Fáilte go West Suburban Irish Learners!
Welcome to your gateway to the Irish language in the western suburbs of Chicago, from Lisle to DeKalb! Whether you're a beginner or looking to brush up on your skills, we offer a supportive and engaging learning environment. Join our community and discover the beauty of Irish.
Our mission
Our mission is to provide accessible and enjoyable Irish language education to the communities in the western suburbs of Chicago. We are entirely focused on spoken Irish and believe that functional USE of the language does not require a thorough understanding of grammar. Grammar will develop on its own with exposure to books and audio from native speakers. We have members who lean toward Connacht Irish, Ulster Irish, and Munster Irish. Our learning materials are predominantly sourced from the west (Co. Mayo & Co. Galway) and northwest (Co. Donegal) and northeast (Co. Antrim). We strive to foster a love for the language and culture of Ireland through engaging courses and community events.
Our Learning Groups
We offer a variety of Irish language groups designed to meet the needs of most learners. From beginner classes to conversation and book reading groups, there is something for most everyone. Explore our offerings for your perfect fit. Only attending members will have access to our "Learning Groups" pages and resources.
New Learner 1 & 2
New Learner Level 1 & Level 2. Multiple beginner levels focusing on spoken Irish through interactive learning and a book called Colloquial Irish, which includes audio. We also use Future Learn and our own learning materials. Perfect for those with no prior experience. Attendance typically 4-10.
Experienced Learners
Our more experienced learners of Irish meet to read from Short Stories in Irish and to just talk about our lives in the Irish language. At this level, you are generally able to communicate thoughts and ideas through Irish is a way that can be understood, even if it isn't fluent speech. Attendance typically 4-6.
Events & Study Abroad
We occasionally host events such as a movie-watch party, festivals, and socials at members' houses. We are also affiliated, through our own Connie Kollmeyer, with the Institute of Study Abroad Ireland, who offer lovely Irish language focused trips to Co. Donegal, which has some of the most beautiful places in all of Ireland.
WSI Language App
COMING SOON. We developed our own learning app, which has functionality similar to Duolingo, but takes a different approach to learning. We focus on sentence construction as the primary step, then layer in new words and phrases that are commonly used in speech.
Calendar
Connecting through Irish
Join our vibrant community of Irish language learners! We offer a supportive environment where you can connect with others who share your passion for Irish. Explore our website to discover upcoming events and opportunities to practice your skills.
“The relaxed, social setting and focus on conversation in West Suburban Irish Learners’ classes makes every session interactive and engaging so we all have fun while we are learning and practicing new words and phrases each week!”
Connie Kollmeyer
""I am so happy that I found our group two years ago. Our Gaeltacht is such a warm and welcoming community. Since I joined, my Irish speaking abilities have greatly improved and I am happy to have met so many incredible people who became close friends. "
Kelly Womack
"HOLDING PLACE"
TBD
Contact us more for information or click here for our Facebook page! Join to access our group learning pages.
Location
Quigley's Irish Pub, 43 E Jefferson Ave., Naperville, Illinois