Response 649963198

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Gaelic medium education (GME)

1. Thinking of barriers, obstacles and solutions - What are the key aspects you feel should be included in a new strategic approach to Gaelic medium education?

Please put your response - in English, Gaelic or Scots - in the text box
Stop endless provision of beginners evening classes in Gaelic and concentrate on provision for learners trying to progress to advanced level. In Highland this autumn there are only beginners classes, always promoting the easy route. When are providers going to realise learning Gaelic is not easy and you need to study the grammar.

2. What steps do you think should be taken to support and promote Gaelic education and to ensure that any new strategic approach to Gaelic medium education is implemented?

Please put your response - in English, Gaelic or Scots - in the text box
See response to 1. And maybe make it part of local authority employed Gaelic teachers' contract that they offer 2 hours of Gaelic evening class teaching per week.

3. Are there any other points you would like to make about the provision of Gaelic medium education and Gaelic learner education in Scottish education?

Please put your response - in English, Gaelic or Scots - in the text box
See response to 1.

Gàidhealtachd

4. Do you have views on what measures should be in place to support Gaelic speakers in areas with significant numbers of speakers?

Please put your response - in English, Gaelic or Scots - in the text box
Perhaps offer week-long courses at Gaelic college on Skye free to charge to learners, prioritising those that that are looking for learning at advanced level.

5. Do you have views on how such areas should be defined?

Please put your response - in English, Gaelic or Scots - in the text box
Might make sense to prioritise learners residing in Highland, Glasgow and Western Isles.

6. How would you balance the commitment to put measures in place in areas where there are significant Gaelic speakers with the principle that Gaelic should be a national language for all of Scotland?

Please put your response - in English, Gaelic or Scots - in the text box
Increase signage in other areas to gently bring them round to the idea of Gaelic as national language. Believe it will be a hard sell, but MG Alba and RnG doing sterling work on promoting the language where BnG and Local Authorities have failed.

7. Are there any further points you would like to make about the commitment to explore the creation of a Gàidhealtachd and the associated commitments relating to Gaelic use in family and community?

Please put your response - in English, Gaelic or Scots - in the text box
See 6 above.

Bòrd na Gàidhlig

8. Do you have any views on the current duties of Bòrd na Gàidhlig and any suggestions of how these could operate more effectively or efficiently?

Please put your response - in English, Gaelic or Scots - in the text box
Poor show by BnG. No idea what they contribute. They are invisible.

9. Do you have any views on structural changes at Bòrd na Gàidhlig which could strengthen the promotion of and support for Gaelic in Scotland?

Please put your response - in English, Gaelic or Scots - in the text box
More of a hands-on role on ensuring language learning provision in the community. All these Plans and no action on the ground - waste of time and money.

10. Are there any further points you would like to make about the review of the functions and structure of Bòrd na Gàidhlig which seeks to ensure Scotland has the most effective leadership body and network of organisations for the promotion of Gaelic?

Please put your response - in English, Gaelic or Scots - in the text box
I see no evidence currently of any leadership from BnG or of organisational networking. Gi e their funding to radio and tv provision.

Scots Language

11. Thinking of the work of the key Scots bodies as referred to in the paper - What are your views on the work of the Scots bodies? How would you strengthen and add to the work of these bodies?

Please put your response - in English, Gaelic or Scots - in the text box
No idea really. They do a very poor job at the moment, operating in a bubble removed from on the ground learning provision.

12. What are your views on the next steps that should be taken to support the Scots language?

Please put your response - in English, Gaelic or Scots - in the text box
See answers in relation to support for Gaelic.

13. Are there any further points you would like to make about the commitment to support the Scots language?

Please put your response - in English, Gaelic or Scots - in the text box
Promote writers like Andrew Greig who write in Scots language with provision of glossary.

About you

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