THE heads of two Western Isles education institutions are to give a free talk on Gaelic in education.
Nicolson Institute rector, Dr Frances Murray, and Lews Castle College UHI principal, Iain Macmillan, will explore the challenges and opportunities associated with Gaelic in education.
Topics will include the impact of the curriculum for excellence and community and partnership working.
The talk, which will be delivered at the Nicolson Institute later this month, is part of a series of free Gaelic lectures taking place this year.
Organised by the University of the Highlands and Islands, the series marks the 60th anniversary of Lews Castle College UHI, a partner of the university.
Based on the theme of Gaelic in modern life, the lectures recognise Gaelic as an integral part of Scotland’s heritage and national identity.
Head of BBC ALBA, Margaret Mary Murray, spoke about Gaelic media in Glasgow earlier this year and a lecture on Gaelic and publishing will take place in Benbecula in June.
The talks also tie in with courses offered by the university, which include degrees in Gaelic language and culture; Gaelic with education; Gaelic and development and a higher education certificate in Gaelic and communication.
All of these courses are offered through Lews Castle College UHI.
Highlighting one of the areas he will speak about in the lecture, Iain Macmillan said: “We have been very successful at engaging learners in Gaelic language acquisition, but we are less successful at engaging people who have been brought up in Gaelic households or communities in developing their language skills for everyday use.
“People like myself are all too often intimidated when confronted with Gaelic learners who, as a result of their learning, have developed what appears to be a wider vocabulary and proper grammar.
“We need to improve our confidence and willingness to use the language if it is to thrive in our communities.”
Dr Frances Murray added: “To ensure we consolidate the improvements made in Gaelic medium provision and before we can look to further expansion, we must be very clear about where the challenges lie.”
James Fraser, principal and vice-chancellor of the university, welcomed the lecture, saying: “We are delighted that Dr Frances Murray and Iain Macmillan are speaking as part of this lecture series.
“The University of the Highlands and Islands is spread across the Gàidhealtachd and aspires to be central to the maintenance and revival of the Gaelic Language.
“Lews Castle College UHI is vital to the university’s commitment to and aspirations for Gaelic.”
The Gaelic in education talk will take place from 7pm to 9pm on Thursday 16 May at the Nicolson Institute, Stornoway.
Parts of the lecture will be delivered in Gaelic and there will also be simultaneous interpretation into English available through headphones.
To book a FREE place, contact the university’s events team on 01463 279 344 or at events@uhi.ac.uk
To find out more about the university’s lecture series or Gaelic courses, visit www.uhi.ac.uk
ENDS
Notes to editors
The University of the Highlands and Islands is a partnership of thirteen further and higher education colleges, specialist colleges and research institutions, distributed throughout the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. They are bound together through constitutional, management and academic structures, and coordinated through an executive office.
There are currently over 7,000 students studying on undergraduate and postgraduate courses or undertaking postgraduate research with the university.
The University of the Highlands and Islands is the only university based in the Highlands and Islands. Its purpose is to have a transformational impact on the development and prospects for the region, its people and its communities.
The University of the Highlands and Islands is a limited company registered in Scotland No. 148203. Scottish charity No. SC022228. Registered office: 12B, Ness Walk, Inverness, IV3 5SQ.
Ceannardan foghlaim a’ toirt seachad òraid shaor an asgaidh air Gàidhlig ann am foghlam
Bheir ceannardan dà ionad foghlaim nan Eilean Siar òraid shaor an asgaidh seachad air Gàidhlig ann am foghlam.
Bruidhnidh reachdair Sgoil MhicNeacail, an t-Oll Frances Mhoireach, agus Prionnsapal Cholaisde a’ Chaisteil UHI, Iain Mac a’ Mhaoilein mu na dùbhlain agus na cothroman a tha ceangailte ri Gàidhlig ann am foghlam. Am measg nan cuspairean bidh buaidh a’ churraicealaim airson sàr-mhathais agus obair leis a’ choimhearsnachd agus ann an com-pàirteachasan.
Tha an òraid, a thèid a thoirt seachad aig Sgoil MhicNeacail nas fhaide air adhart air a’ mhìos seo, na phàirt de shreath de dh’òraidean Gàidhlig saor an asgaidh a bhios a’ gabhail àite am-bliadhna. Agus e air a chur air dòigh le Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean, tha an sreath a’ comharrachadh ceann-bliadhna daoimein Cholaisde a’ Chaisteil UHI, a tha na chom-pàirtiche anns an oilthigh.
Agus iad stèidhte air a’ chuspair Gàidhlig ann am beatha an latha an-diugh, tha na h-òraidean ag aithneachadh gu bheil a’ Ghàidhlig na cuid ro chudromach de chultar is fèin-aithne na h-Alba. Bhruidhinn Margaret Mary Murray, Ceannard BBC ALBA, mu Ghàidhlig anns na meadhanan ann an Glaschu na bu tràithe air a’ bhliadhna seo agus bidh òraid air Gàidhlig agus foillseachadh ann am Beinn na Faoghla anns an Ògmhios.
Tha an òraid cuideachd a’ buntainn ri cùrsaichean a th’ air an tabhann leis an oilthigh, a’ gabhail a-steach cheumannan ann an cànan is cultar na Gàidhlig; Gàidhlig le foghlam; Gàidhlig agus leasachadh agus teisteanas àrd-fhoghlaim ann an Gàidhlig agus conaltradh. Tha na cùrsaichean uile seo air an tabhann tro Cholaisde a’ Chaisteil UHI.
Agus e a’ soilleireachadh aon de na raointean a bhruidhneas e mu dheidhinn san òraid, thuirt Iain Mac a’ Mhaoilein:“Tha sinn air a bhith gu math soirbheachail a thaobh a bhith a’ dol an sàs le luchd-ionnsachaidh a thaobh togail cànain, ach chan eil sinn cho soirbheachail a thaobh a bhith a’ dol an sàs leis an fheadhainn a chaidh a thogail ann an taighean far an deach Gàidhlig a bhruidhinn no coimhearsnachdan a thaobh na sgilean Gàidhlig aca a leasachadh airson cleachdadh làitheil. Tha daoine coltach rium fhèin gu tric mì-chomhfhurtail nuair a bhruidhneas iad ri luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig a leasaich, tha e coltach, briathrachas nas fharsaing agus gràmar ceart, mar thoradh air an ionnsachadh a rinn iad. Feumaidh sinn feabhas a thoirt air ar misneachd agus ar deòntachd a bhith a’ cleachdadh a’ chànain ma tha e gu bhith a’ soirbheachadh anns na coimhearsnachdan againn.”
Thuirt an t-Oll Frances Mhoireach: “A dhèanamh cinnteach gun daingnich sinn na leasachaidhean a chaidh a dhèanamh ann am foghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig agus mus urrainn dhuinn coimhead ri leasachaidhean a bharrachd, feumaidh sinn a bhith gu math soilleir a thaobh nan dùbhlain a tha romhainn.”
Chuir Seumas Friseal, prionnsapal agus iar-sheansalair an oilthigh fàilte air an òraid, agus e ag ràdh: “Tha sinn gu math toilichte gu bheil an t-Oll Frances Mhoireach agus Iain Mac a’ Mhaoilein a’ bruidhinn mar phàirt den shreath òraidean. Tha Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean sgapte air feadh sgìre na Gàidhealtachd agus ’s e an t-amas againn a bhith aig teis-meadhan gleidheadh agus ath-bheothachadh na Gàidhlig. Tha Colaisde a’ Chaisteil UHI deatamach do dhealas an oilthigh airson na Gàidhlig agus do ar mòr-mhiannan air a shon.
Gabhaidh an òraid Gàidhlig ann am Foghlam àite eadar 7f agus 9f Diardaoin 16 Cèitean aig Sgoil MhicNeacail, Steòrnabhagh.Thèid pàirtean den òraid a thoirt seachad sa Ghàidhlig agus bidh eadar-theangachadh ri fhaotainn don Bheurla tro fhònaichean-cluaise. A ghleidheil àite SHAOR AN ASGAIDH, cuir fios a dh’ionnsaigh sgioba thachartasan an oilthigh air 01463 279 344 no aig events@uhi.ac.uk
Airson barrachd fiosrachaidh mu shreath òraidean an oilthigh no mu chùrsaichean Gàidhlig, tadhail air www.uhi.ac.uk
CRÌOCH
Notaichean do luchd-deasachaidh
‘S e com-pàirteachas de thrì-deug de cholaistean foghlaim adhartaich agus àrd-fhoghlaim, colaistean speisealta agus ionadan rannsachaidh a th’ ann an Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean, is iad air an sgaoileadh air feadh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean. Tha iad ceangailte ri chèile tro structaran a bhuineas don bhonn-stèidh, an stiùireadh agus gnothaichean acadaimigeach, agus air an co-òrdanachadh tro oifis stiùiridh.
An-dràsta tha barrachd is 7000 oileanach ag ionnsachadh air cùrsaichean fo-cheum agus for-cheum no a’ gabhail rannsachadh for-cheum os làimh leis an oilthigh.
Is e Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean an t-aon oilthigh a tha air a shuidheachadh air a’ Ghàidhealtachd agus anns na h-Eileanan. Is e a adhbhar bith buaidh chruth-atharrachail a thoirt air leasachadh na sgìre agus air na tha san amharc don sgìre, do a muinntir agus do a coimhearsnachdan.
Tha Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean na chompanaidh earranta clàraichte ann an Alba Àir. 148203. Àir. charthannais Albannaich SC022228. Oifis chlàraichte: 12B, Slighe Nis, Inbhir Nis, IV3 5SQ.
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Email: susan.szymborski@uhi.ac.uk
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