How to Learn Irish English With Comprehensible Input

Most of Irish English grammar is the same as in other English, but it has words of its own, like craic, which means fun or good conversation. A word list tells you what a word means. You start to catch it without thinking after you've heard it in many sentences you already understand. That is what comprehensible input means: Irish English you mostly follow, where the words you know explain the new one.

About one new word in each sentence, while you still follow the meaning.

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Because the other words are familiar, they show you what the new one means. At first, that means short lines about a bus, a shop, or a chat with a neighbour. Later, a full radio show has enough clues for you to guess a word yourself. If you often can't follow, switch to something easier for a while.

Bubblegum has six levels, and each starts with a sentence in a learner's own words. Pick the one closest to you. The classes and radio in the rows don't use these levels, so treat each row as a first guess.

1. Level 1

   I'm just starting out or know only a few words.

   The easiest way to start is Bubblegum, where Poppy, your AI tutor, writes short lessons at your level about your interests and goals. If you'd like a teacher, find a tutor who teaches from zero. Give it a few weeks of hard study before you start using apps.

2. Level 2

   I can read simple sentences about daily life.

   If you use Bubblegum, read its Level 2 lessons with the translation hidden. If you live in Ireland, Fáilte Isteach volunteers run free English conversation classes for people who are new to Ireland, in many counties.

   Fáilte Isteach →
3. Level 3

   I can follow short chats and stories, including some local phrases.

   At this level you need more words, so read and listen a lot. Bubblegum reuses the words you saved in new Level 3 lessons. Your local Education and Training Board teaches English as a second language to adults, so contact yours to ask about a place.

   Kilkenny and Carlow ETB →
4. Level 4

   I can follow longer texts and understand what different people think.

   RTÉ Radio 1 has live radio and podcasts. Follow the main idea first, then replay the parts you missed. Read Bubblegum lessons at Level 4 about things you're into.

   RTÉ Radio 1 →
5. Level 5

   I can read complex texts and follow shifts between casual and formal writing.

   Listen to Morning Ireland or Drivetime, which RTÉ lists under its news and politics shows. Guess new words from the sentence before you look them up. Poppy can write your Level 5 lessons about anything you're into.

   RTÉ Radio 1 →
6. Level 6

   I can follow detailed arguments and understand ideas that are not said directly.

   Listen to radio and podcasts made for everyone, and notice how presenters use everyday words like craic. Read Bubblegum lessons at Level 6 about the things you care about too.

Try the next row once this one feels easy. If most sentences need the dictionary, go back one row.

Here's a sentence written for this guide: We went to the match and the craic was great. If you know every other word, the scene teaches you the new one: the match went well, so craic means fun.

Bubblegum is a language app where your AI tutor, Poppy, writes Irish English lessons for your level about topics you choose. A Dublin English voice reads every lesson aloud, and you can look up words and ask her about grammar. Words you save come back in new lessons through Regenerative Review™.