BS: Gaeilge, blind leading the sighted?

Subject: Gaeilge, blind leading the sighted?
From: GUEST,Rich(bodhránai gan ciall)
Date: 10 Sep 00 - 11:13 PM

Today I had to co-teach a beginners mini class in Irish at an Irish fest. I wouldn't have planned to do it. I'm just learning myself, but somebody had volunteered in order to get his name in the program and then came to the Gaelic League Table and admitted he hadn't ANY Irish one of my classmates and I got drafted to do it. That's not the funny part. As we're teaching people "Dia duit" "Tá mé fuar" "Is mise ______" etc. and really basic stuff other than "Pog mo thóin", I see this girl in the back nodding and shaking her head and counting along a haon, a dó, a trí....... She's being nice about it but now we're doubly nervous about the whole thing. She introduces herself afterwards and says she just moved here from Dublin. Hasn't had Irish since school but she sure had more than we did! And in the back of my mind I'm thinking "why aren't you teaching?" So I'm wondering has anyone else found themselves either with a better singer, speaker, player or whatever in their given workshop, and if so, what was your(and their) reactions. Ive been the better bodhránaí at a couple of festivals where a vendor is giving that "complimentory lesson" and am usually gracious about it. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance,

Slán agat,
Rich

Subject: RE: BS: Gaeilge, blind leading the sighted?
From: GUEST,rabbitrunning
Date: 11 Sep 00 - 11:51 AM

I've done storytelling workshops and had one of the participants stand up and blow me away. I've also been a participant in a workshop with someone I felt was a lot more of a rank beginner than I and still learned something. I don't think it really matters a whole lot as long as people are polite.

Subject: RE: BS: Gaeilge, blind leading the sighted?
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 11 Sep 00 - 04:55 PM

I saw this thread title and thought of Roger and the Zimmer going to the optician for help with his "bhfocals"

You may not get as much response as you like as mostly people with an interest in Irish language will look into this thread. Although you've done all right with Rabbit Running. I think singing a song in any language that you didn't grow up with is more daunting when you know native speakers are listening. and yet they often appreciate the attempt.