Press Release from The Highland Council
The Highland Council is to launch a new video this week “Educational Growth” aimed at parents who are thinking of enrolling their children in Gaelic Medium Education. The video features a range of different people who explain the benefits of Gaelic Medium Education and of being bilingual.
Professor Antonella Sorace from the University of Edinburgh gives an insight into how young children can pick up languages quickly and the skills a person can gain from learning more than one language.
The video also features the experiences of parents who enrolled their children into Gaelic education without speaking the language themselves. It answers fears and questions parents may have about the opportunity, such as how they are able to help with homework and how they can still feel very much included in their child’s education.
Musicians also feature in the video, such as singer-songwriter Robert Robertson and member of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Chad Smith, who discuss the benefits of Gaelic education and the effects it has on a child’s future growth.
The video was created to demonstrate to parents how enriching, inclusive and unique Gaelic Education can be and to encourage them to take advantage of Gaelic Medium opportunities.
Councillor Alister Mackinnon, Chair of the Highland Council’s Gaelic Strategy and Implementation Group, said: “This is an excellent video which explains simply and clearly the many benefits of learning more than one language. It shows parents how engaging this type of education can be and how it can provide their child with skills they may not be able to develop elsewhere.”
The video was created by the Council’s Gaelic Team and was funded by the Scottish Government. The Team worked with editor, Donald Ewen who has a key role in the Gaelic soap ‘Bannan’.
The video was previously well-received when it previewed at An t-Alltan, the annual Gaelic Teachers conference and also when it previewed at Highland Council’s Care, Learning and Housing Committee.
The video can be viewed on the Council’s YouTube site from Thursday 8 November onwards at https://www.youtube.com/user/TheHighlandCouncil (external link)
Buannachdan dà-chànanais gan comharrachadh ann am bhidio ùr
Tha Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd a’ cur bhidio ùr ‘Fàs Foghlaim’ air bhog an t-seachdain seo agus e ag amas air pàrantan a tha a’ smaoineachadh air an cuid chloinne a chlàrachadh airson Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig. Tha grunn dhaoine a’ nochdadh sa bhidio agus iad a’ mìneachadh nam buannachdan a tha an lùib Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig agus dà-chànanais.
Tha an t-Àrd-Ollamh Antonella Sorace bho Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann a’ cur an cèill mar a bhios clann òga a’ togail chànanan gu luath agus na sgilean a bhuannaicheas neach bho bhith ag ionnsachadh barrachd air aon chànan.
Tha pàrantan cuideachd a’ nochdadh sa bhidio agus iad air an cuid chloinne a chur tro Fhoghlam tron Ghàidhlig ged nach eil a’ Ghàidhlig aca fhèin. Tha seo a’ freagairt uallaichean is cheistean a dh’fhaodadh a bhith aig pàrantan, leithid ciamar a thèid aca air an cuid chloinne a chuideachadh le obair-dachaigh agus na pàrantan seo ag innse gu bheil iad fhathast a’ faireachdainn gu bheil iad gu mòr an lùib foghlam an cuid chloinne.
Tha luchd-ciùil cuideachd a’ nochdadh sa bhidio, leithid an seinneadair-òranaiche Raibeart MacDhonnchaidh, agus Chad Mac a’ Ghobhainn bho na Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Tha iadsan a’ bruidhinn mu na buannachdan a tha an lùib Foghlam Gàidhlig agus na buaidhean a tha aige air fàs leanaibh san àm ri teachd.
Chaidh am bhidio a chruthachadh gus sealltainn do phàrantan cho beartach, in-ghabhaltach agus àraid ’s a dh’fhaodas Foghlam Gàidhlig a bhith, agus gus am brosnachadh gus brath a ghabhail air na cothroman a tha na lùib.
Thuirt an Comhairliche Alasdair MacFhionghuin, Cathraiche Buidheann Ro-innleachd agus Buileachaidh Gàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd, “’S e bhidio sgoinneil a tha seo agus tha e a’ mìneachadh gu soilleir gu bheil iomadh buannachd an lùib a bhith ag ionnsachadh barrachd air aon chànan. Tha e a’ sealltainn do phàrantan gum faod an seòrsa foghlaim seo a bhith cho tarraingeach agus gum faod e sgilean a thoirt dhan chloinn aca nach tèid aca air a leasachadh, ma dh’fhaodte, ann an suidheachadh eile.”
Chaidh am bhidio a chruthachadh le Sgioba na Gàidhlig aig Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd agus chaidh a mhaoineachadh le Riaghaltas na h-Alba. Dh’obraich an Sgioba leis an neach-deasachaidh Dòmhnall Eòghainn MacFhionghain, aig a bheil prìomh phàirt san dràma Ghàidhlig ‘Bannan’.
Chòrd am bhidio ris an luchd-amhairc nuair a chaidh ro-shealladh a thoirt seachad aig An Alltan, a’ cho-labhairt bhliadhnail do thidsearan Gàidhlig, agus cuideachd nuair a chaidh ro-shealladh a thoirt seachad aig Comataidh Cùraim, Ionnsachaidh agus Taigheadais Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd.
Chithear am bhidio air làrach YouTube na Comhairle bho Dhiardaoin 8 Samhain air adhart aig https://www.youtube.com/user/TheHighlandCouncil