Introduction to Studies in Modern Irish

Introduction: While the lessons in this book are primarily intended to help the Teacher who is struggling with the difficulties of the Direct Method, they can at the same time be used by private students. For the benefit of the latter a Vocabulary and a Key to the Exercises have been provided, but the Notes on Method and Grammar are meant chiefly for teachers. From over twenty years' experience of teachers and teaching, I have come to the conclusion that some such...
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Introduction:

While the lessons in this book are primarily intended to help the Teacher who is struggling with the difficulties of the Direct Method, they can at the same time be used by private students. For the benefit of the latter a Vocabulary and a Key to the Exercises have been provided, but the Notes on Method and Grammar are meant chiefly for teachers. From over twenty years' experience of teachers and teaching, I have come to the conclusion that some such assistance is needed. The Direct Method has its limitations, and I am convinced that without translation from English into Irish, it cannot impart that precision and accuracy which are essential for a true education. On the other hand, such translation - when judiciously handled - in no way interferes with progress in the Direct Method. On the contrary, I have found the practice a most useful and interesting variation in the ordinary class routine.

It need hardly be added that scientific and regular drill in Phonetics should precede, or at least go on concomitantly with, these lessons. The idea of allowing pupils to form their own phonetic "systems" can lead only to confusion and the corruption of the spoken language.