If you would like to attend an English language course there are a number of different options available:
You can also:
These lessons are a basic introduction to the English language. Each lesson consists of vocabulary and sometimes a short dialogue. You can use the dialogues to practise your listening skills. English is generally spoken at a fast speed in Ireland so it may take a little while to get used to this.
Mary: Hello
John: Hello. 'Can I speak to Paul, please?
Mary: Sorry he is not in. Can I take a message?
John: Yes. This is John. Please tell him to call me back. My number is 086 1234567.
Mary: I will pass your message on.
John: Thank you.
Mary: You’re welcome.
John: Good bye.
Mary: Good bye.
Mary: Hello
John: Hello. 'Can I speak to Mr. O’Connor, please?
Mary: Mr. O’Connor is not here at the moment. Would you like to leave a message?
John: Yes, please. Could you tell him that John called and I will call him back tomorrow?
Mary: I will tell him.
John: Thank you.
Mary: You’re welcome.
John: Good bye.
Mary: Good bye.
Mary: Hello
John: Hello. 'Can I speak to Patrick please?
Mary: Sorry you have the wrong number. There is no Patrick here.
John: I’m sorry.
Mary: No problem.
Mary: I would like to open a bank account please.
Bank official: Certainly. Please fill in this form. Do you have photo ID with you?
Mary: Yes. I have my passport.
Bank official: Do you have proof of your address?
Mary: Yes I have an ESB bill.
Bank official: Great. I’m going to photocopy these documents. Please sign here. Your account will be active in 24 hours.
Mary: Thank you.
Bank official: You’re welcome.
Mary: Hello.
Bank official: How can I help you?
Mary: I would like a bank draft for €1000 please
Bank official: Who is the bank draft for?
Mary: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Bank official: Would you like to pay by cash?
Mary: Yes please.
Bank official: Here is your bank draft.
Mary: Thank you.
Bank official: You’re welcome.
Mary: Good bye
Bank official: Good bye.
Mary: Hello.
Bank official: How can I help you?
Mary: I would like a bank draft for €250 please
Bank official: Would you like to debit your account for this amount?
Mary: Yes please.
Bank official: Here is your bank draft.
Mary: Thank you.
Bank official: You’re welcome.
Mary: Good bye
Bank official: Good bye.
Mary: I want to send this envelope by express post?
Post office official: Please fill in this form.
Mary: There you go.
Post office official: €4.00 please.
Mary: There you go.
Post office official: And your change.
Mary: Thank you.
Mary: I want to send this by registered post please?
Post office official: Is there anything valuable in this parcel?
Mary: No
Post office official: €5.25, please.
Mary: There you go.
Post office official: Here is your receipt.
Mary: Thank you. Good bye.
Post office official: You’re welcome. Good bye.
Mary: Hello.
Post office official: Hello. How can I help you?
Mary: I would like to send this letter to the United Kingdom.
Post office official: 82 cent, please. Here is your change.
Mary: Thank you.
What is your full name?
What is your address?
Please provide details of ALL your previous addresses starting with the most recent one
What is your telephone number?
What is your date of birth?
What country were you born in?
What is your nationality?
Date of arrival in Ireland?
Why did you come to Ireland?
Are you? Single
Married
Separated
Widowed
Cohabiting
Divorced
Are you: Employed
Retired
Studying
Unemployed
Other
General forms which people fill in are: the Habitual Residence Condition form (HRC1), Child Benefit form (CB1) and the citizenship form (Form 8 – Application for naturalisation as an Irish citizen)
Sending text messages or texting is very popular. Here are a few common abbreviations that you will see in text messages:
Abbreviation |
Meaning |
Brb |
|
Btw |
|
Cos |
|
Cu |
|
Defo |
|
Fyi |
|
Gr8 |
|
L8r |
|
Lol |
|
Msg |
|
Ppl |
|
Ttyl |
|
Txt |
|
Tmrw / 2moro |
|
U |
|
Ur |
|
Wot |
|
Wud |
|
2day |
|
2nite |
|
4get |
|
4u |
It is also common for people to use smileys/emoticons. The most common ones are:
Smiley/Emoticon |
Meaning |
:-) |
Smiling |
:-( |
Sad |
;-) |
Winking |
:-D |
Laugh or grin |
:O |
Shocked |
:-P |
Sticking tongue out |
Other abbreviations include:
Abbreviation |
Meaning |
ASAP |
|
DOB |
The Irish language influences how English is spoken in Ireland. Hiberno-English or Irish-English is similar to the English spoken in the United Kingdom but has its own unique features. Within Irish-English there are regional variations and accents. Below are the most common examples (with meanings) which you will hear in everyday conversations:
Irish (Gaeilge) is one of the official languages in Ireland. While most Irish people do not speak the language on a daily basis, it is still an important part of Irish identity. You will see and hear Irish words and sayings in many different places, for example, most road and street signs are bilingual.
In March every year, Seachtain na Gaeilge (Irish week) takes place. It highlights and promotes the importance of the Irish language. For more information in English and Irish see: www.snag.ie
A man’s surname generally takes the form of Ó or Mac and a woman’s surname generally take the form of Ní or Nic, for example:
Patrick Byrne = Padraig Ó’Broin
Mary Byrne = Máire Ní Broin
John Fitzgerald = Seán Mac Gearailt
Anne Fitzgerald = Áine Nic Gearailt
In Irish families, one son is generally given the same first name as his father. To differentiate between father and son the word óg (young) is sometimes used, for example, Seán would be the father and Seán Óg would be the son.
Here are some common greetings in Irish:
The following are words from the Irish language which are used instead of the English version:
The following organisations provide Irish language classes:
While English is the language most spoken by the majority of Irish people, Irish or Gaeilge is the First Official Language of the Republic of Ireland and it is an official language of the European Union. Although once spoken commonly across the island of Ireland, nowadays it is generally spoken in the Gaeltacht (Irish speaking areas).
Irish originally stems from Celtic language and so is likely to have been introduced to Ireland at the time of the arrival of Celts in Ireland. Following conquests and plantations from Britain in the 16th and 17th century the status of Irish was seriously undermined. However, through the 1700s and into the 1800s Irish was the language of the majority of the rural population.
The Great Famine and the introduction of a primary education system where Irish was banned further weakened the status of Irish. The language appeared to be on the point of extinction, but a vigorous restoration movement helped to prevent such a fate.
The Gaelic League, or in Irish, Conradh na Gaeilge, established in 1893, successfully turned support for Irish into a mass movement. With the establishment of the Free State in 1922 some attempts were made to re-establish Irish as the dominant language. However, English was widely used at this time and state institutions continued to operate through English so Irish remained a secondary language.
Support for the Irish language has grown again in more recent years. There is an Irish radio station (Radio na Gaeltachta) which was established in 1972 and an Irish language television station (TG4 – TG ceathair) which was established in 1994. For more information on the Irish language go to the bi-lingual website www.gaeilge.ie
Gaeltacht is the Irish word meaning ‘Irish speaking region’. The Gaeltacht consists of areas in Ireland where Irish is still spoken as the community language. The Gaeltacht covers large parts of counties Donegal, Mayo, Galway and Kerry and also parts of counties Cork, Meath and Waterford.
Údarás na Gaeltachta was established in 1980 and is the regional authority responsible for the economic, social and cultural development of the Gaeltacht: www.udaras.ie
Na Forbacha, Co. Galway
Telephone: 091 503100
Email: eolas@udaras.ie
This project is co-financed by the European Commission under the European Integration Fund
and is supported by the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration in the Dept of Justice & Equality & Pobal.