LCA Gaeilge Chumarsáideach study plan
LCA Gaeilge Chumarsáideach · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Spoken production and interaction (Labhairt) & Listening comprehension (Éisteacht)
Record a 90-second spoken answer to three everyday prompts (cóisir, aimsir, obair) and transcribe each recording verbatim
Shadow a 2-minute native-audio clip daily and mark every word you cannot catch by ear
Build a personal phrase bank of 40 spoken connectors and fillers (mar shampla, i ndáiríre, ar aon nós) and use at least 10 in one recording
Identify and drill the three pronunciation features that most often block your intelligibility (broad/slender consonants, initial mutations, vowel length)
Your checkpoint
A folder of three transcribed 90-second recordings plus a written list of your top three pronunciation problems with the corrections you will practise.
Spoken production and interaction (Labhairt) & Listening comprehension (Éisteacht)
Hold two 5-minute unscripted conversations with a partner or language exchange and note where you stall
Practise the three exam-style interaction functions: asking for clarification, giving an opinion, and disagreeing politely
Listen to one 3-minute radio segment twice and summarise it aloud in 60 seconds without notes
Recycle 15 new words from your listening log into your next spoken answer
Your checkpoint
A five-minute recorded dialogue in which you perform all three interaction functions at least twice each, with a self-assessment checklist scored out of 10.
Spoken production and interaction (Labhairt) & Written production (Scríbhneoireacht)
Deliver a prepared 3-minute talk on a chosen topic using a clear introduction, three points, and a conclusion
Write the same talk as a 250-word script, then cut it to bullet points and deliver it from the bullets only
Draft and correct five opinion paragraphs using the structure: statement, reason, example, conclusion
Proofread your own writing for the five most common errors you make (mutation, gender, prepositional pronouns, verb tense, word order)
Your checkpoint
One 3-minute recorded talk plus its 250-word script and a corrected error log listing every mistake you fixed.
Spoken production and interaction (Labhairt) & Written production (Scríbhneoireacht) & Reading comprehension (Léitheoireacht)
Complete two full mock speaking tests under timed conditions and score them against the exam criteria
Read two 400-word opinion articles and write a 200-word response agreeing or disagreeing with reasons
Use a dictionary and grammar reference to resolve every unknown item in those articles and record 20 new items
Re-record your week 3 talk and compare fluency markers (pauses, repairs, words per minute) against the first version
Your checkpoint
A mid-point speaking mock with a scored rubric and a written comparison showing measurable improvement over week 3.
Reading comprehension (Léitheoireacht) & Listening comprehension (Éisteacht)
Read one 500-word authentic text daily for five days and answer five comprehension questions on each
Practise scanning for specific detail under a strict time limit, then re-read for gist and check your answers
Listen to one 5-minute podcast or news item daily and take structured notes on who, what, where, when, and why
Compile a glossary of 30 high-frequency exam-register words drawn from your reading and listening
Your checkpoint
A reading and listening log covering five days, with scores recorded and a 30-item glossary in exam-register Irish.
Reading comprehension (Léitheoireacht) & Written production (Scríbhneoireacht)
Write two formal letters (complaint and application) of 200 words each using correct opening and closing formulas
Write one 300-word discursive essay with an introduction, two developed arguments, and a conclusion
Summarise a 500-word article in 100 words without copying its phrasing
Self-correct all written work against a checklist of register, accuracy, and structure, then rewrite each piece once
Your checkpoint
A portfolio of four corrected written pieces (two letters, one essay, one summary) with first and second drafts kept side by side.
Communicative tasks and portfolio & Spoken production and interaction (Labhairt)
Assemble your portfolio with a contents page, dated entries, and a short reflection on each piece
Complete two full timed mock exams covering all five domains and log your score per domain
Rehearse the spoken interaction component with a partner, including a task where you must negotiate a decision
Target your two weakest domains with three focused practice tasks each
Your checkpoint
A complete portfolio ready to submit plus a mock exam score sheet broken down by domain.
Communicative tasks and portfolio & Spoken production and interaction (Labhairt) & Listening comprehension (Éisteacht)
Run one full mock exam under real timing and review every error within 48 hours
Re-record your week 1 prompts and measure change in fluency and accuracy
Consolidate your phrase bank, glossary, and error log into one two-page revision sheet
Rehearse the spoken exam opening and closing so you can start and finish confidently without prompts
Your checkpoint
A final mock exam result, a before-and-after recording comparison, and a completed two-page revision sheet.
Milestones
Week 2: You can speak for 90 seconds on a familiar topic without switching to English, and you catch the main points of a 2-minute clip on first listening.
Week 4: Your mock speaking score has risen against your week 1 baseline in at least two rubric categories, and you can write 200 words of connected argument with fewer than eight errors.
Week 6: You answer reading comprehension questions at exam pace with at least 70% accuracy, and your corrected written pieces show a clear reduction in repeated errors.
Week 8: You complete a full timed mock across all five domains, your portfolio is submission-ready, and your recordings show measurable gains in fluency, range, and accuracy since week 1.