Every time you travel to a foreign country, there’s always the question of learning the language. In Ireland, English remains the dominant language (along with Gaelic, which lags behind Shakespeare’s language). And any self-respecting traveler will necessarily have to make an effort on the spot, by appropriating the language, to be able to communicate.
That leaves us with an open question: is it possible to travel to Ireland without any knowledge of English? Is it possible to learn the basics quickly before the trip or on the spot? Here’s a complete checklist for a well-prepared trip to Ireland, without losing your nerve in front of the first Irishman you meet!
We reassure you! You don’t need to be bilingual to enjoy a pleasant vacation in Ireland! A low level of language skills and basic vocabulary can be more than enough to get you by! All you need to do is master the essential words related to topics such as :
As for the rest, it’s easy to get by! Especially as the Irish are rather sociable, and like to make an effort to be understood (provided you do too!). In the end, you’ll always make it! A smile, gestures, random attempts at words, automatic translations on a smartphone… and even scribbles on a notepad are all it takes to generally get an answer to your need!
In short, even if it can be a bit laborious at times, you’ll get through it with flying colors!
But you should know that there are other ways to enjoy a more relaxed stay in Ireland: English courses!
If the prospect of gibbering a few words of English in front of a confused Irishman frightens you, then know that it’s possible to take your destiny into your own hands, and make the choice tolearn English just a few months before your trip!
Nowadays, there are many solutions to choose from: smartphone applications, complete in-school programs, online courses… Whether you have just 15 minutes to spare on a daily basis, or longer time slots, you’re sure to find a package to suit your needs and objectives!
This way, you can easily acquire the missing basics, work on your accent, and even become truly bilingual if you feel like it!
Rates vary according to the solution chosen… They can range from around ten euros a month to a hundred euros, depending on the structure and learning method selected.
The pedagogy is always the same: you’ll need to do exercises, and talk as much as possible during your course to perfect your sentence structure and accent.
At the end of the course, and depending on the time you have available, you’ll gain in confidence, increase your vocabulary, and simply have to put what you’ve learned into practice on the spot!
Allow at least 6 months to get comfortable… A year is better if you’re starting from scratch, but your learning curve can literally explode if you keep at it.
In short, whether you’re here just to expand your vocabulary, or are looking to become a confident bilingual, there are plenty of companies to choose from!
The icing on the cake: you’ll enjoy a more relaxed stay in Ireland… and your learning will serve you well beyond your trip! It will be a real plus in your daily life, as well as in your professional life!
3.25/5 (8 votes)
