My story with the Irish language

In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I share my story with the Irish language, from struggling through boring school lessons to finally reconnecting with it as an adult. In the 90s, Irish was taught in a very academic and grammar-heavy way, so despite ten years of “learning,” I could barely say a few phrases after school. Years later, after learning Spanish, Italian, and French, a French friend asked me, “Do you speak your own country’s language?” That question made me realize how disconnected I was from my roots and inspired me to give Irish another chance.

I joined an adult immersion program called Oideas Gael, where I spent six weeks learning through morning lessons, Irish dancing, singing, and hill walking. That experience completely changed my relationship with the language and helped me reach a conversational B1 level. Since then, I’ve spoken Irish in Dublin, Galway, and even at events around the world, proudly using it wherever I can. Now, after 15 years based in the US, I’m preparing to move back to Ireland, reactivate my skills, and finally work toward fluency. Stay tuned for updates, and as always, happy language learning and happy travels!

Mentioned in this episode:
- Oideas Gael

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What is Language & Travel Hacking?

International best-selling author and nomadic polyglot Benny Lewis shares his real experiences and advice while on-the-road about travel and language learning. Learn more at: https://www.fluentin3months.com/podcast/