Scottish Gaelic

Many people believe that Gaelic Medium Education is the answer to reversing the decline of Gaelic speakers across Scotland. As a former Gaelic Medium pupil I thoroughly agree. This type of education provides pupils with the opportunity to learn our country’s language whether or not their parents speak Gaelic. My parents didn’t speak Gaelic and it did not hinder our education.

By being educated through the medium of Gaelic at a young age pupils are being given the opportunity to become bi-lingual, therefore helping them with languages when they choose to take them later in their education. To most people the thought of learning a new language would be very daunting but their young brains act as a sponge, soaking the language in and amazingly, they don’t even know they are learning. Over the years I have come across many people with a very anti-gaelic medium education attitude and I really do not understand it. I wonder sometimes if their child was being offered the chance of a bilingual education in a European language, would their attitudes differ greatly?

I also know of friends who did not go through Gaelic Medium Education but have gone on to learn our language after leaving school – they are now fluent speakers! There are many courses available to those and Sabhal Mor Ostaig the Gaelic College in Skye would be an ideal place to start looking.