Talk to me about Gealic School

[unlimiteddilutingjuice]

DS starts at the Gealic School in August. At the moment, none of us speak Gealic.
Anyone been in the same situation?
Would you recommend me and DH starting classes now?
What about those Gealic "family activities"? Are they worth doing before DS starts school, to get him used to the idea of immersion teaching?
Or just send him along in August and trust in the teachers?
Would love to hear other people's experiences.

Do you mean a gaelscoil? Irish speaking?

I think you mean Gaelic School in Scotland. Why are you sending them?

Maybe report your thread and get it moved to scotnet if you dont get much response op . No not irish

Bollocks, I've spelt it wrong haven't I?
I mean Scots Gaelic.
The Fàilte gu Sgoil Ghàidhlig in Glasgow.

I wish we'd sent dd to the local Gaelic school now as learning a new language would have been challenging for her where standard education just isn't. Lots of parents start to learn alongside their kids and the school ran evening classes for parents to learn to help with homework etc. Loads of parents go on to do their higher Gaelic to keep it up.

If you aren't Gaelic speakers, why are you sending ds? Just interested.

Why are we sending him:
DH: Purely out of patriotism.
Me: Because it looked better than the catchment school.

Thanks Bloopbleep. I do plan to learn. Do you think it's best to start adult classes at the school when term starts or sign up for something now?

It's similar to a gaelscoil. Irish speaking.

Plenty of kids go whose parents don't speak it! And I think the first couple of years is easy with English/Irish, or Scots gaelic, to begin with.

In our school, parents are offered classes from almost the beginning. And you'll find yourself learning colours, numbers etc as your dc do!

I'd get something now that you can do at home, maybe a DVD of 'Speaking our Language' . Just so you can go in on the first day with a bit of backup. It may be different now, but in my day Gaelic Medium teaching was full immersion.

I would look into some starter courses so you know what you're letting yourself in for. BBC Scotland have some online resources and sometimes run free taster sessions

Thanks Waltermitty I can see the advantage of learning primary school vocabulary. That seems most relevant.

Ive actually checked out the first episode of Speaking Our Language JohnLapsley It's 90's tasting isn't it! I keep getting distracted by the clothes and hair styles!

90's tastic

I am a Gael and my child attended that school. You need to start getting up to speed asap. Just numbers, colours etc. Loads online to help you. Staff are good but parents expect a lot. I also wouldn't mention the catchment thing. Or the patriotism come to think of it.....

Definitely a good idea to start getting some language into the home. Easy enough. Get BBC Alba on. It has kids programmes on from 5 pm. Speaking our Language on at 7. It's great to set the example by being pro active yourself. That way you show your DS that it's not just a school subject/language. Also if you start with some beginner lessons/groups you can help a bit with homework. You won't be unusual. Most parent at the school have no Gàidhlig whatsoever. Be prepared to be involved. It's a big commitment.

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig also have great distance courses:

www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/en/cursaichean/an-cursa-inntrigidh

We must be so "unpatriotic" then, just using our local school 😐

"The Fàilte gu Sgoil Ghàidhlig in Glasgow."

It's Glasgow Gaelic School or Sgoil Gaidhlig Glaschu... Failte gu means welcome to, that's why it's on the website.

Patriotism? I've heard it all now. Is your DH a Gael via a Granny from an outer isle? What's wrong with your catchment school?

Thanks for all your replies. I spoke to DS'S nursery teacher yesterday. She's friendly with teachers and parents at the school and was able to reassure me on a couple of points.
So, I'm very glad to hear that DS won't be expected to already know Gaelic on the first day! Apparently the school uses similar techniques to the ones used at the nursery for children who arrive not speaking English, so some of that will already be familiar to him. I'm not sure exactly what she meant by that- possibly the system of symbols/pictures they use to accompany instructions/ for "now and next" etc.
I will be looking into classes for myself in the next few days and have another go at Speaking Our Language. I'm a bit nervous because the last time I tried to learn a language, I found it pretty hard going. It's not something I'm naturally good at.

Thetroublewithangels
They don't do placing requests anymore. They have catchment areas- all of North Glasgow for the one in the west end and all of South Glasgow for the one in the South Side.
You apply to the Gaelic school as your catchment school, then they refer you to your English medium catchment school if it's over subscribed. (This is what I fully expected to happen- I guess we got lucky)

They didn't ask about whether we speak Gaelic. They only asked our address.

soupmaker Why wouldn't patriotism be a reasonable motivation for wanting your kids to learn (one of) the national language?

From parents word of mouth: the catchment school has low academic expectations and a poor record on bullying.

Tabularasa Sorry, that's very embarrassing I did say, I couldn't speak it.

Can only speak of my experience of sending my DC to Welsh school where they are taught the language via immersion. It really doesn't matter if parents don't speak the language and for most children is the easiest way to learn the language. However, they tend to start at school nursery (starting at 3 or just 4) and starting later can make it harder for them to catch up with the others. And children with additional needs may find it harder to manage those if learning a language they don't speak at home.