Is it too early to talk about back to school when it feels like we barely got a summer? Here are some easy ways to bring Gaeilge back into your kids' lives.
Attitude is everything
It doesn't matter which language or in fact, subject we're talking about, having a positive attitude towards it makes everything easier. Try bringing some basic words in as Gaeilge around the house that don't relate exclusively to the seomra ranga. Leithreas, leaba, oíche mhaith, it all helps. Making it part of the vernacular and not just for September onwards makes it feel like a living language and not just something else to be learned, on top of everything else.
Má chloistear an Ghaeilge go minic timpeall an tí, tá gach seans go mbeidh foghlaim agus forbairt na teanga níos fusa ar an bpáiste agus iad ag filleadh ar an scoil. Mura bhfuil cumas Gaeilge ag gach duine fásta sa teach, is fiú iarracht a dhéanamh le corrfhocal agus frása Gaeilge a úsáid.
Make it fun
There are so many excellent resources for learning Irish out there. Books, tv shows, podcasts, we have it all at our finger tips. For books, check out Futa Fata's amazing selection of books for young people, from picture books for pre-school children to graphic novels, you'll find something to suit your child's interests.
Adding an Irish language element to playing or games is another easy win. Using numbers or nouns in Irish instead of their English translations. Online dictionaries are your friend if you feel like you need some extra vocabulary (and don't forget they even have audio versions of the words to help with pronunciation)
Look no further than TG4 or RTÉJr for cartoons and television for young people, as well their social media channels. TG4's kids offering, Cúla4, launched a year ago, so be sure to check that out, too.
Tá caighdeán na gclár Gaeilge do dhaoine óga thar barr ar fad. Mura bhfuil sé feicthe agat cheana, tá Bóin agus Beach ar cheann de na cláracha is deise atá feicthe againn le tamaill anuas, le béim ar an dúlra agus an domhna timpeall orainn. Tá cláracha agus míreanna áille ar RTÉJr agus Cúla4 idir chartúin agus phodchraoltaí don aos óg agus cuirfear tús go luath le cainéal nua Cúla4.
Más ag seachaint na scaileán atá tú, tá rogha álainn, fairsing leabhar ar fáil dár léitheoirí óga.
Check in regularly
Asking how Irish is going in school or how they're feeling about returning to learning Irish is a helpful tactic. Reassuring your child that everyone struggles sometimes, and reminding them that learning to speak and use Irish is worth the effort in the long run is key. Language learning is a lifelong journey for us all and while it does get easier, the journey of learning is where the fun and fulfillment are.
Obair leanúnach í foghlaim teanga ar bith agus cé go n-éiríonn sé rud beag níos fusa, is aistear saoil í an fhoghlaim duitse agus do do pháiste freisin. Is fiú a chur i gcuimhne do na daoine óga seo gur deis í seo dóibh agus go mbeidh an teanga seo leo go deo.
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