Litirichean sa Herald

[Gràisg]

Seon Caimbeul a' moladh slighe eile

Gaelic lessons to be learned
8/02/12

"THE news that national language development quango Bord na Gaidhlig
has failed to deliver on its promise of creating new Gaelic speakers
is no surprise ("Key target is missed in bid to save Gaelic", The
Herald, February 6).

Costs of the failed Ulpan system of learning are rising towards
£500,000 pounds.

Many people have raised concerns about Ulpan over a number of years
with Bord na Gaidhlig and with the Scottish Government. The response
has always been "we are the experts and we know best ".

Protests over spending on a Gaelic social networking site,
MyGaelic.com, were also ignored. Now that site, pathetically lacking
in content and of no practical value, has been mothballed. The costs
continue to rise.

It is time Bord na Gaidhlig and the Scottish Government accepted that
they don't have any real expertise in language revitalisation and
called in some international authorities to help. Elected members of
the Scottish Parliament should be making sure that spending on Gaelic
represents real value for money. We have an excellent Gaelic
television and radio news service, documentaries and current affairs
programmes second to none. It would make sense to use this material as
a basis for learning Gaelic.

John K Campbell,"

Oak Cottage, Lynwilg, Aviemore.

Agus freagairt bhon Bhòrd:

T0/02/12


We must keep a range of opportunities for Gaelic learners

I AGREE with John Campbell (Letters, February 8) that we have an excellent
Gaelic television and radio service.

Bòrd na Gàidhlig has been discussing with MG ALBA how we can make better use of
that service as a resource to support Gaelic learning.

He is premature, however, in writing off Ulpan as a failed system of learning
Gaelic. The fact that there are 1917 more adults engaged in learning Gaelic
through this method is a welcome addition to the mix of courses supported by the
Bord, and others, complementing the residential and distance learning courses
available through institutions like Sabhal Mor Ostaig.

Where Ulpan classes have been offered twice weekly, at Lews Castle College for
example, up to 96% of students completed the courses. This may be the model way
to learn by the Ulpan method but, while immersion over intensive periods has
been available in some areas, the circumstances of individual colleges, local
authorities and other organisations offering Ulpan classes dictate the rate at
which courses can be completed.

The reason we have a National Gaelic Language Plan is to engage others in
delivering what is a national strategy. We have to set targets in relation to
Gaelic in Scotland and while there may be good reasons why they may not be met
as originally expected, a range of opportunities must continue to be available
for people wishing to learn Gaelic, including new methods when they present
themselves.

John Angus MacKay,

Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Darach House,

Stoneyfield Business Park,

Inverness.

[Gràisg]

Agus tuilleadh a-nis:

"Gaelic should be read and spoken
it is encouraging to see Gaelic quango boss John Angus MacKay agrees that Gaelic radio and television programmes should be used as a resource for people learning the language (Letters, February 10).

Simple transcripts of news, sport, weather and current affairs with notes on grammar and language usage would be an affordable and achievable start.

It is disappointing that although the main purpose of his letter seems to be to defend spending on the Ulpan system of language learning, he offers no real evidence that it works. He claims that 1917 more adults are learning Gaelic because of Ulpan. Given the existing investment in Gaelic media and the power of television, it seems reasonable to believe that had the money wasted on Ulpan and MyGaelic.com instead been spent on support materials, learners groups, classes and tutor training for a media-based learning package then new Gaelic learners would number thousands. Mass media could also be used to address the problem that most native speakers, like Mr MacKay, are unable to read and write their own language.

Most native speakers were denied access to literacy, a fundamental human right. It would be a simple matter for the Gaelic agencies to address the issue and increase confidence in the language amongst native speakers. Yet the various national plans have ignored this basic problem. What is the point of Bord na Gaidhlig publishing reams of material in a language nobody can read?

John Campbell,

Oak Cottage, Lynwilg, Aviemore."

[Seonaidh]

Bha mi a' creidsinn gun do phàigh luchd ionnsachaidh Ùlpan do na cùrsaichean Ùlpan agus, mar sin, nach robh mòran airgid air a chaitheamh air le BnaG.

[Gràisg]

Fhuair iad airgead gus cùisean a chur air dòigh agus beagan a bharrachd as deidh laimh co fhad's aithne dhomhsa.