You don’t have to include all of these in your orals, but to make your conversation look natural during the orals, you should use some of these fillers. The more fillers you use, the more the examiner will be impressed with you.

• Is mór an scannal é: It’s a great scandal
• Sín í an fhírinne ghlan!: That’s the plain truth
• Is bocht an sceal é: It’s a disgrace
• Nuair a smaoiníonn: When you think of it
• Is iontach an rud é: It’s a great thing
• Bhuel: Well
• Ó, a dhiabhail!: Gosh!
• Ar a laghad: At least
• A thiarcais!: Oh jeepers!... (More)

This technique is thought to focus the listener even before hearing the tape and thus “subdue panic” and “increase exam productivity”. The technique can be summarised as follows:

1. Read the instructions carefully (even though they always begin in the same manner, there is usually some information about the piece you will hear included also). Take this information into account when considering the likelihood of your answer.
2. Read the questions, underlining the key words. Mentally recall or actually jot down the French for these words above the English questions.
3. Now listen out for these or related words on the tape, your... (More)

An ndeachaigh tú ar saoire anuraidh?

Cinnte. Bhuel, más buan mo chuimhne, chuaigh mé go dtí an Fhrainc ar feadh coicíse anuraidh. Cheannaigh Mam an ticéad ar líne. Chuaigh mé ar eitleán agus bhain me an taitneamh as. Dala an sceil, thaistil muid le hAer Lingus. D’fhágamar Éire maidin Dé Luain agus shroicheamar An Fhrainc ar an mhean lae. Creid é no na creid, bhí an turas an-fhada. Bhí an eitlean plódaithe ach compordach go leor. Bhí me ag fanacht faoin tuath agus bhí an áit go hálainn. Mar is eol duit fein, bhí na daoine cairdiúil freisin. Lig me... (More)

“Maoithneachas na deoraí agus é ag caitheamh I ndiaidh a bhaile dúchas is ábhar don dán seo”

Aontaím go huile is go hiomlán leis an ráiteas thuasluaite seo. Cruthaíonn an file pictiúr an-rómansúil sa dán seo. Bhraith sé uaidh saol ciúin Árann. Dar leis an bhfile tá Inis Mór foirfe, tá sé cosúil le neamh de shaghas éigin. Cumhnaíonn sé ar laethanta a óige le grá agus le hómós. Mar shampla bhí an aimsir go bréa agus bhí an fharraige iontach séimh sa dán “I mbrothall lae”. Chomh maith le sin baineann gach íomha leis an duine ag comhoibriú leis... (More)