Còmhla
A National Gaelic Learners’ Conference – ‘Còmhla’ took place in Stirling Court Hotel, University of Stirling with The Highland Council played an active role in organising the successful event
The conference was organised by the Community Learning and Development Review Group for Gaelic (CLAD). CLAD group represents Local Authorities, including Te Highland Council, across Scotland who provides Gaelic education and support adult learners.
.A packed programme was devised which included a Welcome from Councillor Christine Simpson, Provost of Stirling, the opening speaker Deputy First Minister Mr John Swinney MSP who was also one of the panellists in a Question and Answer Session.
Provost Simpson said, “I was delighted to welcome the conference delegates to Stirling. I support Gaelic, as it is an important language in relation to the heritage of the area. There are many place-names in the Stirling-shire area which derive from Gaelic. We also provide Gaelic Medium education in Riverside Primary. She continued, “Adults learning is a vital component to Gaelic development and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank CLAD for organising the event and I’m pleased to have taken part in it.”
One of the key note speakers at the event, was Efa Gruffudd Jones Chief Executive of the National Centre for Learning Welsh who gave a presentation on the welsh experience regarding becoming fluent in welsh speaker.
In excess of 80 Gaelic adult learners attended the event; the attendees had the opportunity to take part in workshops and hear examples of best practice from Wales especially in relation to the welsh experience in achieving oral fluency.
Maureen Macleod an Adult Gaelic Learner said, “It was inspirational to see and talk to so many adult Gaelic learners from all over Scotland who are also on the learning journey. The conference was informative as we were made aware of examples of good practice from other areas. She continued, “We are fortunate in Inverness to have Gaelic evening classes which cater for different levels of language learning”.
A number of workshops formed part of the programme which included an introduction to tutoring, and the learner journey.
The national Gaelic learning website www.learnGaelic.scot which is the first stop for everyone interested in learning Scottish Gaelic were present and lead a workshop on learning Gaelic and the benefits of the site.
Education Secretary John Swinney said: “The Scottish Government is committed to growing a new generation of users of the Gaelic language, and we recognise that the key to this is education. We know that adult learners need specific help and encouragement and I would like to commend the many efforts of all the groups and bodies that do so much to help Gaelic adult learning. We are pleased to support the learners’ website – Learn Gaelic – and last week announced a further £25K funding for this excellent resource.”
The Gaelic Books Council led a workshop on the various Gaelic books and resources available which support and enhance the learner journey especially for leisure and enjoyment.
The closing remarks were compiled by a leading journalist, broadcaster and Gaelic tutor Mr Ruairidh Maclean.
For further information contact:
Shona.Paterson@highland.gov.uk margaret.mulholland@highland.gov.uk
Còmhla
Chaidh Co-labhairt Nàiseanta Luchd-ionnsachaidh Gàidhlig ‘Còmhla’ a chumail ann an Taigh-òsta Stirling Court, aig Oilthigh Shruighlea.
Chaidh a’ cho-labhairt a chur air dòigh le Buidheann Ath-sgrùdaidh Ionnsachadh is Leasachadh Coimhearsnachd airson na Gàidhlig. Tha a’ bhuidheann CLAD a’ riochdachadh Ùghdarrasan Ionadail air feadh Alba a tha a’ toirt seachad foghlam Gàidhlig agus taic do dh’inbhich ag ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig.
Chaidh prògram loma-làn a chur air dòigh, le Fàilte bhon Chomhairliche Christine Simpson, Probhaist Shruighlea, agus b’ e John Swinney BPA a thug seachad an òraid fhosglaidh. Bha e cuideachd am measg nam ball air pannal ann an seisean cheistean is fhreagairtean.
Thuirt am Probhaist Simpson, “Bha mi fìor thoilichte fàilte a chur air riochdairean na co-labhairt gu Sruighlea. Tha mi a’ toirt taic dhan Ghàidhlig, seach gur e cànan cudromach a th’ innte a thaobh dualchas na sgìre. Tha iomadh ainm-àite ann an sgìre Siorrachd Shruighlea a tha air tighinn bhon Ghàidhlig. Tha sinn cuideachd a’ toirt seachad foghlam tron Ghàidhlig ann am Bun-Sgoil Taobh na h-Aibhne.”
Lean i air adhart, “Tha inbhich a bhith ag ionnsachadh na phàirt riatanach de leasachadh Gàidhlig agus bu toil leam an cothrom seo a ghabhail gus taing a thoirt do CLAD airson an tachartas a chur air dòigh agus tha mi toilichte gun do ghabh mi com-pàirt ann.”
B’ i Efa Gruffudd Jones, Àrd-Oifigear an Ionaid Nàiseanta airson Cuimris Ionnsachadh, aon de phrìomh luchd-labhairt an tachartais agus thug i seachad taisbeanadh mu eòlas na Cuimrigh a thaobh a bhith a’ fàs fileanta a’ labhairt na Cuimris.
Bha còrr is 80 luchd-ionnsachaidh inbheach an làthair aig an tachartas agus bha cothrom aca com-pàirt a ghabhail ann am bùithtean-obrach agus eisimpleirean a chluinntinn den chleachdadh as fheàrr às a’ Chuimrigh – gu h-àraid a thaobh eòlas na Cuimrigh a thaobh a bhith a’ tighinn gu fileantachd.
Thuirt Maureen NicLeòid, a tha ag ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig mar inbheach, “Bha e na adhbhar misneachd na h-uimhir de luchd-ionnsachaidh inbheach bho air feadh na h-Alba fhaicinn air slighe an ionnsachaidh. Fhuair sinn tòrr fiosrachaidh bhon cho-labhairt agus chuala sinn mu eisimpleirean den chleachdadh as fheàrr bho àiteachan eile.” Lean i air adhart, “Tha sinn fortanach gu bheil clasaichean-oidhche Gàidhlig againn ann an Inbhir Nis agus iad ag amas air diofar ìrean de luchd-ionnsachaidh cànain”.
Bha grunn bhùithtean-obrach sa phrògram – facal-toisich mu oideachadh agus slighe an neach-ionnsachaidh nam measg.
Bha an làrach-lìn nàiseanta airson Gàidhlig ionnsachadh www.learnGaelic.scot an làthair cuideachd agus thug iad seachad bùth-obrach mu bhith ag ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig agus mu bhuannachdan na làraich.
Thuirt John Swinney, Rùnaire an Fhoghlaim: “Tha dealas aig Riaghaltas na h-Alba do bhith a’ fàs ginealach ùr de luchd-cleachdaidh na Gàidhlig, agus tha sinn ag aithneachadh gu bheil foghlam aig cridhe seo. Tha fios againn gu bheil feum aig luchd-ionnsachaidh inbheach air cuideachadh is brosnachadh sònraichte agus bu mhath leam moladh mòr a dhèanamh air na buidhnean uile a tha a’ dèanamh na h-uimhir gus ionnsachadh Gàidhlig do dh’inbhich a chuideachadh. Tha sinn toilichte taic a thoirt do làrach-lìn an luchd-ionnsachaidh – Learn Gaelic – agus an t-seachdain sa chaidh dh’ainmich sinn £25 mìle de mhaoineachadh a bharrachd airson an t-sàr ghoireis seo.”
Thug Comhairle nan Leabhraichean seachad bùth-obrach mu na leabhraichean is na stòrasan Gàidhlig a tha ri fhaotainn gus taic is neartachadh a thoirt do shlighe an neach-ionnsachaidh, gu h-àraid airson tlachd is cur-seachad.
Thug Ruairidh MacIlleathain, a tha ainmeil mar neach-naidheachd, craoladair agus oide Gàidhlig, seachad facal san dealachadh.
Gheibhear tuilleadh fiosrachaidh bho:
Shona.Paterson@highland.gov.uk margaret.mulholland@highland.gov.uk