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Original poster

Gaelic education anyone?

140 replies

harrisey · 12/03/2006 20:09

My dh and I are only English speakers but our dd1 (6) is in Gaelic medium education and ds (40 in Croligean (Gaelic nursery.
Just wondered if anyone else had Gaelc-educated kids, whether or not you speak it yourself? My dd has been in total immersion for 7 months and is already fluent, I wish I could keep up.
Anyone else doing it. Tapadh leat!

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Original poster
harrisey · 31/10/2006 22:44

A - its so good to see her progressing in this, to see that our decision to school her in a language we dont speak was a really good one, and that she has benefitted so much from it. In her reading book this week there is a word 12 letters long that I cant pronounce! But she knows it and can figure it out herself.
Amazing watching her confidence in reading coming on and her pride in her own ability! She knows she can speak 2 languages and she thinks that means that she is clever - which she is, of course
Tonight she was going round the doors for Halloween and did her little Gaelic poem about a cat (she was dressed up as a cat) and was so sweet and of course the old ladies round here loved it! I am so proud of her.
Also dd2 (almost 3) is learning to count at the moment and her counting is a fabby mix of English and Gaelic - one, ga, tri, four five, six, seachd, ochd, nine, TEN! Love it!

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A · 03/11/2006 11:10

We are also really pleased to have optetd for gaelic medium. Ds1 seems to be thriving, despite being the only p1 and the next in age being in p4. I think being non-gaelic speaking parents is actually an advantage for him, as he sees it as something that he is really good at and can help us with! (especially my pronunciation ) .

009 · 04/11/2006 10:46

Thanks to everyone who has posted on this thread, it has been an encouraging read for me. DH and I are English but are moving to Wales in a few weeks. We love Wales but one of the main reasons I want to live there is because I want my DD to go to a Welsh speaking school for, what I believe are, all the obvious reasons. Friends think I am mad and pose questions like: "how will you help with homework?" and "won't it hold her back?" I also have friends in Wales who want to send their kids to English medium schools because they are worried that Welsh will hold them back in English! I think they are nuts for not taking advantage of the opportunity for their child to learn a second language at a young age. NB, I realise Welsh isn't Gaelic, just seemed an apt thread.

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009 · 04/11/2006 10:53

Harrisey, am confused by your point "everyone gets a full education in English as well". How does that work?

Can any parents in Wales explain the Welsh system to me?

A · 08/11/2006 11:35

Hi 009. It's really nice to read your post.

The two questions you mention are the main reasons people give me here for not going into gaelic medium. I think they are unfounded fears though. I think the statistics for Gaelic show that around P3 / P4 children may be slightly behind in English (but not in other areas), and catch up by P6/P7 and in general seem to do well, as well as having the advantage of a second language. Maybe not the same for Wales, but I would imagine not so different.

Homework I can't really comment on yet... ds1 is bringing home easy reading words which we do fine and if there is a poem or project, there is always a note for me in english.
Also, I went to french school for a few years, and I remember my parents being very supportive in helping with homework although they only had the French they had learnt for our move there, and so obviously weren't helping much with language, more the approach to tackling different tasks.

Anyway, I think that it is a really great opportunity. How old is your dd?

Original poster
harrisey · 08/11/2006 14:02

Yep, kids in Glasgow doing Gaelic are introduced to English in p3 adn mainly by p5 have caught up to p5 English level! Its quite amazing, but the theory is that being bilingual helps them to learm more efficently and faster.
And my dd, though she is only in p2 and not 'officially' started English education yet, is trying and managing to read and write a lot of English, just because she is excited about it, about all languages.
I would say go for it, but I reckon there is nothing to be lost, and a lot to be gained!

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Original poster
harrisey · 28/02/2007 22:57

THought I'd bump this up. Just got ds registered to start at Sgoil Ghaligh Ghlaschu (Glasgoe Gealic School) like hios sister, in August, and thought there might be others who would see this and might want to say HI
I persomally love Gaelic Education and my dd1 is thriving on it!

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moondog · 28/02/2007 23:02

Still loving this thread.
009 they are the ones missing out,not you amd your children who will reap myriad benefits.
I could bang on about this forever.
As well as having children in Welsh medium education and living most of my life through the medium of Welsh,I am a salt,again working mostly through the medium of Welsh.
I also learnt Welsh despite living 10,000 miles away from Wales for most of my childhood,with only my father to speak to in Welsh.

moondog · 28/02/2007 23:08

Check this out 009

Website of organisation which gives advice and support to parents wishing to raise children bilingually with Welsh/English.

Wonder if something similar in Scotland?

Original poster
harrisey · 28/02/2007 23:14

moondog you are soencouraging!

there is a similar in scotland , off to look fo rthe URL

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A · 02/03/2007 20:18

A couple of websites that may possibly be of interest

www.gaelic4parents.com (great for pre school language)

also

www.parant.org.uk (organisation supporting parents of GME pupils)

AitchTwoOh · 02/03/2007 20:22

harrisey do you know anything about the nursery school? i really want dd to go there but i don't have any gaelic myself.

Original poster
harrisey · 03/03/2007 00:27

Aitch yes! My ds goes there at the moment and it is FAB! The provision is totally new, great staff, brilliant at communicating with parents, etc etc .... My dd2 should hopefully be startig in August. How old is your DD?
The nursery is for anyone in Glasgow but you have to do your own transport. So we are in te slightly ridiculous position of putting dd1 on the bus in Pollokshields, then taking ds either by car or train/bus to the same building!
You could phone the school and make an appointment to go and see if you liked - I'm sure it would be no bother for them - very little is.
CAT me if you want to chat about it more or feel like going for a coffee and talking it over. Neither dh or I have Gaelic, but we're so very glad we made this choice for our children!

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AitchTwoOh · 03/03/2007 16:21

actually i haven't got round to joining the Cat thing yet, could i prevail upon you to email me at aitch at babyledweaning dot com? i'd love to go for a coffee and pick your brains about it. (i've looked the mursery up online but as stupid as it is i do get a bit embarrassed that i don't even know how to pronounce the name of the damn place...).

Aimsmum · 03/03/2007 16:45

Message withdrawn

A · 05/03/2007 10:56

You are so lucky to have a dedicated gaelic school - I have seen several articles about it and it looks and sounds great!

Original poster
harrisey · 05/03/2007 15:16

Aimsmum I've never used the clubs but have heard they are very good. Dd 1 begs me to let her go to the Breakfast Club but as her bus doent get toschool till 8.45 theres no chance of that.!

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stleger · 05/03/2007 15:33

Bran I think it is 5 percent extra on leaving cert through Irish, so you can be in the happy part of the population who have more than100 percent in maths!

prettybird · 05/03/2007 15:58

A propos nothing in particular, but to with the Gaelic School, I was walking back to my work one lunchtime a few weeks ago and was sure I could hear bag pipes. Turns out there was a group of kids in the playground practising "Highland Cathedral2.

I can see the playground from my office windows.

Aimsmum · 05/03/2007 20:31

Message withdrawn

Original poster
harrisey · 06/03/2007 09:33

Aitch - have emailed you

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Original poster
harrisey · 12/04/2007 23:16

aitch - seem to have ereased your email - can you send it to me again!
Would be great to have a chat sometime. Tues and Fri mornings are good for me!

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Original poster
harrisey · 03/05/2007 00:35

Just heard my ds has got his primary 1 place at SGG for next term!
Hooooray!!

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Original poster
harrisey · 11/06/2007 23:15

Just wan ted to bump.

Ds has P1 place for August. DD2 is strting nursery in August. Anyone else????

In Glasgow/Edinburgh or elsewhere?

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A · 20/06/2007 10:44

Hi

Good news for your ds, and dd2.

We are really pleased after parents night ds1 seems to be thriving.

Not so happy about ds2 - we have just heard after being promised GM nursery provision in some form, that the Highland council is going to do nothing for us, not even subsidising us to travel 40mins to the next nearest gaelic nursery, despite having a tenfold increase in funding for gaelic for the 2007/2008 academic year.

I am a bit angry, because if they had said no 14 months ago, we would have looked at alternatives then. Instead they have strung us along, we have lost out for a whole year, and now I have the holidays to organise something different for the chidren involved. Not only that, but it threatens the existence of the gaelic unit in the school because other children are unable to try nursery before committing to school. It doesn't help that the head teacher is not pro gaelic.

Fortunately they have a great class teacher!

Still we're looking forward to the holidays as are going to SMO on Skye for a week - all more gaelic for dss and me.

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