One of the main questions parents ask is how do they maintain some level of Gaelic in the home.  Iomairt Ghàidhlig Loch Abair works with various organisations to help parents access language classes and resources for use at home. Clearly the best way to help your child use Gaelic is to learn Gaelic yourself. We recognise this is a big commitment.  If you speak Gaelic then speak it in the home.

Pàrant ‘s Pàiste Groups

This is an opportunity for the non-Gaelic speaking parent to learn a little Gaelic at the same time as the child, i.e. the father could learn Gaelic by listening to the mother speaking to the child. You can read with the child and using simple vocabulary in the early years. By reading simple stories, singing Gaelic nursery rhymes and using Gaelic at certain times of day – at breakfast, or bedtime for example – the child will get used to hearing the language at home and the parent who’s learning Gaelic will become more comfortable speaking it.

An Cearcall, Ath Tharracail, Wednesdays 9.30 – 11.30, Acharacle Resource Centre

Casan Beaga, Acharacle, Fridays 10 – 12, St Mary’s Church Hall, Glencoe

Rionnagan Beaga a’ Bhraighe, Friday 10.15 – 11.30, Taigh na Sgoile, Roy Bridge

Opportunities for parents to learn Gaelic in Lochaber

Ùlpan classes where parents receive a 50% discount on this advanced Gaelic learning method

• There is a Book and Toy Library in Fort William Library

In nearly all bilingual families, children end up mixing up the languages, especially in the early days. This is nothing to worry about and will sort itself out quite naturally.

The child will probably use the language which is stronger in the family. The Gaelic speaking parent will need a lot of support and determination to carry on using Gaelic

You can also do the following to encourage your child’s use of Gaelic:

• Attend the local pàrant ‘s pàiste groups, croileagain, sgoiltean-araich and other groups which use Gaelic
• Sing Gaelic rhymes
• Read Gaelic books
• Watch Gaelic programmes on BBC Alba and listen to Radio nan Gàidheal
• Encourage the extended family, friends and neighbours to use Gaelic with your child at every available opportunity

The Parental Advisory Scheme was established in order to promote GME (Gaelic Medium Education) and to encourage more families to consider education through Gaelic as an option for their children.  The Parental Advisory Scheme is built up of a network of parental advisors who raise awareness of GME opportunities acrossScotland.  It is felt that the best advice for prospective parents to GME can come from other parents with personal experience of GME as parents or carers for children who are either currently in GME or have gone through GME.  As part of the scheme we will continue to build of resources and information for parents.  The main resource and information for parents currently is the ‘Fios is Freagairt’ booklet on GME, and this year we have commissioned a DVD which will accompany the booklet.  The scheme is also supported by the education team at Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

We are very fortunate in the Lochaber area to have 8 dedicated and hard-working Parental Advisors who have been making a tremendous effort to build on GME in their area.  They have organised and successfully carried out a number of events in the past year, including School information and open days and being present at Softplay in order to talk to parents of young children in an informal setting about the benefits of GME and bilingualism.  The Parental Advisors are also currently working on plans to have a further open day at the primary school in February and also to have a presence at Fèis an Teaghlaich in Ballachulish in February also.

The main priority areas at Early Years, Gaelic Medium Education, Gaelic language activities, young people and adult learning. The Iomairt has a Steering Group which meets every three months to discuss and priorities where resources should be targeted.

Gaelic Medium Education, supporting parents with Gaelic and activities for young people form a large part of our work.  The Parental Advisory Scheme is one of the main ways we use to encourage those considering GME.

Registration for Gaelic Medium Education

Parents who are interested in Gaelic Medium Education in Acharacle, Mallaig and Fort William should contact the schools to register their child. Registration must be completed by the end of February. The Iomairt is committed to supporting those interested in GME and parental advocates are available to anyone with questions about GME - Parental Advisory Scheme

John Muir Award in Gaelic takes off in Lochaber

The Iomairt has been working with various partners to organise and deliver the John Muir Award through the medium of Gaelic. This is open to learners and fluent speakers in Mallaig and Ardnamurchan High Schools and will begin in early February.  See Young People for more details.

Gaelic Classes in Lochaber

Ùlpan classes will be starting in Lochaber in the coming months. Please see Adult Learning for more information. There are also informal events being organised to support those who are learning Gaelic. Details will be posted in this website.

Steering Group – take part in Gaelic Development In Lochaber

The next meeting of the Steering Group will take place at An Drochaid, Claggan, Fort William on the 23rd of February 2012 starting at 1900. These meetings review progress since the last meeting, advise on work plans and projects and take decisions on how the area budget will be spent. Fàilte oirbh!