Ùlpan Gaelic students receive awards
Fifty four Gaelic language students recently attended an award ceremony at Bun-sgoil Ghaidhlig Inbhir Nis (Thursday 25 June) to receive their Ùlpan certificates of attainment.
The Ùlpan method of learning languages calls on techniques used to teach Welsh and Hebrew and has been put into practise by The Highland Council to teach Gaelic since 2007.
Currently organised jointly by The Highland Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Service, and Inverness College the courses are being supported by Bòrd na Gàidhlig.
Some of the students have been studying Ùlpan for two years some attending two classes per week, as a mixture of day and evening classes.
Twenty students received a Unit 107 Certificates, 15 students Unit 48 Certificates, 8 students received Unit 24 and a further 11 received Unit 18 certificates.
Councillor Hamish Fraser Chairman of Highland Council’s Gaelic Committee who presented the certificates said: “I am very impressed with the students achievements at all levelsincluding the dedicated work of the tutors. It was also pleasing to see a number families taking part in the programme. Delivering the Ùlpan method of learning in the Highlands is a clear demonstration of the Council’s commitment in its programme for administration where we have pledged to work with Bòrd na Gàidhlig and other partners to support the development of the Gaelic Language and culture. These courses continue to ensure that everybody in the Highlands, who has a wish to learn the language, will have many varied opportunities and choices available to them and will compliment the many other programmes already in place.”
Rosemary Ward, Bòrd na Gàidhlig Education Manager said: "The Bòrd is pleased to be supporting Ùlpan which has proved to be a successful way of teaching and learning Gaelic. The unique structure of Ùlpan provides the necessary support that learners require to progress towards fluency.
"It's important that we nurture and support learners and give them every opportunity to practice their skills. I'd like to wish everyone taking part in this course the very best in this new adventure."
The Inverness classes follow on from a tutor-training week which ran last year. This course run by Cli enabled local tutors to be trained in the Ùlpan method. Five of the new Ùlpan trained tutors are running the classes at Bun-sgoil Ghaidhlig Inbhir Nis.
The next session of Ùlpan classes is due to start in the week beginning 24 August 2009 and people interested in learning Gaelic are being invited to register now to secure places. The course will run for 18 weeks with a two-week break in the October holidays followed by another 18-week block until the end of June 2010.
To enrol in any of these classes potential students can apply to Information and Guidance at the Longman Building of Inverness College. For further information please contact Inverness College at 01463 273180 or Margaret Mulholland at The Highland Council on 01463 724278.