Broadcaster, writer and parent Maia Dunphy launches new digital resource, Is Féidir Linn!

Inspired by the challenges of home schooling during the pandemic, a new digital resource for parents and guardians was launched by Gael Linn, an organisation which supports schools in promoting the use of the Irish language beyond the classroom.

‘Is Féidir Linn’ aims to make the language accessible for all parents and guardians, regardless of their own Irish language skills or experience, using phrases, stories and songs for children about the daily routines of family life. The interactive resource, which is accessible on computer and mobile devices, features everyday phrases in both English and Irish, as well as a sound-recording of each to help with pronunciation.

The new resource grew from a social media resource, #GaeilgeSaBhaile, that Gael Linn created during the pandemic to support families home schooling. Useful phrases for parents include “Brostaigh ort, maith an cailín”, “Hurry up, good girl”, and inspired by the pandemic, “Ná dean dearmad do lámha a ní”, “Don’t forget to wash your hands”.

Speaking at the launch of ‘Is Féidir Linn’, Edel Ní Bhraonáin, Gaelbhratach Project Co-ordinator at Gael Linn, said: “While home schooling during the pandemic, many parents and guardians found themselves using more Irish with their children, some having not used the language themselves since school, or having never learned it at all. While it may have been a challenge at the time, we’ve heard from many who were also inspired to reignite their love and use of the language, or to begin learning Irish for the first time.

“This resource has been designed with the parent in mind, as much as the child, with accessible stories and songs that lift the language off the page and the screen, to give families the language for everyday activities at home like getting ready for school or the bedtime routine. Incorporating Irish into the everyday like this is an easy and effective way for parents to bring Irish out of the classroom and into the home.”

‘Is Féidir Linn’ was launched today by broadcaster, writer and parent, Maia Dunphy. Speaking at the launch, Ms Dunphy said: “This is such a useful resource for anyone hoping to use more Irish at home with the kids in their life. It’s interactive and gives families practical phrases they can use day-to-day, which is so important for language learning.

“I know from my own little boy, children embrace language learning with such enthusiasm, and they’re not held back by fear of making mistakes, we could learn a lot from them in that sense.”

Funded by Foras na Gaeilge, ‘Is Féidir Linn’ is available for free at: www.gaelbhratach.ie/is-feidir-linn/. Follow on social media @gaelbhratach.

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