are able to:
• Speak and Listen: Use single words and simple sentences while taking part in a conversation based on topics that relate to everyday life. Ability to understand simple speech that is delivered
clearly and slowly.
• Read: Understand texts that are simple and short insofar as they relate specifically to everyday life.
• Write: ability to write basic phrases and simple words.
Method of presentation:
Discussion, lectures, presentations, field trips, group and pair work, listening comprehension, and role plays
Required work and form of assessment:
Assessment will be divided between the language and cultural components of the course in the following way. Culture journal (10%); participation (5%) Irish language: In class quizzes (5%); mid-term exam (15%); final exam (20%);
Irish Culture: Presentations (20%); Term paper (20%); Field trip report (5%)
content:
Session 1:
Language: Meeting People: Greeting and replying to someone; asking someone how he/she is and replying; introducing yourself; asking someone their name and replying; saying to someone it’s nice to meet them; introducing people to each other; taking leave of
someone.
Required reading for session 2: www.gaeilge.ie[2]. What is Foras na Gaeilge? Also, read about the Irish Language under the following headings: History, Today and The Gaeltacht. Culture: Introduction to and survey of the course
Assessments and academic expectation
Questionnaire & discussion groups – Perceptions of Irish Culture
Session 2:
Language: Background and place of residence 1. Asking someone where he/she is from and responding; asking someone where they are living and responding.
Required reading for Session 3: Article by John Waters on iMeasc: www.gaelport.com/index.php?page=clippings&id=1180&viewby=date[3] Culture: Waves of Revivial – A history of cultural movements in Ireland
Who are we? Ireland and the Irish
Session 3:
Language: Background and place of residence 2. Describing facilities in your area and asking someone about facilities in their area. Culture: The Irish Language and An Ghaeltacht
Session 4:
Language: A quiz on what you have learned so far, followed by: The Family. Seeking and giving information on marital status; seeking and giving information about your brothers and
sisters; introducing different members of the family. Culture: Lost in Translation
Hiberno-English
Place names in Ireland
Inherited wisdom -The Irish Language & the Psyche of the Gaels
Session 5:
Language: Daily life: Asking and telling the time; talking about your daily routine; asking others what they do everyday. Culture: From the Gaelic Order to Last Orders Traditional Irish Music I – An Introduction; Historical timeline; The role of the Diaspora in the preservation of the tradition.
Session 6:
Language: Pastimes 1. Asking someone what they do when they are free and replying; asking someone whether they do a certain pastime and replying; asking someone whether he/she likes a certain pastime and answering that question; making known opinions about a
certain pastime; saying when you do different things. Culture: They loved music mightily Traditional Irish Music II; Traditional instruments, rhythms; tunes; The performance;
performers and collectors; The living tradition
Session 7: Mid-term Exam
Session 8:
Language: Pastimes 2. Asking someone whether he/she likes a certain pastime and answering that question; making known opinions about a certain pastime; saying when you do different things. Culture: From the Dancing Masters to Riverdance; An Introduction to Irish Dance; Types of dances; Céilí dancing workshop
Session 9:
Language: Food and Drink. Functions: saying that you are thirsty or hungry; naming the different kinds of food and drink, saying what kinds of food and drink you eat and enjoy; asking someone what kinds of food and drink he/she eats and drinks; making opinions known,
ordering food and drink; asking how much something is and replying; asking for the bill;
offering a drink to someone and accepting and refusing an offer. Grammar: the basic numbers, the article before a noun. Vocabulary: the main kinds of food and drink, eating
in a restaurant. Culture: Death and Funereal Customs in Ireland
Attitudes towards Death; Death in the literary tradition of Ireland – An Caoineadh; The
Wake tradition; Religion v. Superstition
Session 10:
Language: People: Describing people (eye colour, hair colour etc.); personality traits. Culture: The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)
A survey of Gaelic sports; The politics of the GAA; The GAA in the community
Session 11:
Language: Living Language! This class will meet in Club an Chonradh in the city centre where all staff members speak Irish. Learners will have the opportunity to practice what they have learned: greeting people, ordering drinks, asking the price, taking leave of someone, and more. Culture: The Irish Song Tradition
A workshop on the Sean-nós tradition
Session 12:
Language: People II: Personality traits; describing feelings. Culture: Field trip to GAA Museum
Session 13:
Language: Review of the course Culture: Irish Culture Today
The evolution of Irish culture since the 1960s; Ireland’s cultural institutions and arts policy; Irish culture abroad; The internationalisation of Irish culture at home.
Session 14: Final Exam
Required readings:
Corry, Eoghan. An Illustrated History of the GAA. Dublin: 2006
Hutchinson, John. The Dynamics of Cultural Nationalism. London: 1987.
O’Connor, Nuala. Bringing it all Back Home. The Influence of Irish Music. London: 1991. Ó Muirithe, Diarmuid. Words We Use. Dublin: 2006
Vallely, Fintan. Blooming Meadows, The World of Traditional Irish Musicians. Dublin: 1999
Whelan, Frank. The Complete Guide to Irish Dance Belfast :2000
Witoszek, Nina. The Irish Funerary Tradition. Galway: 1990
Recommended readings:
Ó Tuathaigh, Gearóid. The Development of the Gaeltacht as a Bilingual Entity
Maguire, Gabriella. Our own Language. Belfast: 1990
Brown, Terence. Ireland – A Social and Cultural History 1922-1985. London, 1985 (ch.2).
Kerby Miller. Emigrants and Exiles – Ireland and the Irish Exodus to North America. Oxford: 1985. White, Harry. The Keepers Recital, Music and Cultural History of Ireland. Cork: 1998
Tovey, Hilary; Hannon, Damien & Abrenson, Hal. Why Irish? Language and Identity in Ireland Today.
Dublin: 1989
Breathnach, Breandán. The Man and his Music. Dublin: 1986.
Ó Cannáin, Tomás. Seán Ó Riada: His Life and Works. Cork: 2003
O’Sullivan, Patrick (ed.). The Creative Migrant. London: 1994 (Ch. 10)
Boullier, Dianna. Exploring Irish Music and Dance. Dublin: 1998
Brennan, Helen. The Story of Irish Dance. Kerry:1999
Cullinan, John. Aspects of the History of Irish Céilí Dancing. Cork: 1998
Smith, Sam. Riverdance, The Story. London: 1996
McLaughlin, John. One Green Hill – Journeys Through Irish Song. Belfast: 2003
O’Connor, Nuala. Bringing it all Back Home. Dublin: 2001
Songbirds – DVD IES library
Flanagan, Deirdre & Flanagan, Laurence. Irish Place Names. Dublin: 2002
Todd, Loreto. Green English: Ireland’s Influence on the Irish Language. Dublin: 1999. Doyle, Bill. Island Funeral. Dublin:2000
Ó Madagáin, Breandán. Caointe agus Seancheolta eile – Keening and other Old Irish Musics. Indreabhán:
2005.
Cannon, Joe. The Playing Rules of Football and Hurling. Dublin: 1997
Ó Súilleabháin, Seán. Irish Wake Amusements. Cork: 1967
Witoszek, Nina. The Irish Funerary Tradition. Galway: 1990
Gibbons, Luke. Transformations in Irish Culture. Cork: 1996
Ní Chartúir, Darerca. The Irish Language: An Overview and Guide. New York: Avena Press, 2002
An Fóclóir Póca: English-Irish/Irish-English Dictionary. Dublin: An Gúm, 2002
Ó Dónaill, Éamonn. Teach Yourself Irish Grammar. London: Hodder Education, 2005
Angela Wilkes, Usborne Internet-Linked Irish For Beginners. London: Usborne Publishing Ltd., 1989
Davies, Helen. Beginner’s Irish Dictionary. Dublin: Gill and Macmillan, 1990
Introduction To Irish Language And Culture
This course is divided in two parts. One half of each session focuses on the Irish language and the other half on an introduction to Irish culture. The language class caters to beginners with no previous knowledge of Irish. The communicative approach to language learning used in the course allows ample opportunity for the learners to practice what they have learned. The emphasis is on group work and pair work and grammar is taught in context. The pace and content of the language class may vary according to learners’ needs. The second aspect to this course is an introduction to Irish culture. It begins with the historical background of the several revivals and declines of cultural movements in Ireland set in a political and social context.
The aim of the course is to present a thematic survey of the traditional arts in Ireland, to trace the development of Irish culture and to assess its role in the Ireland of today. The politics of Irish culture are a running theme throughout the course and there is a strong emphasis on demonstration and participation. Students are given the opportunity to familiarize themselves with traditional Irish instruments, Irish song, dance and sports first hand. The course ends with a reflection on the traditional arts today and a survey of international influences on Irish culture and its influence on the rest of the world.
None
Because IES Abroad courses are designed to take advantage of the unique contribution of the instruction and the lecture/discussion format, regular class attendance is mandatory. Any missed class, without a legitimate reason will be reflected in the final grade. A legitimate reason would include: documented illness or family bereavement. Travel, (including travel delays) is not a legitimate reason.
: By the end of the course, students are able to:
• Speak and Listen: Use single words and simple sentences while taking part in a conversation based on topics that relate to everyday life. Ability to understand simple speech that is delivered
clearly and slowly.
• Read: Understand texts that are simple and short insofar as they relate specifically to everyday life.
• Write: ability to write basic phrases and simple words.
Discussion, lectures, presentations, field trips, group and pair work, listening comprehension, and role plays
Assessment will be divided between the language and cultural components of the course in the following way. Culture journal (10%); participation (5%) Irish language: In class quizzes (5%); mid-term exam (15%); final exam (20%);
Irish Culture: Presentations (20%); Term paper (20%); Field trip report (5%)
Session 1:
Language: Meeting People: Greeting and replying to someone; asking someone how he/she is and replying; introducing yourself; asking someone their name and replying; saying to someone it’s nice to meet them; introducing people to each other; taking leave of
someone.
Required reading for session 2: www.gaeilge.ie [2]. What is Foras na Gaeilge? Also, read about the Irish Language under the following headings: History, Today and The Gaeltacht.
Culture: Introduction to and survey of the course
Assessments and academic expectation
Questionnaire & discussion groups – Perceptions of Irish Culture
Session 2:
Language: Background and place of residence 1. Asking someone where he/she is from and responding; asking someone where they are living and responding.
Required reading for Session 3: Article by John Waters on iMeasc:
www.gaelport.com/index.php?page=clippings&id=1180&viewby=date [3]
Culture: Waves of Revivial – A history of cultural movements in Ireland
Who are we? Ireland and the Irish
Session 3:
Language: Background and place of residence 2. Describing facilities in your area and asking someone about facilities in their area.
Culture: The Irish Language and An Ghaeltacht
Session 4:
Language: A quiz on what you have learned so far, followed by: The Family. Seeking and giving information on marital status; seeking and giving information about your brothers and
sisters; introducing different members of the family.
Culture: Lost in Translation
Hiberno-English
Place names in Ireland
Inherited wisdom -The Irish Language & the Psyche of the Gaels
Session 5:
Language: Daily life: Asking and telling the time; talking about your daily routine; asking others what they do everyday.
Culture: From the Gaelic Order to Last Orders
Traditional Irish Music I – An Introduction; Historical timeline; The role of the Diaspora in the preservation of the tradition.
Session 6:
Language: Pastimes 1. Asking someone what they do when they are free and replying; asking someone whether they do a certain pastime and replying; asking someone whether he/she likes a certain pastime and answering that question; making known opinions about a
certain pastime; saying when you do different things.
Culture: They loved music mightily
Traditional Irish Music II; Traditional instruments, rhythms; tunes; The performance;
performers and collectors; The living tradition
Session 7: Mid-term Exam
Session 8:
Language: Pastimes 2. Asking someone whether he/she likes a certain pastime and answering that question; making known opinions about a certain pastime; saying when you do different things.
Culture: From the Dancing Masters to Riverdance; An Introduction to Irish Dance; Types of dances; Céilí dancing workshop
Session 9:
Language: Food and Drink. Functions: saying that you are thirsty or hungry; naming the different kinds of food and drink, saying what kinds of food and drink you eat and enjoy; asking someone what kinds of food and drink he/she eats and drinks; making opinions known,
ordering food and drink; asking how much something is and replying; asking for the bill;
offering a drink to someone and accepting and refusing an offer. Grammar: the basic numbers, the article before a noun. Vocabulary: the main kinds of food and drink, eating
in a restaurant.
Culture: Death and Funereal Customs in Ireland
Attitudes towards Death; Death in the literary tradition of Ireland – An Caoineadh; The
Wake tradition; Religion v. Superstition
Session 10:
Language: People: Describing people (eye colour, hair colour etc.); personality traits.
Culture: The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)
A survey of Gaelic sports; The politics of the GAA; The GAA in the community
Session 11:
Language: Living Language! This class will meet in Club an Chonradh in the city centre where all staff members speak Irish. Learners will have the opportunity to practice what they have learned: greeting people, ordering drinks, asking the price, taking leave of someone, and more.
Culture: The Irish Song Tradition
A workshop on the Sean-nós tradition
Session 12:
Language: People II: Personality traits; describing feelings.
Culture: Field trip to GAA Museum
Session 13:
Language: Review of the course
Culture: Irish Culture Today
The evolution of Irish culture since the 1960s; Ireland’s cultural institutions and arts policy; Irish culture abroad; The internationalisation of Irish culture at home.
Session 14: Final Exam
Corry, Eoghan. An Illustrated History of the GAA. Dublin: 2006
Hutchinson, John. The Dynamics of Cultural Nationalism. London: 1987.
O’Connor, Nuala. Bringing it all Back Home. The Influence of Irish Music. London: 1991. Ó Muirithe, Diarmuid. Words We Use. Dublin: 2006
Vallely, Fintan. Blooming Meadows, The World of Traditional Irish Musicians. Dublin: 1999
Whelan, Frank. The Complete Guide to Irish Dance Belfast :2000
Witoszek, Nina. The Irish Funerary Tradition. Galway: 1990
Ó Tuathaigh, Gearóid. The Development of the Gaeltacht as a Bilingual Entity
Maguire, Gabriella. Our own Language. Belfast: 1990
Brown, Terence. Ireland – A Social and Cultural History 1922-1985. London, 1985 (ch.2).
Kerby Miller. Emigrants and Exiles – Ireland and the Irish Exodus to North America. Oxford: 1985. White, Harry. The Keepers Recital, Music and Cultural History of Ireland. Cork: 1998
Tovey, Hilary; Hannon, Damien & Abrenson, Hal. Why Irish? Language and Identity in Ireland Today.
Dublin: 1989
Breathnach, Breandán. The Man and his Music. Dublin: 1986.
Ó Cannáin, Tomás. Seán Ó Riada: His Life and Works. Cork: 2003
O’Sullivan, Patrick (ed.). The Creative Migrant. London: 1994 (Ch. 10)
Boullier, Dianna. Exploring Irish Music and Dance. Dublin: 1998
Brennan, Helen. The Story of Irish Dance. Kerry:1999
Cullinan, John. Aspects of the History of Irish Céilí Dancing. Cork: 1998
Smith, Sam. Riverdance, The Story. London: 1996
McLaughlin, John. One Green Hill – Journeys Through Irish Song. Belfast: 2003
O’Connor, Nuala. Bringing it all Back Home. Dublin: 2001
Songbirds – DVD IES library
Flanagan, Deirdre & Flanagan, Laurence. Irish Place Names. Dublin: 2002
Todd, Loreto. Green English: Ireland’s Influence on the Irish Language. Dublin: 1999. Doyle, Bill. Island Funeral. Dublin:2000
Ó Madagáin, Breandán. Caointe agus Seancheolta eile – Keening and other Old Irish Musics. Indreabhán:
2005.
Cannon, Joe. The Playing Rules of Football and Hurling. Dublin: 1997
Ó Súilleabháin, Seán. Irish Wake Amusements. Cork: 1967
Witoszek, Nina. The Irish Funerary Tradition. Galway: 1990
Gibbons, Luke. Transformations in Irish Culture. Cork: 1996
Ní Chartúir, Darerca. The Irish Language: An Overview and Guide. New York: Avena Press, 2002
An Fóclóir Póca: English-Irish/Irish-English Dictionary. Dublin: An Gúm, 2002
Ó Dónaill, Éamonn. Teach Yourself Irish Grammar. London: Hodder Education, 2005
Angela Wilkes, Usborne Internet-Linked Irish For Beginners. London: Usborne Publishing Ltd., 1989
Davies, Helen. Beginner’s Irish Dictionary. Dublin: Gill and Macmillan, 1990