New approach to Gaelic teaching in Highland Primary Schools

Over a ten-week period, seventeen schools in Lochaber, Sutherland and Caithness receive Gaelic language tuition through the Fèisgoil service.  Pupils in primary 5-7 receive tuition from Gaelic-speaking tutors who visit the schools each week and use a number of interactive activities, games and songs, covering a range of subjects, to increase awareness and give basic conversational skills to the pupils.

Councillor Hamish Fraser, Chairperson of the Highland Council’s Gaelic Implementation Group, welcomed the piloting of Fèisgoil services.  He said: “Fèisgoil aims to introduce Gaelic to Primary school pupils; using resources which will be delivered by experienced tutors who have the necessary skills to work with the young people.” He continued, “We are keen to give as many young people as possible an introduction to Gaelic and this project fulfills a commitment in the Council’s Gaelic Language Plan.”

Alasdair Allan, Minister for Learning and Scotland’s Languages, said: "Fèisean nan Gàidheal tutors have had good results using games and songs to teach pupils Gaelic, challenging them to use the language in activities beyond the classroom.  I look forward to hearing how well the staff and pupils at the seventeen schools taking part get on in this partnership between Fèisean nan Gàidheal and Highland Council.”

Arthur Cormack, Fèisean nan Gàidheal Chief Executive, said: "Fèisean nan Gàidheal is delighted to be working in collaboration with The Highland Council on these pilot projects, with financial support from the Scottish Government.  Fèisgoil is a new service that pulls together the various strands of education and community work Fèisean nan Gàidheal has been involved in and expansion of that work will include a new Gaelic teaching service.  We believe Fèisgoil could offer a valuable service to local authorities as they embrace opportunities to support Gaelic education, Scottish Studies and the Scottish Government’s proposals for the teaching of additional languages to all children in Scotland.  The service also assists local authorities and public bodies deliver commitments in their Gaelic Language Plans.” 

Fèisgoil uses tutors acquainted with teaching in the informal and formal education sectors.  Over the years, many tutors have been trained to teach music in schools through the Youth Music Initiative, for example.  The Youth Music Initiative has proved that good quality educational outcomes can be achieved by cooperation between classroom teachers and tutors delivering specific programmes of work that enhance pupils’ experiences.  According to Fèisean nan Gàidheal, the same is true of language teaching and, since they are already fluent in Gaelic, Fèisgoil tutors are trained to a similar level as those teachers delivering the Gaelic Language in Primary Schools (GLPS) programme.

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Tha clann-sgoile aig gach ceann den Ghàidhealtachd air toiseach-tòiseachaidh a dhèanamh air Gàidhlig ionnsachadh tro phròiseactan air an lìbhrigeadh le Fèisean nan Gàidheal ann an co-bhonn ri Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd.

Thairis air deich seachdainean, tha sgoileran ann an clasaichean 5-7 ann an seachd sgoiltean deug an Loch Abar, Dùthaich MhicAoidh agus Gallaibh gan  oideachaidh ann an Gàidhlig tron t-seirbheis Fèisgoil.  Bidh oidean a tha fileanta sa Ghàidhlig ga lìbhrigeadh, a’ teagasg cànain agus a’ cleachdadh chur-seachadan tarraingeach, geamannan, dràma is òrain airson sgilean-còmhraidh bunaiteach ionnsachadh dhan òigridh.

Chuir an Comhairliche Hamish Friseal, Cathraiche Comataidh Buileachaidh na Gàidhlig aig Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd, fàilte air na pròiseactan.  Thuirt e: “Tha obair Fèisgoil anns na sgoiltean seo ag amas air eòlas mun Ghàidhlig a thoirt do chloinn bhun-sgoile; a’ cleachdadh ghoireasan a bhios air an lìbhrigeadh le luchd-teagaisg aig a bheil farsaingeachd de sgìlean a tha air leth iomchaidh airson a bhith ag obair le clann òga. Tha sinn airson Gàidhlig a thoirt do chloinn air feadh sgìre na Gàidhealtachd agus tha am pròiseact cuideachd a’ coileanadh cuid dha na h-amasan a tha mar phàirt de Phlana Gàidhlig na Comhairle.

Thuirt Alasdair Allan, Ministeir airson Ionnsachadh agus Cànain na h-Alba, “Tha fianais ann gu bheil luchd-teagaisg Fèisean nan Gàidheal air deagh obair a dhèanamh cheana a’ teagasg Gàidhlig do sgoilearan a’ cleachdadh geamaichean agus òrain, le dùbhlan an cànan a chleachdadh taobh a-muigh an t-seòmar-teagaisg.  Tha mi a’ dèanamh fiughair gus cluinntinn mar a thèid dhaibh agus dha na sgoilearan anns na seachd sgoiltean deug a tha a’ gabhail pàirt sa phròiseact pìleat a tha seo eadar Fèisean nan Gàidheal agus Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd.”

Thuirt Art MacCarmaig, Ceannard Fèisean nan Gàidheal: "Tha Fèisean nan Gàidheal gu math toilichte a bhith ag obair cuide ri Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd air na pròiseactan pìleat seo, le taic-airgid bho Riaghaltas na h-Alba.  ’S e seirbheis ùr a th’ ann am Fèisgoil a bhios a’ tarraing ri chèile diofar shnàithleanan den obair fhoghlaim agus choimhearsnachd anns a bheil Fèisean nan Gàidheal air a bhith an sàs, an t-seirbheis ùr chànain seo nam measg.  Tha sinn gu mòr dhen bharail gun urrainn do dh’Fhèisgoil seirbheis ùr a thairgse do na h-ùghdarrasan ionadail son cur ri na leasachaidhean a tha san amharc aca tron Churraicealam airson Sàr-mhathais ann am foghlam Gàidhlig, Eòlas na h-Alba agus rùn an Riaghaltais cothrom a thoirt do dh’òigridh an Alba barrachd chànanan ionnsachadh.”

Tha Fèisgoil a’ cleachdadh oidean a tha eòlach air teagasg anns na roinnean neo-fhoirmeil agus foirmeil.  Thairis air na bliadhnaichean, chaidh cuid mhath de dh’oidean a thrèanadh airson ceòl a theagasg anns na sgoiltean, mar eisimpleir le Iomairt Chiùil na h-Òigridh.  Tha Iomairt Chiùil na h-Òigridh air dearbhadh gum faod builean foghlaim matha a bhith air an coileanadh nuair a bhios co-obrachadh ann eadar tidsearan sa chlas agus oidean a tha a’ lìbhrigeadh phrògraman obrach sònraichte a tha a’ cur ri eòlas nan sgoilearan.  A-rèir Fèisean nan Gàidheal, tha seo a’ cheart cho fìor ann an teagasg cànain agus, leis gu bheil iad fileanta sa Ghàidhlig, tha oidean Fhèisgoil air an trèanadh chun na h-aon ìre ’s a tha tidsearan clas a bhios a’ lìbhrigeadh GLPS, prògram na Gàidhlig ann am bun-sgoiltean.

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