Cleasan samhraidh a’ toirt cothrom do dh’òigridh a’ Ghàidhlig a chleachdadh
Chuir Sgioba Gàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd cleasan tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig air dòigh tro shaor-làithean an t-samhraidh ann an grunn àiteachan air feadh sgìre na Comhairle. Thug am prògram samhraidh cothrom do chloinn a’ Ghàidhlig a chluinntinn is a bhruidhinn tro shaor-làithean na sgoile.
Bha mòran chleasan eadar-dhealaichte ann eadar spòrs a-muigh, dràma, ealain is ceàird, agus bha iad rim faotainn do chloinn bho aois ro-sgoile gu aois àrd-sgoile.
Thuirt an Comhairliche Calum Rothach, Cathraiche Comataidh Gàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd, “Tha cleasan spòrs is cultarach fìor chudromach, gu h-àraid tro shaor-làithean an t-samhraidh, seach gu bheil cothrom aig na sgoilearan pàirt a ghabhail ann an cleasan tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig – rud a tha a’ toirt air adhart nan sgilean cànain aca taobh a-muigh foghlaim foirmeil.”
Lean e air adhart, “Tha a’ Ghàidhlig cudromach dhan choimhearsnachd agus tha iomadh buannachd na lùib. Tha e a’ còrdadh glan ris an òigridh a bhith a’ gabhail pàirt sna cleasan spòrs is cultarach seo tron Ghàidhlig.”
Thuirt Cathraiche Comataidh an Fhoghlaim, an Comhairliche Iain MacFhionnlaigh, “Tha cleasan Gàidhlig an t-samhraidh a’ cur ri foghlam Gàidhlig seach nach ann a-mhàin mu bhith a’ suidhe dheuchainnean a tha a’ Ghàidhlig ach mu bhith a’ tabhann chothroman do dhaoine òga ionnsachadh tron Ghàidhlig agus gu cudromach, dèanamh cinnteach gu bheilear a’ faicinn na Gàidhlig mar chànan làitheil a thathar a’ cleachdadh gu cunbhalach ann an coimhearsnachdan air feadh na Gàidhealtachd.”
Am measg nan tachartasan a chaidh a chur air dòigh, bha turas gu Taigh-tasgaidh Sluagh na Gàidhealtachd ann am Baile Ùr an t-Slèibh far an robh cothrom aig a’ chloinn sealladh fhaighinn air beatha bho na 1700an suas gu na 1950an. B’ urrainn dhaibh ceum a ghabhail air ais ann an eachdraidh agus faicinn mar a bha daoine a’ fuireach is ag obair tro na bliadhnaichean seo agus mar a bhiodh iad a’ cur seachad na h-ùine. Gun fhios nach robh a’ chlann ag ionndrainn na sgoile cus, fhuair iad leasan ann an seann seòmar-teagaisg agus às dèidh sin thadhail iad air seann bhùth shuiteas.
Tro cho-obrachadh le Oifigear Gàidhlig Chùirt an Easbaig, bha cothrom ann cuideachd tadhal air Taigh-cluiche Chùirt an Easbaig, le turas gu cùl na stèidse a bharrachd air seiseanan dràma spòrsail còmhla ri Aonghas MacLeòid.
Thug Sgioba Spòrs Gàidhlig Chomunn na Gàidhlig stiùireadh seachad a thaobh chleasan a-muigh a leithid bòrdadh-pleadhaige is abseileadh aig Loch Dùn Seilcheig agus claiseachd an ath latha.
Ghabh clann le Gàidhlig ann am Baile Dhubhthaich agus Inbhir Pheofharain pàirt ann an seiseanan dràma, geamaichean, ealain is ceàird cuideachd.
Lean Sgioba na Gàidhlig air adhart le tachartasan gach seachdain agus thug iad cuideachadh do chloinn òga is dhan teaghlaichean coimhead airson a’ Ghruffalo ann an Coille Chùil Lodair. Bha Aonghas MacLeòid ri làimh airson an cuideachadh is cur ris an fhealla-dhà!
Mu dheireadh, chaidh Latha Ball-coise Saor FC Sonas a chumail air Dihaoine 11 Lùnastal 2023 aig Acadamaidh Rìoghail Inbhir Nis. Bha an campa soirbheachail dha-rìribh agus a’ toirt cothrom seachad sgilean cànain Gàidhlig a leasachadh is a neartachadh a bharrachd air comasan ball-coise.
Chaidh an campa a thabhann an-asgaidh airson sealltainn gur e spòrs ion-ghabhalach, aig prìs reusanta, a th’ ann am ball-coise. Bha e iomchaidh cuideachd sealltainn gu bheil spòrs is gnìomhachd chorporra fìor chudromach a thaobh slàinte chorporra is inntinn.
Bha luchd-stèidheachaidh FC Sonas, Calum Fearghasdan agus Donaidh Foirbeis, dìreach air tilleadh bho thuras gu Alba Nuadh agus tha iad air prògram cànain ball-coise ‘Cluich Gàidhlig’ a leasachadh.
Chaidh na cleasan samhraidh a chur air dòigh le Oifigear Ionnsachadh is Leasachadh Coimhearsnachd Gàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd le taic ionmhasail bho Bhòrd na Gàidhlig agus Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd.
Summer activities enable use of Gaelic among young people
The Highland Council Gaelic team organised Gaelic medium activities which were held throughout the school summer holidays at various venues in the Highland Council area. The summer programme was to allow children both to hear Gaelic spoken and to be able to speak the language themselves during the school holidays.
The activities varied from outdoor sports, drama to arts and crafts, and were available to pupils from pre-school family trips through to secondary pupils.
Cllr Munro Chair of the Highland Council Gaelic Committee said, “Sporting and cultural activities are hugely important especially during the summer holidays as our pupils have the opportunity to take part and participate in activities though the medium of Gaelic which assists with their language acquisition skills and development out-with formal education.
He continued, “Gaelic is an intrinsic part of our community and is an asset to the area, and young people enjoy Gaelic medium sporting and cultural activities”.
Chair of the Education Committee Cllr John Finlayson added: “The Gaelic Summer activities compliment Gaelic Education as Gaelic at all levels is not just about sitting exams but is about preserving the language and offering young people chances to learn through the medium of Gaelic and very importantly, ensuring that Gaelic continues to be seen as an everyday language that is used regularly in communities across the Highlands.”
One of the events included a trip to the Highland Folk Museum in Newtonmore where the children were able to experience what life was like dating from the 1700’s through to the 1950’s. They could step back in time to see how people lived and worked through those years and how they spent their leisure time. Just in case any of the children might have been missing school too much they were given a lesson in the old school classroom which was followed by a visit to the old- style sweet shop.
Working in collaboration with Eden Court’s Gaelic Officer meant a visit to Eden Court Theatre was on the cards and this included a full backstage tour as well as fun-filled drama sessions with Angus MacLeod.
Comunn na Gàidhlig’s Spòrs Gàidhlig team instructed the Gaelic outdoor activities which included paddle-boarding and abseiling at Loch Duntelchaig and gorge-walking the following day. The Highland Council Gaelic team was supported by Comunn Na Gaidhlig in the above activities.
Gaelic speaking children in Tain and Dingwall took part in separate sessions of drama games and arts and crafts.
The Highland Council Gaelic team continued with weekly events and helped young children and their families to look for the “Gruffalo” in Culloden Woods, ably assisted by Angus MacLeod and his antics.
The last session to be held was the successful FC Sonas Free Football Day which was commissioned by the Council’s Gaelic Team and held on Friday 11 August 2023 at Inverness Royal Academy.
The football camp was held as an opportunity to offer children educated through Gaelic Medium Education the opportunity to speak and hear Gaelic spoken during the summer holidays and not just during school term-time. The camp works on enhancing and strengthening Gaelic language skills as well as the children’s football abilities.
The camp was offered free to children to show that football is an inclusive, affordable sport, as well as demonstrating the importance that sports and physical activity plays in ensuring both physical and emotional health.
FC Sonas founders, Calum Ferguson and Donnie Forbes were freshly returned from a tour of Nova Scotia and the development of their “ Play Gaidhlig” Football language program.
Financial assistance was received from Bòrd na Gàidhlig in addition to Highland Council.
The summer activities were organised by the Highland Council’s Gaelic Community Learning and Development Officer with financial assistance from Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Highland Council.