How to use Dual Language books in Irish and English

A girl in school shirt and tie holds her dual language English and Irish book
Reading a whole book in Irish is no mean feat

My fairy books are available in English and Irish.  Most kids in Ireland are studying Irish and dual language books can be very useful.

Reading a whole book in Irish is an achievement to be proud of.  Here is some advice on using dual language books.

One suggestion is to pre-read the book in English and then switch to Irish the following day.  The idea is that the memory of the story will be fresh in your child’s mind and they will be able to make a good guess at any unfamiliar words.

Front covver of Irish langauge children's book Siog sa Teach
Deadlai agus Maightai – click on the pic to buy

Another idea is to read the Irish book with your child, stopping when you come to any unfamiliar words.  Of course you will have the translations to hand or a copy of the English book that you can consult but not your child.  

You want your child to make their best guess at the meaning of the Irish words.   Most children love attention and will do their best to puzzle out what the book is saying when you are there to encourage them.

A girl in a school blazer with shirt and tie holds her dual language English and Irish book
The Bridin Gicin look

Find a family member who can read aloud in Irish.  Ask them to go into your child’s school to read the book.  That gives a strong message about how important and valued Irish is to the family.  I find that book reading followed by arts and crafts makes for a very pleasant school visit.

Keep it light and keep it fun.

Serious girl in school uniform scowling
Brídín Gícín is a physics genius. She brings her physics homework with her when she baby-sits. No fun.

 

Paper books in Irish about Bekki the Fairy
andand

Previews of e-books on Kindle 

and

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