He's talking about learning Spanish here, but all of this also applies to learning Irish:

http://www.theguardian.com/education/20 ... es-spanish

"But on the way to becoming the fluent and unaccountably sexier new you, there are a few emotional troughs you have to get through."

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We'll have to beat 'em off with a stick!

I think this kind of thing takes a lot of adult learners by surprise, though. I remember my first couple of Deireadh Seachtaine Gaeltachtas (and my first time in Donegal)...I was so terrified of making a mistake, I barely spoke at all outside of class!

Redwolf

And I'd say you haven't stopped talking since!!

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LOL!

You can definitely tell first-timers at these things, though. They all stand around with frightened looks on their faces, clearly thinking "please don't say anything to me!" And I was among the worst!