Interesting topic and a very interesting forum. Surprisingly, I just happened to wander onto the forum while surfing the web only to find a discussion of my work of more than 10 years. The Irish language is of great interest to me as I have taught the Gaeilge for over forty years to children, teachers and parents. In that time I have't seen the revival of Irish nor have I seen its extinction either. I have however, seen Irish change because the world in which we live has changed and it's constantly changing only at a greater rate than ever. Changes that have impacted on the Irish language are technology, immigration, emigration, the status of Irish in the EU, the growth of Gaelscoileanna and the cost of maintaining support for Irish when our government is cutting funding on vital services.

Tá ard-mheas agam ar an nGaeilge. Labhraím í. Scríobhaim í. Léim í. Múinim í. Ach ní chainteoir ó dhúchais mé. Ba mhinic dom nuair a bhí mé i mo mhac léinn, saoire a chaitheamh i gCorcha Dhuibhne nó i gConnamara agus bhain mé an-taitneamh agus an-tairfe as bheith ann. Dá mbarr tá líofacht agam ach is léir do chách nach cainteoir ó dhúchais mé - rud is fíor do mhormhór múinteoirí. I rith na blianta, ní raibh comhalta múinteoir ón nGaeltacht ag obair liom. Is gá do chainteoirí ó dhúchais a admháil go bhfuil tromlach na Gaeilge á labhairt taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht. Tá Gaeilge na Gaeltachta an-tabhacht ach más mian linn an Ghaeilge a chaomhnú is gá dúinn obair le chéile. . . "Ar scáth a chéile a mhairimid."

I guess I have as much a right (and obligation) as anyone, to teach my Irish to Russians, Poles, Lithuanians, Africans, Americans, English, Northern Irish etc. etc. who never learned Irish before and whose main interest in Irish is that their children attend school in Ireland. What's more, we have an obligation to be as creative and imaginative as possible to ensure that, above all they have a positive experience of Irish (and not have too high an expectation that they will emulate native speakers.)

I think emulating native speakers is a good thing. If you were to learn Spanish or French, for example, do you think it would be a good idea to try to pronounce the words as much like a fluent native speaker as possible?

I'm learning Irish on my own, but I still try my best to say everything like a native speaker. And if I were fortunate enough to have a teacher someday, I would hope that they'd have a very high expectation of me to learn to pronounce Irish words like a native speaker. I personally think that learning fluent native pronunciation does not detract from having a positive learning experience at all; it's part of the fun of learning a different language. Teaching native pronunciation also shows that you value the language enough to take the time and effort to teach it to the highest standard.

Seamus:

As far as I know, you've done more to bring Irish to as many people as possible than your "arm-chair quarterback" critics on this forum. I know some 20 kids that started with your program because you've made it available free on-line and they can't afford anything else. I appreciate you and I appreciate your love and support of this language. I wish I could do as much for it as you have. You are an inspiration to me.

Go raibh mile maith agat,
Féabar

I guess you're the man from Texas.

Aontaím le Féabar

…your kind yet undeserved remarks.