Aonad 1: An garáiste 1 - Peitreal nó díosal?

Peitreal nó díosal?

NOTE: Click Aonad 1 from the sound files above to hear the Lesson.

1. Comhrá 1: an script 

b) Stór focal / Vocabulary

Below are words in Irish from the script that are like the English words with the same meaning (sometimes called ‘cognates’).

Words in Irish sometimes look like the English word with the same meaning, e.g. pota / a pot mata / a mat doras / a door. We can take advantage of this to learn vocabulary quickly and get used to the sounds of Irish.

Here are ‘cognates’ from this unit’s script: An Garáiste 1.

We encourage you to avoid writing English translations beside these words, the aim being to train the eyes and ears to the sound patterns of Irish:

garáiste

peitreal

díosal

custaiméir

cárta

meaisín

pumpa

The words ‘a’ and ‘an’ in English: a machine, an apple

In English, we use the words a and an when talking generally about something: a house, an apple, a bear. 

In Irish, we simply state the word (the noun) itself. The word meaisín is the same as machine or a machine, úll is the same as apple or an apple. In English people say ‘a garage’. In Irish we simply say ‘garáiste’.

The word ‘the’ in English

The Irish word an / the (singular) is used a few times in the script:

an garáiste / the garage

an meaisín

an cárta

an custaiméir

an pumpa

Phrases and fillers

As well as learning individual words, it is helpful to learn useful phrases for everyday conversation as well as conversation ‘fillers’ (words like sure, indeed, nice, etc. in English).

Here are some examples from the script that can be used in everyday situations. You may be able to use the context in the script to work out what these mean. They will be reinforced in the exercises. Try to learn the Irish words without adding English translations at this stage. Don’t worry if you don’t understand every word at this stage.

le do thoil 🙏

go breá 👍

seo an meaisín 

A nó B ?

sin é

seo duit

go raibh maith agat

go raibh maith agat féin (a response to go raibh maith agat)

slán 👋

slán anois 👋

Uimhreacha 1-10 / Numbers 1-10

It’s natural to learn the numbers in order, but don’t get too comfortable!

• Can you recite them backwards? 
• How about some simple sums (a dó agus a dó, sin a ceathair)?
• If you’re giving out your uimhir fóin you’ll need a náid / nought 0!

c) Eolas teanga / Language information

Each unit will include some information about how the language works.

We met fiche punt (£20) in the text. 

When counting objects in multiples of ten, the Irish word for the object itself (punt in this case) will remain unchanged: 

£30 – tríocha punt

£40 – daichead (40) punt 

£50 – caoga punt 

There is an exception to this: an object following the word deich (10) itself.

When 10 is combined with a word beginning with ‘p’ such as punt, the p sound is ‘eclipsed’ by a b sound:

deich bpunt (£10)

A summary of how other consonants and vowels are eclipsed is given in Aguisín A / Appendix A (1).

d) Cleachtaí / Exercises

• The first 3 exercises in each unit can be done by individual learners or groups. 
• Group work is encouraged in every activity where possible as it increases the opportunity for communication in the target language (Irish).
• Solutions to the exercises are given in the answer section.

Cleachtadh 1 / Exercise 1

Cuir gach focal le pictiúr / Match each word to a picture

Use the context in the script to work out the meaning of these three Irish words: oibrí, airgead, admháil.

Match the words to the matching pictiúr. 

• The word oibrí appears in the left column of each script along with custaiméir, so it must be a person with a role of some kind. Some people may know the related word obair. 
• The word airgead is used along with cárta in relation to paying for the fuel. 
• The word admháil appears near the end. It is offered after the payment has been made.

Cleachtadh 2

Líon na bearnaí / fill the gaps.

Úsáid an comhthéacs agus an script.

Cleachtadh 3

Fill in the script below. 

Ask for £30 of petrol from pumpa a 3 and to pay using money (cash).

e) Cleachtadh grúpa nó ranga / Group or class exercise

Each unit concludes with an exercise best suited to group work. Individual learners might find learning partners to work with or find a willing friend or family member happy to give it a go!

In addition to the exercises described, each script offers two other activities:

1. Participants can rehearse the script in pairs, trying each role, aiming to get the script off by heart.
2. Participants can also explore the script in more creative ways, e.g. using prior knowledge and/or the learning material to adapt the text in very simple ways such as changing prices, payment methods, etc.

Cleachtadh grúpa

Use the three words above.

Líon na bearnaí / fill the gaps

Cupán tae agus buidéal Fanta, .

Tríocha euro, pumpa .

Seo an .Obair bhreise 1

Extension work 1

Obair bhreise / extension work

Stór focal: comhrá fóin / vocabulary: phone conversation

Idir gach script tá abairtí a bheadh úsáideach, b’fhéidir, i gcás gnólachtaí agus seirbhísí a úsáideann an fón – don chustaiméir nó soláthraí seirbhíse. Thiocfadh cuid mhaith acu a úsáid ar an láthair féin.

Between each script are some sample expressions that could be useful for customers and service providers in businesses and services that use the phone. Many of these expressions could be adopted to use on site.

Tús simplí le comhrá, ceithre shampla / 

Simple conversation starters, four examples:

1. Halla an Bhaile, seo Máire.

The Town Hall, this is Máire.

2. Teach Uí Dhálaigh, Nóra anseo.

Daly’s, Nóra here.

3. Óstán an Chósta, mise Brian.

The Coast Hotel, I’m Brian.

4. An dtig liom cuidiú leat? 

Can I help you?

Nóta: Is féidir ainm comhlachta a úsáid mar atá sé / The name of a company can be kept as it is:

Lunch Express, seo Pat.

Bio Balance, seo Belinda.

Samplaí níos faide / more extended examples

5. Dia duit. Halla an Bhaile. Is mise Máire.

Hello (formal). The Town Hall. I am Máire.

6. Dia duit ar maidin. Oifigí na Comhairle. Gráinne an t-ainm atá orm.

Good morning to you. Council Offices. My name is Gráinne.

7. An féidir liom cuidiú leat?

Can I help you?

8. Cad é mar is féidir liom cuidiú leat?

How can I help you?

9. Tá brón orm go raibh ort fanacht.

(I’m) sorry you had to wait.

10. Go raibh maith agat as fanacht ansin. Is mise Brian. Cad é mar is féidir liom cuidiú leat inniu?

Thank you for waiting there. I’m Brian. How can I help you today?