Customer Reviews

Irish, Compact: Learn to Speak and Understand Irish (Gaelic) with Pimsleur Language Programs (Basic)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a review of the version with a gold and green trimmed cover in larger plastic tape case, and 5 CDs; it also exists in a 4 CD version in a white paper box with a Celtic Cross. The third and newest version here, just out in Feb. 2007, is apparently significantly more money and has Simon & Schuster's name added to the crimson cover. I cannot confirm that the contents are the same, but my suspicion is that they are across all three versions (the other two are cheaper than this newest issuing!). The 4 CD paper box is the same core as the 5 CD plastic one-- the only difference is an admittedly useful fifth CD that explains the Pimsleur method and how to get the best use out of the system; this fifth CD may have been added after users complained that the 4-CD version gave no printed material (that's the whole point of Pimsleur on the other hand!) and no context. I found the extra 5th CD helpful in learning how the Pimsleur system was invented and applied to the audio lessons. I might add that despite their shortcomings, you can upload Pimsleur CDs to a computer or MP3 or iPod player and have instantly portable Irish practice.

What follows is my Amazon review of the plastic box 5CD set... The pros and cons of these tapes have been sufficiently enumerated by the reviewers who've posted here (that is, at the earlier version for these tapes, i.e, the 4CD box!) . What I want to add is that the "First Course" version (a green cover, no Celtic Cross, more rectangular, whereas the Quick & Simple version is in a square white box) has not 4 CDs but 5. This 5th, called a User's Manual, explains how Dr. Paul Pimsleur developed his method of language learning and then introduces the rationale and set-up that the lessons will follow. Why mention this? On the 4CD newer version, it seems that no orientation is given. I happened to find the "Short Course" version, and having heard the 5th disc first, it greatly eased my expectations when I cued up the first lesson. Naturally, when you're beginning to study a language where for an English learner, Irish orthography differs so much from the spoken sounds, further jitters caused by not knowing why the Pimsleur method eschews texts only worsen one's readiness to learn Irish by imitation and example, as done here.

I leave the Munster dialect debate aside; I think that having speakers in all three major regional dialects would have been preferable, to condition one's ear to how Irish is spoken in the media. Now that you can get RnG feeds at your computer, hearing "real" Irish in its native setting is possible anywhere. The use of these tapes, I suppose, is to make you wrap your tongue and clear your throat around strenuous attempts to keep trying to speak out loud a bit of Irish. Granted, by the end of 8 hours you'll be able to hold a rudimentary conversation, but if you know that the course only aims at this limited ability, perhaps you'll better be able to judge if it's the kind of learning aid that works for you. These tapes are in many public libraries too, by the way. For eight hours of drill, they're cheaper than any tutor and for learners like me who get too nervous to speak well when put on the spot in live settings, these tapes offer a more encouraging environment to learn in.

I agree with many users: not having the text in front of me was far more a disadvantage than a help, since I learn best by "seeing" in my mind's eye the spelling of the words that I am speaking. Not being able to do this with Pimsleur does put stress on the learner, but if used in conjunction with other tapes and books, it does force you to try to enunciate, however imperfectly, some approximation of spoken Irish. I kept figuring out after being found wrong by the "answer" on the tape that only belatedly could I match the phrase said to the my delayed realization of how the phrase would be written. You have to repeat lessons, therefore, to get the value out of these tapes. That User's Guide 5th disc tells you that competency is when you're getting around 80% of the answers right, and I know that nearly no honest learner just starting out is likely to score this all the way through eight hours--especially given the dialectal distinctions between the two voices heard and articulation hurdles you must jump.

True, however drastically the words as written differ from those spoken in Irish, not having a sense of how "ca bhfuil" is said vs. spelled will not help any learner wishing to set a solid foundation in Irish. Thus, I would take on these tapes only after having a basic foundation in at least having read in book form the phrases generally employed at this level of conversation. Their one advantage: any tapes goading you to say something out loud make you less of a passive learner overconfident that simply looking at dialogues in a primer will push you to fluency.

I do wish that the makers would make a series by Pimsleur with advanced levels of Irish for conversation; this type of speaking practice beyond the few phrases taught here is a sorely needed product that outside Ireland itself is still often far from readily available on CD for higher-level but still beginning learners.

I listen to the first CD and then I'm speaking Irish/Gaelic, it's pretty nice, fast--I like fast.

I'm also conditioning myself to learn through hearing, I'm usually a visual person who needs to see/read what I'm learning but in this case I'm forced to learn just by listening. Sure, I'm up for the challenge.

p.s. Since it's been so easy to learn a language using Pimsleur, I've been splurging... well, I've taken Pimsleur German (I'm up to level 2 on that one), Pimsleur Spanish, Pimsleur French and Pimsleur Irish... it's so fun!

Yes, you may find these at your local library too...

The product does not come with a transcript, and none is commercially available. However a transcript is available from New England Conradh na Gaeilge... enter gaeilge dot org in a browser. Or enter "Transcript" "Irish" and "Pimsleur" as search terms. You should also be able to find it on e mule and soul seek with the same terms.

this has helped but it goes too fast for me and I can't seem to get it, but have enjoyed it and would like to get others of its kind

Pimsleur is a great way to learn basic Irish. I only wish he had a part 2,3,4,etc. You only learn enough to get by if you are traveling to Ireland, not enough to have a full conversation. The good thing is that I picked it up very fast and it is convenient enough to listen in your car or on an ipod or mp3 player.

I just listened to Pimsleur's Irish audio sample, available on line. I am a native speaker who has tutored Irish Gaelic for several years. My husband asked me to check it out as a way to determine the quality of Pimsleur's Spanish course, as we're both interested in learning Latin American Spanish.

The first lesson consists of a brief conversation:

Person 1: Hello
Person 2: Do you understand Irish?
Person 1: I don't

It then proceeds to break the sentences down, working backwards not only word by word, but syllable by syllable. This process is repeated over and over and is a bit slow for folks who would be paying full attention. These phrases constitute the entire 30-minute first lesson. The word Pimsleur uses for "Irish" as in "Irish language" is actually wrong. I checked a dictionary to see if it existed in a dialect I'm not familiar with. It doesn't. There are two words that translate to "Irish language": Gaeilge and Gaelic. Pimsleur's sound file annunciates what sounds like Gaelinn. This is the name of an organization in Ireland that promotes Irish language and culture.

Irish Gaelic is a complicated language to learn. Its verbs change according to person, tense,
and whether or not you're making a statement or asking/answering a question.
In this first lesson, the verb "to understand" is taught in its basic name, question and
answer forms--all of them different sounding--which I think is a little complicated for a first lesson, especially as it does so without explaining the grammatical rules associated with type 1 verbs. I don't understand why it doesn't begin with the simpler and basic "hello/how are you?/I'm well thank you/and you?/what is your name?/blank is my name" material.


In short, I don't think this Irish language course is very good, but then since it costs only $50.00 (as compared to $169.00 for Spanish), Pimsleur may agree with that. The "Teach Yourself Irish" book with CD and "Buntús Cainte" books with CDs are better, though not excellent by any means.

Róisín

I returned this product. No book comes with it, so you're not entirely sure how to truly pronounce what's being said. The audio goes by very fast, and makes you feel like your winging it.

I was able to find a much better one (Teach yourself Irish).

I would recommend this to someone who is rusty on their Irish, but already knows the language.