Gaelic education anyone?

[harrisey]

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!

Thought I'd just say hello to the Gaelic families out there. How's everyone doing?

Hi Harrisey,

We are taking a breather between the excitement of guy fawkes and the build up to christmas...

ds1 had a great morning in Inverness a few weeks ago at a feis. I think they did songs, games, craft etc in (he never tells me exactly!) and it's great for him because he also met other gaelic speakers his own age. He has another morning coming up in a couple of weeks time too.

ds2 seems to be soaking up the language even with just two sessions a week, and because he is going to nursery with a friend, they both push each other on a bit too. He loves his teachers too.

We could do with more gaelic social events for kids... they really benefit from it.

I hope all is well with you.

Very well here.

DD1 is coming to the end of her total immersion phase as she begins reading English after Christmas. A new phonetic challenge awaits!

Ds has loved his first few months and has been teaching me Gaelic synthetic phonics (developed by his school!) - I know so many weird actions I will never need!. He can chat away now - I am seeing it with dd1 and ds talkingto each other.

Dd2 is in nursery (Sgoil Araich) and can count to 10, knows her colours, actions, its amazing!

I have 3 kids who can speak a language I dont know! I am SO PROUD of them!!!

Glasgow is good as there are so many cultural events available. But they are also dealing with a pupil (who was in dd1'a class last year) with a terminal brain tumor - in gaelic, which I dont quite get. There are disavantages.

Hope your kids keep doing well. Its SUCH A GREAT THING!

Hi

We are about to enrol ds2 in gaelic medium this week. It seems to have come round so fast! He is positively blossoming in his 2 days at GM nursery. My only comcern is that he will spend the next 5 years in the same class as ds1... they are very competitive to say the least! Their teacher is very good though.

i was h a r r i s e y but have changed my name due to family snooping!

We have enrolled dd2 into GM for next year, she has done so well at nursery. It is such a different issue in Glasgow as there are unbelievable 75 kids enrolled for Primary one - they are going to have to have 3 classes in p1 next year.

Still dont regret it for a second - we are learning gaelic poems for the Glasgow Mod and dd1 has just been asked to audition for the National Youth Choir of Scotland - I am sure that the cultural emphasis with loads of music etc has helped that.

Hope your dss get on O inthe same class. A good teacher does the world of good.

Its Scottish Gaelic, which is not compulsory in school in Scotland (well, is in some highland/island areas). But there is the option for total immersion Scottish Gaelic education for kids here, with some schools having seperate Gaelic classes and in some places whole schools in Gaelic, which is where my kids go in Glasgow, as we have connections to the Outer Hebrides.

I have nebver learned it, though I am doing a week of immersion classses in July -- help!

We got the letter today confirming dd2's place at the Glasgow Gaelic School! Hooray!

Hi, good news about your dd2's place. Ds2 has 3 days visiting his new class in 10 days time. One of his friends is also starting in gaelic, which will be really good for him and for the class (seeing as they are losing two P7 children this year).

Good luck with your immersion class. Are you going to SMO on Skye?

No, the course is actually in Sgoil Ghaidlig Ghlaschu, my kids school. Its just through the day, they are laying on a whole load of activities for the kids (in gaelic) while parents do immersion all day. A bit nervous but looking forward to it.

Nice that there is a friend starting with your ds. In Glasgow it has got so popular they are having 3 primary one classes this year, 75 children! But at least dd2 will have people from nursery going in with her, so she wont get lost in the crowd (not that she could, she's a little madam!)

Anyone have any experience of having one child in Gaelic and one in English school?

DD1 is going to the small, local primary starting in August.

She has some learning disabilities including speech and language delays and so we felt this is the best place for her.

DD2, however, does not, and as she is turning 3, we need to make a decision about her nursery. A Gaelic medium is offered at nursery level in our area (Argyll), but to continue on would mean she'd have to attend a different primary school.

Now, the logistics of this are fine, as the council lays on a school bus to transport children who attend the Gaelic medium.

But I'm wondering how hard it would be with regards to homework, practice in the language, etc.

Hi expat

The logistics don't sound like a problem, and tbh I have not struggled with homework/practice etc ...

I have no gaelic and neither does dh. The school are very very good at providing phonics training, tapes with the reading books so I can check pronounciation, a homework guide with all the key words in it, and it is amazing how much you pick up as you go along.

Dd1 started in a small Gaelic unit and they also provided all this - as well as being on the end of the phone if we wanted, and letting us drop in any time. She then moved to the big school in Glasgow and has flourished there too.

I love bilingual education - the benefits are huge. My kids also both have children with special needs in their classes, and they seem to be doing well, but it would depend on your dd1's needs. But NT kids with bilingualism do better in Maths, other foreign languages and reasoning right up to secondary school, and they think beyond though the research hasnt been done yet.

Dd1 didn't have any gaelic going in to school and had no opportunity to practice, but did fine and even won a local Mod gold medal in her p1 year. They talk a bit together now, but not a lot. One of the best things has been meeting other gaelic speaking families - ds goes to his best friend's house where they all are native speakers adn he just chats away in gaelic to his friend's mum not bother.

The cultural side is good too - the instruments on offer, the singing - both schools we have experience of did a lot of public performance, which meant that my dd1 at age 6 was able to stand up in front of literally half the island and recite a poem.

I would highly recommend it. Also, dd1 is now at the stage of learning English as well in school and is already almost where her English-only friends are at. Not quite, but I am amazed at the speed she has picked up reading and writing in the 2nd language.

Just get in touch if you want to know any more!

This is also my experience (ds1 in a v. small gaelic unit at the moment and ds2 starting next year) - lots of support for parents, also support on-line (eg gaelic4parents.co.uk homework group etc).

We are going to one of the family weeks on Skye - a big success with everyone last year (also gaelic nursery, gaelic activities for primary kids and gaelic classes for adults).

Pnawn da to all the Celtic cousins out there. Only just found this thread, but I might have things to add from the Welsh perspective!

009 I'm Welsh, had a Welsh education until I was 21 (I then moved to Oxford to do my PhD - bilingualism not holding me back!!) and my Mum has just retired as a primary school teacher. While I don't know about the Gaelic system, I can fill you in on the Welsh!
Where are you moving to, 009? North or south? There are differences.

Do you want to start a new thread?

dd2 has her induction day on Thursday! Looking forward to it!

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Hey Weegie mum! Im looking for a week or so intensive course in july or august in glasgow! dont supose you could tell me where your doing yours? or if you know any others about? Thanks!

Beanie

I'm doing mine at Sgoil Ghaidlig Ghalschu. Its a summer club for children (childcare provided for age 1+) and there is 4-5 hours a day of immersion for parents.

I have to run adn get ready right now but I will look the stuff out of the drawer adn post later on organisers etc.

I have found the info!

Run by CNSA not very informative website!

W/c 28th July for one week, 9.30 - 3, hour for lunch, cost £50 per adult, £5 per child. No lunch provided but morning and afternoon snacks for kids provided, tea and coffee.

Kids are doing activities inc SFA football coaching and dancing, singing etc ...

You can get more info from CNSA office on 0141 226 5222.

Do you have a connection to Gaelic, why are you wanting to learn it? Just interested?

Bumping up for anyone with LOs starting in GME next week (like me! - my dd2 starts on Monday!)

Just wondering?

Hi

ds2 is starting P1 on Tuesday. It has come round so fast! I am sorry there isn't a bit more time, but I think he's looking forward to it. They are starting straight in with full days in Highland region.

Unlike ds1, he's starting with a friend, so won't be alone in his year group in the class (there are still only six in all; P1 - P7, as two left for high school).

I hope it's not the end of children going into GME here, as am expecting dc3 in a couple of weeks - it would be nice to have a thriving gaelic unit for him/her if we are still here when they start school!

Good luck to your dd for Monday

DH is from Berneray and fluent. We have taken DS up there to see family. But living in England at the mo. Hoping to bring DS up in Glasgow as soon as we can work it all out and keen to get him started learning. There seem to be a lot of opportunities. MIL was telling me of first all Gaelic nurseries in Glasgow years and years ago - v interesting.

Awakestill - the GM provision in Glasgow is fab, its where we are (we used to live in Harris, where we got the idea!).

You do have to have a pretty good reason to get them in to the school though - gaelic nursery, and your close family links would really help as well. This is because it has become SO popular - there are 75 children going in to primary 1 this year, 3 classes, adn there were a lot of children didn't get in.

Does your dh not speak Gaelic to him now? The earlier the better was what we were told.

A - wow - strting already (kind of how I feel!). Hope he gets on well. Didn't realise you had a 3rd on the way - congratulations!

A - how did ds get on?

My dd had a great time and is doing great, though we had a little trouble getting a SN plan in place for her hip condition - all sorted now.

Don't seem to be speaking a lot of Gaelic yet - there are a lot of kids who have none, no nursery background, so they are taking it slow to start. But lots of singing!!

Don't forget teleg - freeview channel 8! Gach nochd aig 18.00 program cloinne!