Irish Language Expert: Ireland's Top Gaelscoil graduate with H1 in Leaving Cert Gaeilge. Fluent & B2 teaching certified from TEG. Offering tailored LC & JC lessons, adapting to each student's needs.

Find out more about Orlaith

• 1) Do you speak this language fluently because of your origins or because a teacher inspired you to learn?

  I have spoken Irish, English and French fluently since I was a little girl. My mother has always had a love for the Irish language and as such, sent me to a Gaeilscoil from primary education all the way to sixth year. I spent many summers in the West of Ireland Gaeltachts because I loved to be immersed in the language and culture of of the Irish speaking people. It was there that I found a new found love and passion for it in a way that school simply couldn't teach! I wanted to learn and inspire others to learn in this fun loving and immersive way. This is how I tend to teach my students and you can certainly see a difference in their understanding when they actually enjoy learning.

• 2) Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  This one is hard to answer because Ireland and the Irish language is forever changing in beautiful augmented ways. I would say if I could only choose one answer here it would have to be one of Ireland's most historic and heroic figures; Pádraig Pearse.
  
  Historically he really represents Irish language and culture. He was a leading figure in the Easter Rising of 1916 and a strong advocate for the Irish language throughout his life. Pearse founded St. Enda's School in Dublin, in the beautiful St. Enda's park, where he hoped to promote Irish culture, literature, and the language itself. He believed that a free Ireland should keep its native tongue alive, he never stopped believing this and lived until his execution due to his fight for freedom of Irish oppression. His writings and speeches still have a lasting impact on the Irish cultural revival. Without the existence of this man in Irish history, we probably wouldn't have the language alive today, as such I truly believe more than anyone he is and forever will be; the emblematic representative of the Irish language's culture! 🍀

• 3) Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or behavior in the language that you particularly like?

  There is a great quote in Irish; "Is fearr Gaeilge briste, ná Béarla cliste", the message of which is its better to attempt any level of Irish than to not try at all! I love this quote and tend to use it a lot in my classes to reassure students that at the end of the day they are learning and I appreciate any effort in learning even if there's a few mistakes thrown into a sentence.

• 4) Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  Speaking Irish matters to me because it keeps me connected to my parents and grandparents, all Irish true roots really! Speaking it and keeping it alive also helps preserve our history. It gives me a sense of pride and belonging, and it offers a unique view of Irish culture. Plus, knowing Irish can lead to cool opportunities in education (such as being a fun SuperProf Tutor) and work related to our language and traditions. I have worked exciting opportunities such as with TG4 & RTÉ, the Exams Commission for Junior Cert, many university Irish societies, Gaeltachts and so many more opened doors thanks to my knowledge of Irish!

• 5) What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  One of the main difficulties students face when learning Irish is the complex grammar, such as initial consonant mutations, the verb-subject-object sentence structure, and various verb forms. The differences in pronunciation and spelling from English can also be challenging.
  
  For my students learning Irish, some good tutoring methods I use include; using real-life practice like conversations and language labs to get hands-on experience. Interactive tools like apps as Gaeilge and multimedia make lessons more engaging. Generally, I prefer to tailor my lessons to all of my students' individual needs which helps tackle their specific challenges. I like mixing in cultural elements and encouraging regular practice with homework and quizzes too as it also helps reinforce what's learned and build confidence.

• 6) Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  I was very lucky to attend Ireland's leading Irish school, Coláiste Íosagáin, which generally ranks very high overall every year. With this, I had many opportunities to meet exceptional people. One of which was a girl in my class who is now a very successful and famous poet… I remember one day in our Irish class we were studying the works of Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill. To really get into the spirit of her poetry, our teacher had us recite and analyse her poems in groups. I was paired with a classmate who was passionate about poetry, and together we performed one of Ní Dhomhnaill's pieces; Mo Ghrá-sa (idir lúibíní). We were both very nervous at first, but the experience turned out to be both inspiring and fun. It was amazing to see how the rhythm and imagery of the poem came to life when she spoke it out loud, she genuinely seemed like she was born to speak to my class about poetry and it made me appreciate Irish poetry and storytelling on a whole new level.

• 7) How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  I'll never forget my first trip to a Gaeltacht summer camp, I had barely left primary school and went to Coláiste Uisce in Mayo, it was so cool to me at such a young age that people would go there to play water sports and have dances and communicate all through Irish, which surprisingly to my younger self, was very rare at that time! I had got in on a scholarship and felt super lucky to be a part of it! Traveling to the Gaeltacht really helped me with my Irish. Being surrounded by Irish speakers all the time made me use the language in real situations. Chatting with locals and joining in on activities boosted my confidence and helped me pick up some cool expressions and pronunciation tips I wouldn't have learned in class. It was a fun and amazing way to improve my language skills and dive into Irish culture!

• 8) What makes you a Superprof in language?

  I think what makes me a great Superprof tutor is my experience and knowledge, my patience, and my dedication to helping my students succeed. I try to tailor my teaching to fit each student's needs, breaking down complex topics so they're easier to understand in all of my taught subjects. My enthusiasm for the subjects I teach keeps students engaged and motivated. I also focus on creating a supportive learning environment that helps students build confidence and reach their goals in a way were the 'daunting' one-on-one teaching is nurtured to a mistake safe and judgement free environment. Although my main priority in each lesson is to see my students reach their full potential and achieve great marks on exams or otherwise, the number one thing that is important is that the student feels confident in their abilities and in their tutor, it's a team effort!