Role-play
Máire:
Cén post atá agat?
What job do you have?
Seán:
Tá mé ar scor, ach chaith mé tréimhse fhada san arm.
I am retired, but I spent a long time in the army.
Tar éis dom éirí as an obair sin chaith mé cúig bliana déag ag obair mar mheicneoir i ngaráiste ar imeall an bhaile.
When I quit that work I spent fifteen years working as a mechanic in a garage on the edge of town.
Bhíodh tarracóirí agus feithiclí eile feirme á ndeisiú agam, den chuid is mó.
I would repair tractors and other farm vehicles, for the most part.
Maire:
Déarfainn go raibh neart taithí agat ar obair chrua agus ar uaireanta fada, mar sin?!
I’d say you had plenty of experience of hard work and long hours so?!
Seán:
Ambaiste, ach go raibh! Cén saghas oibre a bhíonn ar bun agat féin?
Indeed, but I did! What kind of work do you do yourself?
Máire:
Tá mé ag obair in ollmhargadh faoi láthair.
I’m working in a supermarket at present.
Seán:
An maith leat do phost?
Do you like your job?
Máire:
Ní maith liom in aon chor é, leis an bhfírinne a insint.
I don’t like it at all, to tell the truth.
Tá sé leadránach, agus tá an pá rud beag suarach.
It is boring, and the pay is fairly miserly.
Seán:
Cén fáth go bhfanann tú ag obair ann, mar sin?
Why do you stay working there, so?
Níl aon easpa fostaíochta sa tír faoi láthair.
There isn’t any lack of employment in the country at present.
Máire:
Bhuel, táim ag traeneáil le bheith i mo luibheolaí leighis.
Well, I am training to be a medical herbalist.
Ní fada anois go mbeidh mé cáilithe, agus ansin tá sé i gceist agam éirí as obair an tsiopa.
It won’t be long now until I am qualified, and then I intend to give up the shop work.
Seán:
Maith thú – beatha duine a thoil!
Fair play to you – a person’s will is their life!
Máire:
Tá a fhios ag an saol é!
The whole world knows it!
Beidh mé cáilithe i gceann míosa.
I will be qualified in a month’s time.
Beidh clinic beag á oscailt agam sar i bhfad, thíos ag bun na sráide anseo a bheidh sé, ar thaobh na láimhe deise.
I will be opening a little clinic before long. It will be down at the end of the street here, on the right hand side.
Seán:
Iontach! Cogar, tá tinniteas ainsealach orm de thoradh an tseala a bhí mé san arm.
Great! Come here, I have chronic tinnitus as a result of the time that I was in the army.
An dóigh leat go bhféadfá cabhrú liom chun dul i ngleic leis?
Do you think that you could help me to get to grips with it?
Máire:
Buail isteach chugam aon uair a bheidh tú ag gabháil thar bráid agus cífimid!
Call into me whenever you are passing by and we’ll see!
Role-play with phonetics
Máire:
Cén post atá agat?
/Kayn pust a-taw a-gut/
What job do you have?
Seán:
Tá mé ar scor, ach chaith mé tréimhse fhada san arm.
/Taw may air skur, okh khah may tray-iv-sheh od-da sun arr-im/
I am retired, but I spent a long time in the army.
Tar éis dom éirí as an obair sin chaith mé cúig bliana déag ag obair mar mheicneoir i ngaráiste ar imeall an bhaile.
/Tar ay-shh dum eye-ree os un ub-er shin khah may koo-ig blee-an-a jee-ug egg ub-er mar vek-nyo-ir ih ung-ar-awe-ish-teh er ih-mull un vah-ill-eh/
When I quit that work I spent fifteen years working as a mechanic in a garage on the edge of town.
Bhíodh tarracóirí agus feithiclí eile feirme á ndeisiú agam, den chuid is mó.
/Vee-okh tarr-ick-owe-ir-ee a-gus feh-hic-ill-ee ell-leh aw yesh-ooh ah-gum, den khwid iss mow/
I would repair tractors and other farm vehicles, for the most part.
Maire:
Déarfainn go raibh neart taithí agat ar obair chrua agus ar uaireanta fada, mar sin?!
/Jayr-hin guh ruh nyart tah-hee ah-gut air ub-ir khroo-ah a-gus air ooh-ir-run-tah fa-da, mor shin?/
I’d say you had plenty of experience of hard work and long hours so?!
Seán:
Ambaiste, ach go raibh! Cén saghas oibre a bhíonn ar bun agat féin?
/Ow-im-boh-ish-the, okh guh rev! Kayne sigh-us ib-reh ah vee-un air bun ah-gut fayne?/
Indeed, but I did! What kind of work do you do yourself?
Máire:
Tá mé ag obair in ollmhargadh.
/Thaw may egg ub-er in ull-wor-uh-guh/
I’m working in a supermarket.
Seán:
An maith leat do phost?
/Un mawh lee-at duh fuss-t?/
Do you like your job?
Máire:
Ní maith liom in aon chor é, leis an bhfírinne a insint.
/Nee mah lyum in ay-un khor ay, lesh un veer-in-uh ah in-shint./
I don’t like it at all, to tell the truth.
Tá sé leadránach, agus tá an pá rud beag suarach.
/Taw shay lad-rawn-ukh, a-gus taw on paw rud byug soo-ar-ukh/
It is boring, and the pay is fairly miserly.
Seán:
Cén fáth go bhfanann ag obair ann, mar sin?
/Kane faw guh von-unn thoo egg uh-ber ow-un, mar shin?/
Why do you stay working there, so?
Níl aon easpa fostaíochta sa tír faoi láthair.
/Neel ay-un ass-puh fuss-tee-ukh-tha suh teer fwee law-hir/
There isn’t any lack of employment in the country at present.
Máire:
Bhuel, táim ag traeneáil le bheith i mo luibheolaí leighis.
/Well, taw-im egg tray-naw-ill leh veh ih muh liv-owe-lee lyish/
Well, I am training to be a medical herbalist.
Ní fada anois go mbeidh mé cáilithe, agus ansin tá sé i gceist agam éirí as obair an tsiopa.
/Nee fa-da guh meh may kaw-ill-eh-heh, ah-gus on-shin thaw shay i gesht ah-gum eye-ree os ub-ir un tchup-ah/
It won’t be long now until I am qualified, and then I intend to give up the shop work.
Seán:
Maith thú – beatha duine a thoil!
/Mawh hoo. Baa-ha din-neh a hill!/
Fair play to you – a person’s will is their life!
Máire:
Tá a fhios ag an saol é!
/Taw a iss egg un seel ay!/
The whole world knows it!
Beidh mé cáilithe i gceann míosa.
/Begg may kaw-ill-ih-heh i gyon mee-us-suh/
I will be qualified in a month’s time.
Beidh clinic beag á oscailt agam sar i bhfad, thíos ag bun na sráide anseo a bheidh sé, ar thaobh na láimhe deise.
/Begg clinic byug aw us-kiltch ah-gum sor i vad, hee-us egg bun nah sraw-idge-uh on-shuh a vegg shay, air hee-uv nah law-iv-uh jesh-uh/
I will be opening a little clinic before long. It will be down at the end of the street here, on the right hand side.
Seán:
Iontach! Cogar, tá tinniteas ainsealach orm de thoradh an tseala a bhí mé san arm.
/ Oo-in-tokh! Kug-err, thaw tinnitus ann-shall-okh urr-um de hurr-ah un tee-a-la a vee may sun ar-im/
Great! Come here, I have chronic tinnitus as a result of the time that I was in the army.
An dóigh leat go bhféadfá cabhrú liom chun dul i ngleic leis?
/Un d-owe-ih lee-ath guh vee-ath-faw cow-roo lee-um khun dull i un-lek lesh?/
Do you think that you could help me to get to grips with it?
Máire:
Buail isteach chugam aon uair a bheidh tú ag gabháil thar bráid agus cífimid!
/Boo-ill ish-tokh hug-um ay-un ooh-ir a vegg too egg gull harr braw-idge a-gus kee-him-eed!/
Call into me whenever you are passing by and we’ll see!
Useful Vocabulary
Gairm bheatha. /gar-um vah-ha/ Profession
Cén post atá agat? /Kayn pust a-taw a-gut?/
What job do you have?
Reply:
Is__________ mé. /Iss _________ may/
I’m _______.
Tús Maith Lesson: Jobs and Professions
Find your occupation at: www.focloir.ie
Ba __________ mé. /Ba _________ may/
I was _______.
Tá mé ar scor. /Taw may air skur/
I’m retired.
Bím ag obair ar bhonn deonach d’eagraíocht charthanachta. /beem egg ub-er er vown jee-owe-un-ukh dag-ree-ukt khar-han-ukh-teh/ I work on a voluntary basis for a charitable organisation.
Tá post páirtaimseartha agam. / Taw pust paw-ir-t eye-im-sherr-heh ah-gum/ I have a part-time job.
Tá post lánaimseartha agam. /Taw pust lawn eye-im-sherr-heh ah-gum/
I have a full-time job.
Tá mé dífhostaithe. / Taw may dee-ust-i-heh /
I am unemployed.
Cá bhfuil tú ag obair? /Kaw wil too egg ub-er?/
Where do you work?
Oibrím sa bhaile. /Ib-reem sah vol-yeh/
I work from home.
Bíonn cianobair ar bun agam sa bhaile. /Bee-un key-un-uh-ber er bun ah-gum sah woh-leh/
I do remote-work at home.
Tá mé ag obair i _____. /Taw may egg ub-er ih ______/
I work in (location).
An maith leat do phost? /On mah lyat duh fust?/
Do you like your job?
| Is maith. /Iss mah/ Yes. | Ní maith. /Nee mah/ No. | Is breá liom é. /Iss braw lyum ay/ I love it. | Is fuath liom é. /Iss foo-ah lyum ay/ I hate it. |
An bhfuil tú gar don obair? /On wil too gawr dun ub-er?/
Are you near to work?
| Tá. /Taw/ Yes. | Níl. /Neel/ No. |
Tá mé an-fhada ón obair. /Taw may on-od-ah own ub-er/
I’m very far from work.
Grammar Notes
Máire:
Cén post atá agat?
What job do you have?
Cén = which
post = job, post
atá = tá
agat = at you (ag + tú)
Tá post agat. = You have a job.
Seán:
Tá mé ar scor, ach chaith mé tréimhse fhada san arm.
I am retired, but I spent a long time in the army.
Ar scor = retired
tréimhse = a while
Tar éis dom éirí as an obair sin chaith mé cúig bliana déag ag obair mar mheicneoir i ngaráiste ar imeall an bhaile.
When I quit that work I spent fifteen years working as a mechanic in a garage on the edge of town.
Tar éis dom = after I/following my
éirí as = give up/resign
Bhíodh tarracóirí agus feithiclí eile feirme á ndeisiú agam, den chuid is mó.
I would repair tractors and other farm vehicles, for the most part.
á ndeisiú = (they) are/were being repaired
Tá na cairr á ndeisiú = the cars (plural) are being repaired
Tá an carr á dheisiú = the car (masc.) is being repaired
Tá an chistin á deisiú = The kitchen (fem.) is being repaired
Mícheart/Incorrect: ag deisiú iad
Maire:
Déarfainn go raibh neart taithí agat ar obair chrua agus ar uaireanta fada, mar sin?!
I’d say you had plenty of experience of hard work and long hours so?!
neart = plenty/abundance or strength/might
neart na gaoithe = the power of the windobair chrua – obair is a feminine word, therefore an adjective beginning with a consonant is lenited
Seán:
Ambaiste, ach go raibh! Cén saghas oibre a bhíonn ar bun agat féin?
Indeed, but I did! What kind of work do you do yourself?
Cad atá ar bun agat? = What are you up to?
Máire:
Tá mé ag obair in ollmhargadh.
I work in a supermarket.
oll- = huge/super
margadh = market
Seán:
An maith leat do phost?
Do you like your job?
Máire:
Ní maith liom in aon chor é, leis an bhfírinne a insint.
I don’t like it at all, to tell the truth.
in aon chor = at all
Tá sé leadránach, agus tá an pá rud beag suarach.
It is boring, and the pay is fairly miserly.
suarach = paltry/shabby
Seán:
Cén fáth go bhfanann ag obair ann, mar sin?
Why do you stay working there, so?
Níl aon easpa fostaíochta sa tír faoi láthair.
There isn’t any lack of employment in the country at present.
easpa fostaíochta – fostaíocht (employment) is in the genitive singular as it is preceded by a noun
Máire:
Bhuel, táim ag traeneáil le bheith i mo luibheolaí leighis.
Well, I am training to be a medical herbalist.
le bheith = to be
luibheolaí = luibh (herb) + eolaí (knowledgeable person)
eolas = knowledge/information
luibheolaí leighis – leigheas (medicine) is in the genitive singular as it is preceded by a noun
Ní fada anois go mbeidh mé cáilithe, agus ansin tá sé i gceist agam éirí as obair an tsiopa.
It won’t be long now until I am qualified, and then I intend to give up the shop work.
cáiligh = to qualify (cáilithe is its verbal adjective)
Seán:
Maith thú – beatha duine a thoil!
Fair play to you – a person’s will is their life!
Máire:
Tá a fhios ag an saol é!
The whole world knows it!
Beidh mé cáilithe i gceann míosa.
I will be qualified in a month’s time.
i gceann __ = in a ___’s time
Beidh clinic beag á oscailt agam sar i bhfad, thíos ag bun na sráide anseo a bheidh sé, ar thaobh na láimhe deise.
I will be opening a little clinic before long. It will be down at the end of the street here, on the right hand side.
ag dul síos = going down
thíos = belowbun na sráide – “na sráide” is the genitive singular form of the feminine noun “an tsráid” (the street)
Seán:
Iontach! Cogar, tá tinniteas ainsealach orm de thoradh an tseala a bhí mé san arm.
Great! Come here, I have chronic tinnitus as a result of the time that I was in the army.
An dóigh leat go bhféadfá cabhrú liom chun dul i ngleic leis?
Do you think that you could help me to get to grips with it?
Cogar = literally means whisper but is used to mean “what ‘til you hear this” / “listen (to what I’m about to say)”
Toradh = result/fruit
Seal = a period of time
Ainsealach = chronic, literally “not a while”
Ain- = un- prefix
an dóigh leat go bhféadfá? = do you think that you could?
this is the conditional tense, second person form of the verb féad = may/can
D’fhéadfá = you could
Ní fhéadfá – you couldn’t
Dul i ngleic le = tackle / face up to
Máire:
Buail isteach chugam aon uair a bheidh tú ag gabháil thar bráid agus feicfidh muid!
Call into me whenever you are passing by and we’ll see!
Questions
Cén post atá agat?
Cad atá i gceist le do phost? What does your job entail?
Cá bhfuil tú ag obair?
An maith leat do phost?
An bhfuil tú gar don obair?
An réitíonn tú go maith le do chomhghleacaithe?
???? Teagascóir: Am i gcóir pictiúr den ngrúpa.