Immersion Learning

Hello all.

 Well my university has the blessing of a Fullbright scholar from Ireland.  I am taking her Intro to Irish class while also teaching 2 sections of English Comp and taking 2 graduate courses. Whew.

She is teaching by total immersion.  Today was our first class and she had a lot to say in Irish already. However, I believe the basic things we learned today have mainly stuck with me.

I am not foreign to learning by Immersion as I lived in China for about a year and picked up a lot of Mandarin.

However, I have never experienced this approach in a classroom setting that is so far removed from the actual area where the language is spoken.  Does anyone have any tips on this?

Thanks so much!

Emily 

Hi Emily,

It sounds like you've a lot of work on, and an interesting Irish class! I'm not sure what tips you'd like on the immersion experience. Are you wondering how effective it will be if the only immersion you get every day is in the classroom? You can choose to immerse yourself in more Irish, if that's what you want, by using what's on the Internet. It's not quite the same as being immersed in Mandarin in China, but it would help.

Le gach dea ghuí

Thanks for the comment. Yes, I suppose the internet will be the best out of classroom chance to get the Irish on.  I am already searching youtube for videos. I also bought a brief conversational program with 2 CDS.  The reason I am taking this is that I am pursuing an MA and then a PHD in Renaissance and Irish Studies. I am applying for a scholarship to attend a college in Gallway for a semester and want to get some Irish to use there.

I am very excited though!