A chara, – Sorcha Pollak’s interview with Breda Gahan (“One of Ireland’s most experienced aid workers”, August 3rd) was interesting for a number of reasons but I want to focus on one aspect – the learning of languages.
When Ms Gahan arrived in Sudan, she realised she needed to speak Arabic to be able to carry out her work.
Having struggled to learn Irish in school, she knew approaching the language through the written word was pointless.
Instead, she listened to conversations taking place around her. “I learned the adjectives, the nouns and then listened for verbs. I could understand it within six weeks and I was soon speaking it colloquially,” said Ms Gahan.
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Many government reports have been written over the years relating to promoting the Irish language.
In my opinion, Ms Gahan has hit the nail on the head. I think it is time to stop using text books in primary schools and switch to conversation classes where teachers and pupils speak only Irish for the duration of the lesson.
The Department of Education could draw up a structured programme with subjects and key points to guide teachers.
This approach could help achieve one of the Government’s stated aims “that Irish become more visible in our society”. – Is mise,
MARGARET RIORDAN,
Celbridge,
Co Kildare.