Course Details:

The Celtic Arts Center will host The Greater Los Angeles Irish Language Immersion Weekend with Oideas Gael happening Friday through Sunday, May 13 - 15, 2011.  The three-day event will mark the first time Oideas Gael has offered its highly acclaimed, popular and innovative program in Southern California.  Both the Ireland-based organization and The Celtic Arts Center are hopeful that growing interest in the Irish language will translate into active participation in this unique opportunity and will transform this inaugural weekend into an annual event.

Since 1984, Oideas Gael’s innovative language and cultural programs tailored to adult learners of all ages and proficiency levels have attracted thousands of participants to its Glencolmcille home in Co. Donegal’s Gaeltacht district.  In 2009 alone, more than 1,600 people attended the organization’s programs: 50% of those attending came from countries other than Ireland. If Oideas Gael is known for innovative learning methods that focus on developing fluency in an amazingly short time, it is also known for an approach that creates a positive learning experience where the emphasis is on team work, meeting individual goals and having fun.

An interest in learning Irish or a drive to improve the Irish you have are the only qualifications  necessary to sign on for The Greater Los Angeles Irish Language Immersion Weekend with Oideas Gael. Oideas Gael is sending us a highly qualified team of native Irish speakers chosen specifically to teach classes tailored to the needs of those who sign on for the course. If you’ve wanted to learn Irish, but haven’t had the time to attend workshops at The Celtic Arts Center, or if you just want to take a few deep breaths and build on what you already know, both your time and money are guaranteed to be well spent at this three-day deep dip into the Irish language and culture.

This immersion weekend will focus on developing fluency in the spoken language.  The program offers four levels of instruction—absolute beginner, intermediate learner, advanced intermediate learner and an advanced level for those wanting to polish up their Irish skills.  Course content at all levels emphasizes pronunciation, contemporary idiom usage and vocabulary.  Between classes, over meals and during our nightly seisiún students are encouraged to practice Irish, practice Irish, practice Irish with everyone and anyone who happens by.  The point here is to LEARN TO SPEAK IRISH: the best way — the only way — to do that is to DO IT. That’s what an immersion weekend is all about.

Our 2011 weekend will begin at 6PM on Friday, May 13, and will run (at least) through 4:30PM, Sunday, May 15.  In addition to class instruction, the $345 tuition fee includes meals (a light supper of sandwiches, soup and fruit on Friday, Irish bread and cheese, coffee and tea Saturday and Sunday morning, and coffee breaks with perks; full lunch and dinner Saturday and lunch Sunday) and a nightly seisiún where everyone is encouraged to participate—bring an instrument and play a tune, dance a dance, sing a song, share a poem, tell a story, share something old and learn something new. The price of admission also comes with introductions to a whole new gathering of people who share your passion for the language and culture.  The value in that, as they say, is priceless. The three-day event will be held in the Highland Park area of Los Angeles. Out-of-town attendees are responsible for making their own overnight arrangements. The Celtic Arts Center will be happy to provide suggestions for nearby lodging accommodations.  More details will be provided upon registration.

For more information, call 818-458-5337 or e-mail branwyn@mac.com