Irish
Course Title: Irish Level 1
Level: Beginners
Time:
Irish Level 1 (A) Wednesday 5-7pm
Irish Level 1 (B) Tuesday 5-7pm
Duration: 10 weeks
Learning Objectives
Students taking the level 1 course are not expected to have any previous knowledge of the language. The aim of level 1 is to introduce students to the language, the culture and basic grammatical concepts and to equip them with the skills to communicate at an essential level in a target language context.
Potential Topics
Welcome to the course, introduction alphabet, numbers 1-10, basic greetings; Giving personal information (name, age, where you live); Talking about our family, descriptions; Places in town and directions; At the restaurant; Shopping; Transport; Countries.
Learning Outcomes
Students will have developed a beginner’s vocabulary in the topic areas outlined above so that they can communicate at a basic level in the language. Students will understand basic words and phrases. Students will be able to formulate simple sentences.
Fee: QUB Students/Staff £20; Members of the public £80; Concession £40
Textbook: Non required
Course Dates:
Irish Level 1 (A) Wednesday 16, 23, 30 October; 6, 13, 20, 27 November; 4, 11, 18 December 2013
Irish Level 1 (B) Tuesday 15, 22, 29 October; 5, 12, 19, 26 November; 3, 10, 17 December 2013
Course Title: Irish Level 2
Level: Post Beginners
Time: Thursday 5-7pm
Duration: 10 weeks
Learning Objectives
Students taking the level 2 course should either have completed level 1, or have only a basic previous knowledge of the language. The aim of level 2 is to develop basic language skills, the culture and basic grammatical concepts and to equip them with the skills to communicate at a post-beginners level in a target language context.
Potential Topics
Practical Spelling – Numbers (up to 100) Phonetics/letter patterns; Describing the home/ accommodation; Booking a hotel; Directions 2 – prepositions etc; Describing family members; Shopping 2 – (currency, change, preference); Transport; Weather
Learning Outcomes
Students will have developed a post-beginner’s vocabulary in the topic areas outlined above, enabling them to hold a simple conversation in the language. Students will understand frequently used words and phrases. Students will be able to formulate sentences.
Fee: QUB Students/Staff £20; Members of the public £80; Concession £40
Textbook: Non required
Course Dates: Thursday 17, 24, 31 October; 7, 14, 21, 28 November; 5, 12, 19 December 2013
Course Title: Irish Level 3
Level: Intermediate
Time: Monday 5-7pm
Duration: 10 weeks
Learning Objectives
Students taking the level 3 course should either have completed level 2, or be familiar with frequently used vocabulary and have a strong beginner’s knowledge of the language. The aim of level 3 is to further develop basic language skills; cultural awareness and grammatical ability, and further develop communication skills in the target language context.
Potential Topics
Numbers – Dates – Ordinals – Phone numbers; Letter writing; Talking about our family, descriptions; Education and Occupation; Numbers 2 – Making practical use of numbers, arithmetic; Daily Routine; At the Station (Train/Bus/Airport); Time
Learning Outcomes
Students will have developed a post-beginner’s vocabulary in the topic areas outlined above which should give them the confidence to hold a conversation in the language. Students will understand frequently used words and phrases.
Students will be able to formulate sentences.
Fee: QUB Students/Staff £20; Members of the public £80; Concession £40
Textbook: Non required
Course Dates: Monday 14, 21, 28 October; 4, 11, 18, 25 November; 2, 9, 16 December 2013
Course Title: Irish Level 5
Level: Post GCSE
Time: Monday 7-9pm
Duration: 10 weeks
Learning Objectives
Students taking the level 5 course should either have completed a GCSE examination in the subject, or have an equivalent knowledge of the Language. The aim of level 5 is to develop strong language skills, cultural awareness and grammatical ability, giving the student confidence in their ability and the basic competences needed to communicate in a working environment.
Potential Topics
Media: television/cinema/ communication technology (benefits/dangers of mobiles); The future tense and future plans; Travel plans; Opinions and view points; Current affairs; ‘In the workplace’ – Career/employment; Letter/email writing
Suggested Grammar Coverage
Students should be provided with a solid grammatical base which will allow them to converse more easily at this level by developing their own sentences and phrases.
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to hold discussions and discuss opinions. Students will have developed a broad vocabulary in the topic areas outlined above and a comprehensive knowledge of all of the main grammatical themes. Students will understand frequently used words and phrases associated with everyday living, as well as working environments.
Fee: QUB Students/Staff £20; Members of the public £80; Concession £40
Textbook: Non required
Course Dates: Monday 14, 21, 28 October; 4, 11, 18, 25 November; 2, 9, 16 December 2013
Course Title: Irish Level 6
Level: Advanced
Time: Monday 6-8pm
Duration: 10 weeks
Learning Objectives
Students taking the level 6 course should either have at least completed a GCSE examination in the subject, level 5 here at Queen’s, or have an equivalent knowledge of the Language. The aim of level 6 is to develop strong language skills, cultural awareness and grammatical ability, giving the student confidence in their ability and the competences needed to communicate effectively in a working environment.
Potential Topics
Media e.g. Introduction to Irish newspapers e.g. le Figaro/ le Monde/advertising/internet and social media; Popular culture e.g. music /fashion/trends/young people in society; Healthy lifestyle e.g. sport/healthy eating/alcohol/tobacco/work/life balance; Holidays e.g. destinations/activities/benefits/attitudes to holidays; Family relationships e.g. relationships with parents/friends, marriage; Career e.g. ‘metro, boulot, dodo’ , attitudes to jobs, advantages and disadvantages of jobs, ambitions for future career, skills and competencies; Extended letter writing e.g. lettre de motivation, CV etc
Suggested Grammar Coverage
Students should be provided with a solid grammatical base which will allow them to converse more easily at this level by developing their own sentences and phrases. Inevitably at this level they will need to use different verb tenses and grammatical structures.
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to hold discussions and justify their opinions using more complex language.
Students will have developed a broad vocabulary in the topic areas outlined above and a comprehensive knowledge of all of the main grammatical themes.
Students will understand frequently used words and phrases associated with everyday living, as well as working environments.
Students will begin to recognise different registers and moods of language used in different contexts.
Fee: QUB Students/Staff £20; Members of the public £80; Concession £40
Textbook: Non required
Course Dates: Monday 14, 21, 28 October; 4, 11, 18, 25 November; 2, 9, 16 December 2013
Course Title: Irish Level 7
Level: Post A’Level
Time: Thursday 5-7pm
Duration: 10 weeks
Learning Objectives
Students taking the level 7 course should either have completed an A-level examination in the subject, completed level 6 here at Queen’s, or have an equivalent knowledge of the Language. The aim of level 7 is to develop high level language skills, more in-depth cultural awareness and strong grammatical ability, giving the student confidence in their ability to express themselves relatively fluently and to communicate with relative ease in a working environment.
Potential Topics
Environment e.g. pollution, energy, protecting the planet; The multicultural society e.g. immigration (le monde francophone, DOMTOM, enlarged EU) integration, racism; Contemporary social issues e.g. wealth/poverty, law and order, impact of scientific/technological progress; Cultural topics e.g. this could be a look at a Irish region/country, a period of Irish history, a Irish book/poem/play/film, the work of a Irish director/architect/musician
Suggested grammar coverage
Students should be provided with a solid grammatical base which will allow them to converse more easily at this level by developing their own sentences and phrases. Inevitably at this level they will need to use different verb tenses and grammatical structures and complexities.
Learning outcomes
Students will have developed a broad vocabulary in the topic areas outlined above and a comprehensive knowledge of all of the main grammatical themes. Students will understand and be able to use words and phrases associated with everyday living and working environments as well as some more familiar language and colloquialisms. Students will be able to hold discussions and justify their opinions using complex language. Students will recognise different registers and moods of language used in different contexts. Students will be able to express wishes, desires and hopes.
Fee: QUB Students/Staff £20; Members of the public £80; Concession £40
Textbook: Non required
Course Dates: Thursday 17, 24, 31 October; 7, 14, 21, 28 November; 5, 12, 19 December 2013
Course Title: Certificate in Practical Irish
Level: Beginners, Wednesday 1-2pm
Level: Intermediate, Wednesday 1-2pm
Duration: 20 weeks
Introductory: This module is aimed at those with little or no knowledge of the Irish language although it is a useful module for those with a little knowledge and would like to refresh knowledge. While the introductory module deals largely with conversational skills, grammar is introduced using text-based exercises for consolidation. Extensive use is made of exercises to improve pronunciation, vocabulary, and comprehension. Topics include: Greetings, Ordering food, About yourself, Hobbies, Emotions, Days of the week, Family, Asking about others, Irish sounds – broad/slender and useful phrases. Grammar includes: future tense, propositions, tenses, verb to be, infinitive, present participle, past habitual, adverbs.
Intermediate: This module builds on grammar and vocabulary already covered in the introductory module. The focus of this module is on conversation skills with the grammar rules being introduced to consolidate learning. This module also includes proverbs, Irish legends, songs related directly to Irish culture. Topics covered include: Seasons, Daily routine, Responses, Colours. Grammar includes: possessive adjectives, verbal nouns, use of the conjunction in the negative, how to use adjectives with their comparative and superlative, irregular verbs, present habitual tense.
Not available until 2014/15
Advanced: The advanced Irish for Culture and Heritage module consolidates learning, which has already taken place in beginners and intermediate levels. The module will also equip the learner with advanced linguistic skills for use in conversation. Vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar are used in situational exercises using texts and dialogues. The focus of the module is advanced grammar topics, such as the Indirect Relative, use of verbs in the present tense.
This certificate is open to undergraduate or postgraduate students from all faculties in the university as well as members of the general public. The course can be accessed through the computer-based language-learning system in the University's multimedia Language Centre, allowing students to study at their own pace and in their own time as well as having the opportunity to attend weekly one hour tutor-contact sessions. This course will be delivered over two semesters.
There are no specific entry requirements to join this course at beginners level.
Students can take one module or choose to take both.
Fee (per module): QUB Students/Staff £60; Members of the public £120; Concession £80
Textbook: Non required
Course Dates: Wednesday 16, 23, 30 October: 6, 13, 20, 27 November; 4, 11, 18 December 2013; 5, 12, 19, 26 February; 5, 12, 19, 26 March; 2, 30 April 2014
