Jared
Don't panic! Gaelic follows the English!
My name is Jared, and I live in Pflugerville, TX (just outside the capital, Austin ). As with most of the Americans I've seen here, I want to learn Gaelic in order to establish a firmer link with my heritage. My gr-gr-grandparents left the Isle of Lewis in 1851 during the Clearances, and only spoke Gaelic. They settled in Bruce County, Ontario, where many McArthurs remain to this day. It's been a long road to find my people, but now that I know I want to keep their memory alive in a way that I can pass along.
As I am just beginning, the only advice I can offer is what I've gleaned whilst learning other languages. Immersion is the best way to learn. Even if you don't understand, read, listen, watch, and write everything you can in Gaelic. Babies don't make a conscious decision to learn a language, they just do it. Put yourself in that sort of context - don't underestimate the ability of your subconscious mind to assist with the learning process. Once you start dreaming in the language you are trying to learn, you know you're on the right track.
I don't have a favourite phrase yet, but we'll see what I uncover on this journey.
‘S e Jared an t-ainm a th' orm agus ‘s ann an Pflugerville, Texas (faisg air a' phrìomh bhaile Austin) a tha mi a' fuireach. Mar a tha cuid de dh'Ameireaganaich an seo, tha mise ag iarraidh a' Ghàidhlig ionnsachadh son ceangal nas làidire a dhèanamh ri mo dhualchas. Dh' fhàg mo sean sean sean-phàrantan Eilean Leòdhais ann an 1851 aig àm nam fuadaichean agus cha robh aca ach Gàidhlig. Chaidh iad gu Bruce county, Ontario far a bheil tòrr mhuinntir MhicArtair an-diugh. ‘S e rathad fada a th' ann a bhith a' lorg mo dhaoine, ach a-nis tha mi ag iarraidh a bhith a' cumail na h-ìomhaigh beò.
Oir tha mi dìreach aig toiseach tòisichidh, chan eil còmhradh ann ach rudan a dh'ionnsaich mi bho chànanan eile. ‘S e bogadh an dòigh as fheàrr. Fiù ged nach eil tuigse agad, feumaidh tu a' leughadh, ag èisteachd, agus a' coimhead air a h-uile rud anns a' Ghàidhlig. Cha bhi pàistean a' dèanamh oidhirp sam bith son ionnsachadh cànan, tha iad dìreach ga dhèanamh. Cuir thu fhèin anns an aon suidheachadh, tha d' eanchainn a' dèanamh rudan mìorbhaileach nuair a tha thu ag ionnsachadh rud. Nuair a tha thu ag aisling anns a' chànan, tha thu air an t-slighe cheart!
Chan eil abairt as fhèarr leam fhathast, ach chì sinn dè a bhios air fhoillseachadh air a' chuairt seo.
