How to learn:
1. Spend the time. The most important factor is how much time you are immersed in the language. This means listening, repeating, speaking, answering, reading, writing, and studying words and phrases. This does not mean sitting in a class disconnected with what is going on, or listening to fellow learners who do not speak well, or getting explanations in English on how the language works.
2. Get motivated and stay motivated. You have to want to do it. Motivation and proficiency improvement are strongly related – successful learners are motivated and success improves motivation. A teacher cannot teach you to become fluent, but you can learn to become fluent if you want to.
3. Relax and enjoy yourself! Do not worry about what you cannot yet remember or understand. It does not matter. The language will gradually become clearer to you. Just make sure that you spend enough time with the language. Anxiety will damage your prospects for successful learning. Learners who are not worried about making mistakes (extroverts) and who are willing to try and communicate even if they are not sure that they will succeed are more much more successful in language learning than learners who would avoid interaction for fear of being ridiculed.
4. Make mistakes. The best learning tip is to try! Go ahead and speak at will and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. You are guaranteed to make many mistakes, its part of the learning process. Being self-conscious about making mistakes is a major drawback to learning Gaeilge. If fear of mistakes holds you back you will never open your mouth but neither will you ever be comfortable with Gaeilge. So go ahead, blab away as Gaeilge, the more you speak the sooner you will be comfortable speaking it.
