Sabhal Mor Ostaig College
Sector-leading and innovative practice:
Cùrsa Bogaidh nan Tidsearan / Teachers’ Immersion course in Gaelic
The college has introduced a five day immersion course in Gaelic for practising
teachers with an interest in Gaelic medium education in Scotland.
The pilot course was supported by Bòrd na Gàidhlig. Nine teachers at various levels
of fluency attended the course. The teachers also had different teaching
experiences, at primary and secondary. The teachers were given a tailored
timetable for the week, to provide a broad range of experiences, including coaching
sessions by practicing teachers and preparing lesson plans. The course was
delivered by instructors with considerable expertise in teaching and education. A
key element was developing learner confidence in speaking the language, with a
focus on the classroom scenario. The teachers were provided with vocabulary and
essential classroom terminology and phrases. The course also offered grammar
surgeries and literacy classes, as well as developing an awareness of the history
and development of Gaelic education in Scotland. There were opportunities to learn
more about online resources available to teachers. Peer assessment and
self-evaluation was used during the practical exercises such as lesson planning and
delivery. At the end of the programme, Bòrd na Gàidhlig carried out an independent
feedback session with learners who expressed high levels of satisfaction and
development of their confidence and language skills. Bòrd na Gàidhlig intends to
build on the success of this programme and develop the provision.
The course has also been run successfully for PGCE student teachers from the
University of Strathclyde.