Conversation required to expand Ulpan skills say learners

[Gràisg]

Sanas-naicheachd aig Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd:

'(18/02/10)

Feedback from advanced students learning Gaelic through the Ulpan method in the Highlands is showing that more Internet-based back-up support and structured conversation sessions are needed to advance their language skills.

This information was presented to members of The Highland Council’s Gaelic committee today (18 February) by David Grant, Director of Deiseal Ltd. and the Council’s Community Learning and Development Officer Margaret Mulholland.

The Ulpan method of teaching Scottish Gaelic is based on the Welsh and Israeli model of language learning and was developed by Deiseal with support from Bòrd na Gàidhlig in 2007.

In a report to the Gaelic Committee Margaret Mulholland outlined the ways in which Highland Council is supporting adult learning of Gaelic through the Ulpan method either through direct provision or partnership provision of classes.

In Inverness the Council first provided Ulpan classes in September 2007 and these classes are now run in partnership with Inverness College for over 90 students. The Council has run other Ulpan classes in Dingwall, Aviemore, Skye (Portree and Bradford) and support has been given Iomairt Lochaber to train new tutors for the West Lochaber Area in conjunction with Lochaber College and to establish new classes in Fort William, Invergarry, Ballachulish, Roybridge and Acharacle.

Two pilot classes, run as a pilot in Inverness for Highland Council staff have been extended for a further 20 weeks.

Councillor Hamish Fraser said: “I welcome the excellent work that Ulpan has delivered so far in providing Gaelic learning opportunities for adults throughout the Highlands. To expand Ulpan provision further we need to promote tutor recruitment, increase tutor training opportunities and encourage more Gaelic speakers to come forward as tutors of the future.”

Agus bhon aithris a chunnaic iad - chan eil fios ann fhathast ma bhios Ulpan gu moran feum aig a cheann thall :

'Whether or not Ulpan Gaelic classes will ultimately be successful in
creating new fluent Gaelic speakers is as yet unknown. The situation in
Scotland is different from Wales and Israel, in that there is not an
environment where-by learners can walk out of their classes and use
the language within the community, thereby affording them the
opportunity to consolidate their learning. Creating opportunities for
learners to practice the language must now be seen as a vital task in
taking Gaelic learning forward.'

http://www.highland.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres ... 7G0610.pdf

[Níall Beag]

No guarantees... which is why I don't like it when a council goes all-in on one particular course.

I'm glad to see the expansion of Gaelic learning provision, but right now it's cannibalising teachers already within the Gaelic sphere and reducing the diversity in the marketplace.

When I sort this radically different syllabus out, I'm going to have a hard time getting taken seriously. I doubt I'll ever see the inside of a municipal building, for one thing....

[GunChleoc]

'Whether or not Ulpan Gaelic classes will ultimately be successful in
creating new fluent Gaelic speakers is as yet unknown. The situation in
Scotland is different from Wales and Israel, in that there is not an
environment where-by learners can walk out of their classes and use
the language within the community, thereby affording them the
opportunity to consolidate their learning. Creating opportunities for
learners to practice the language must now be seen as a vital task in
taking Gaelic learning forward.'

Nach eil sin fìor ge b' e an dòigh-ionnsachaidh a chleachdas tu?

Gun chothroman a bhith ann gus na sgilean agad a chleachdadh, chan fhàs do chuid chànan fileanta.

[Gràisg]

Tha, tha gu dearbh, 's e an fhirinn glan a th'agad a charaid. Ach nuair a tha an aithris sin ag ràdh:

Creating opportunities for
learners to practice the language must now be seen as a vital task in
taking Gaelic learning forward.'

Nach robh fios aig a h-uile duine air sin o chionn fhada, fhada no an e dìreach beachd ur feumail do 2010 a-mhàin a tha sin?

[Seonaidh]

Chan eil iad - chan eil sinne - aig "creating opportunities for learners to practice [sic] the language" fhad 's a bhios sinn a' sgrìobhadh, bruidhinn amsaa sa Bheurla. Ma bhios teagamh ort, feuch Gàidhlig sa chiad àite.

[Níall Beag]

Nach robh fios aig a h-uile duine air sin o chionn fhada, fhada no an e dìreach beachd ur feumail do 2010 a-mhàin a tha sin?

Uell, 's e naidheachd ùr dhoms' có-dhiubh... Bha mis' a' smaointinn gun robh dhìth cùrsaichean an trioblaid a bh' agamsa.

Chan ann nach eil móran cothroman Gàidhlig a bhruidhinn ann an Dùn Éideann... ó, chan ann idir, chan ann, chan ann!