A wee hello

[Lisbonlion]

Hello members
You guessed it new to this site and hopefully it will be a blessing that I managed to find this forum.
I don't have a clue how to speak Gaelic but for the past 20 or so years it has been one of the things I have wanted to do in my life and I guess now is the time to act on it.
I am currently in Canada but my partner lives in the Borders, so I have been flying back and forth for the last 2 1/2 yrs spending my time in Scotland and this is probably one of the reasons that I am now keen on learning Gaelic. My whole family is Scottish with relatives from my dads side mainly living in Glasgow and my mothers side are all here in Canada. I am very proud of my heritage and I am planning on packing up my life here and moving to Scotland with my partner.
I have been annoyed to see that the Gaelic language is disappearing and the Scottish government has allowed this, why the schools have not taken steps to make the language of choice prior to learning french, german, spanish, italian etc is beyond me, this is Scotlands native tongue, of course it can't be forced on us but at least give the choice or at least give the children a taste of it in primary year then allow them too choose later on.
Anyways I hope to be speaking some Gaelic in the near future but I know it will be hard for me as second languages are not my fortay, never managed french in school but hopefully this will be different.
Can someone help me with some questions? first I would like to learn using a tr*nsl*t*r, as I tried a website lastnight and found it a great tool to listening to the sound and being able to repeat it back, I think just reading won't help me. I have also found by reading some of the sites, I am not sure where to use certain words as many Gaelic words seem to have and are used in many ways pending on who you are speaking too, so if someone can recommend the best websites to be using that would be great.
I also would like to tr*nsl*t* some phrases from English to Gaelic for my partner for valentines can some one help me with that or again recommend a good site to do this for me until I learn on my own.

Thanks

[Gràisg]

Halò Lisbon Lion, fàilte chridheil ort,

Valentine's material :
http://www.foramnagaidhlig.net/foram/vi ... valentines

To get a feel for the sounds of Gaelic try Litir do luchd-ionnsachaidh, reading the text and listening to the sound files.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/alba/foghlam/learn ... itirbheag/

You'll perhaps find a few other sites that might help on this page
http://www.foramnagaidhlig.net/index.php?page=4

[faoileag]

Agus fàilte bhuamsa cuideachd!

And welcome fom me too!

If you're a real beginner, I personally would recommend this site:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/alba/foghlam/beag_air_bheag/

It really takes you through the basics, including conversational items, and you have the pronunciation as sound files.

If you want something more regular and supported, with an online group and a teacher, I would recommend these Skype-based classes, offered at all levels (and the times should be good for you if you are in Canada) - and they also have face-to-face classes in various towns, I believe:

http://www.gaelicacademy.ca/

The other thing I would recommend is listening to Gaelic music, so you get a feel for the sound and the rhythm.
Cathy Ann MacPhee, from the Isle of Barra but living in Canada, has extremely clear pronunciation and a beautiful voice.

You can get Gaelic books and music in Canada from Sìol Cultural Enterprises:

http://www.gaelicbooks.com/music.html

and in Scotland you can get Gaelic books from Comhairle nan Leabhraichean in Glasgow:

https://lsh507.securepod.com/gaelicbook ... cts_id=183

(both do mail order) and music from nearly everywhere, eg Footstompin, Music Scotland, Amazon etc..

Good luck!

[GunChleoc]

Halò agus fàilte ort!

Hello and welcome


Take your time to browse around the links and see what works best for you personally.

Don't hesitate to ask if you run into any problems, and don't hesitate to try out what you've learned here, even if you will make mistakes. They are part of the game and practice makes perfect!

[Harald]

Fàilte bhuamsa cuideachd, a Lisbonlion!

I'm new here, too, and also a beginner of learning Gaelic (just because I'm interested, without biographical roots).
Tha mi a smaoineachadh gu bheil na foram sin math...

(I think that this forum is good [hope this sentence is right...]).

Harald

[IainDonnchaidh]

Tha mi a smaoineachadh gu bheil na foram seo math

sin is "that"

[Harald]

Ah - tapadh leibh!

[IainDonnchaidh]

Ah - tapadh leibh!

'S e do bheatha

Chan eil mòran Gàidhlig agam, ach tha fios agam mu diofar eadar seo 's sin. (this and that)

[GunChleoc]

and: am fòram seo... na is the plural article.

Tha mi toilichte gu bheil thu ann agus gu bheil an cunntas agad ag obrachadh mu dheireadh thall.
I'm glad you're here and your account is finally working