This hour-long documentary about a Protestant from a Loyalist section of Belfast who sets out to learn Irish is really an interesting testament to how languages can both divide and unite communities (it's also a very realistic look at the tasks we set ourselves when we set out to learn a new language as adults!). Worth a look (if only for the scenes from one of my favorite places in the world, Oideas Gael!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbfUpfS4n_Y#t=217

Your suggestions of videos to check out help me out a lot!

This one is mostly in English, but I recommend it because he goes through the stages all new learners go through...initial enthusiasm and over-confidence, followed by fear ("please, nobody talk to me!"), exhaustion, then renewed determination (not to mention the real highs when you realize you've really grasped something). Language learning is fun (at least I think so!), but a lot of adults underestimate just how much work it takes to become fluent in a language and how exhausting it can be. I loved every minute of my time at Oideas Gael (and can't wait to go back), but I still fell into bed exhausted every night. All the students spoke of the "Wednesday syndrome" because Wednesday is about the point in an immersion week where you hit the wall (if you can tough your way through it though, it gets much better again by Thursday morning!)

I think this is often why adults who start out to learn a language don't continue...they have this idea that it will be a bit of a lark, and when it doesn't come easy, they assume that they just "have no gift for languages," which is sad.

Redwolf

Great show Redwolf, well presented and easy to identify with - glad he survived the radio broadcast!
GRMA
JulieA

This show also answered a burning question I've had for years: Whatever happened to the woman who played Sorcha on "An Grá Faoi Ghlas"? I've seen all the other actors on TG4 shows or commercials, and always wondered why I never saw her.

Redwolf