A Chairde/Friends
You are very welcome to the first of this series of lessons by Cumann Carad na Gaeilge, using the book "Progress in Irish".
Máire is my name and I am delighted to be your tutor for this term.  
I hope that you have the book Progress in Irish by Mairéad Ní Ghráda.
Please see http://www.philo-celtic.com/curriculum.html for details on how to order this book online. 
An excellent grammar supplement is available at http://www.oireasmedia.com/learningsolutions/languages/irish/piiforabhargramadai.pdf
Detailed grammar may be checked out at http://nualeargais.ie/gnag/gram.htm
There are excellent online dictionaries available i.e. at
 www.focal.ie  and www.potafocal.com 

Let's start!
Foghlaim/Learn
Please read the first section while listening to the sound files for lesson 01. The sound files can be accessed from http://www.philo-celtic.com/PII/Progress.htm or on the left hand side of this Group's page, click on "Links". There you'll see a link called "Comhaid Fhuaime/Sound Files". Click on this to see Sound File for this Lesson. Lesson01.mp3 Click on this link. Play. Use the slider to replay the Foghlaim section. Replay Foghlaim section of the sound file several times. Speak the words with the speaker. Even act out the words if possible. Move your feet as if you are walking while saying out loud ag siúl.  Move your feet quicker when saying ag rith When you come to ag ól, only Guinness is allowed as yourdrink!
Try to learn the vocabulary.
One way of testing yourself is to try the crossword on http://irish.rownw.com/xwds/l1
which uses the words from lesson 1.  Instructions for doing the crossword can be  found at http://irish.rownw.com/xwds/home.html
 
Léigh/Read
The words that you have already learnt are now being put into sentences.  In Irish the verb comes first.
Read the sentences out loud with the speaker on the sound file.
Freagair/Answers
Write out the answers to the questions. These answers are a repetition of the Léigh section.
Grammar Points
(1)  In Irish the verb comes first
(2)  Nouns are either masculine (firinscneach)or feminine (Baininscneach)
(3)  The definite article is an (the)   an fear = the man
(4)  There is no indefinite article     fear=man      or    a man
(5)  You will notice that sometimes after the definite article an the following word changes spelling. 
For instance, bean = woman
An bhean=the woman.
This is called lenition, or aspiration.  The Irish word for it is séimhiú (pronounced shayvoo) and it happens in this instance because the word bean is a feminine singular word. 
HOMEWORK
 
Translate the sentences in the "Cuir Gaeilge Air Seo/Put Irish on this” section into Irish. All the vocabulary is in this lesson.
In a dictionary (book or online dictionary) look up the nouns that are in the Foghlaim section, i.e. fear, bean, (not bhean), páiste, cailín, buachaill, múinteoir in order to further familiarise yourself with them.
Is the word cailín is feminine or masculine (firinscneach)
I hope that you enjoy the classes.  
Le gach dea-ghuí,/With every best wish
Máire