Airson Luchd-Ionnsachaidh

For Gaelic Learners

English translation after each paragraph

Leis gur e deireadh an Fhaoillich a th’ ann, an t-àm a bhios mòran dhaoine a’ trèigsinn amasan na Bliadhna Ùire, bu toil leinn an fheadhainn agaibh a tha ag ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig a bhrosnachadh. Mas e ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig an t-amas agaibhse, cumaibh oirbh!
Bhruidhinn mi ri dithis ùghdar soirbheachail againn a dh’ionnsaich a’ Ghàidhlig mar inbhich agus dh’fhaighnich mi dè thug orra cumail ag ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig agus dè na rudan matha a tha i air toirt dhaibh. Tha sinn an dòchas gum bi seo gur brosnachadh agus gun cùm sibh oirbh leis a’ Ghàidhlig! (Agus is dòcha gum bi sibhse am measg nan ùghdaran againne ann an greis!)

As it is the end of January, the time that many people abandon their New Year’s resolutions, we’d like to motivate those of you who are learning Gaelic. If learning Gaelic is your resolution, keep on learning!
I spoke with two of our succesful authors who learned Gaelic as adults and asked what made them continue learning Gaelic and what good things Gaelic has brought them. We hope this will encourage you and that you continue with Gaelic! (And maybe you will be among our authors in a while!)

Graham Cooper
’S ann à ear-thuath na h-Alba a tha Graham. Thòisich e ag ionnsachadh Gàidhlig às dèidh dha obair mar dhotair-lannsa a leigeil dheth. Rinn e clasaichean oidhche ann an Obar Dheathain agus cùrsaichean air-loidhne aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. Tha e a-nis air dà nobhail a’ sgrìobhadh agus bidh e a’ sgrìobhadh sgeulachdan goirid dà-chànanach a tha ri lorg air an làrach-lìn aige: https://www.criomagan.com  Fhuair e cuspair a’ chiad nobhail bho phìos obair-dhachaigh a rinn e airson cùrsa Gàidhlig. Tha na sgrìobhaidhean aige air duaisean fhaighinn agus air a bhith air geàrr-liostaichean dhuaisean eile.

Graham is from the north-east of Scotland. He started learning Gaelic after he retired from working as a surgeon. He did evening classes in Aberdeen and online classes at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. He has now written two novels and writes bilingual short stories which you can find on his website: https://www.criomagan.com He got the subject for his first novel from an assignment he did for a Gaelic course. His writings have received awards and been on short-lists for other awards.

Dè bha gur brosnachadh gus cumail ag ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig nuair a bha sibhse ga h-ionnsachadh? 

Cha robh e doirbh dhomh a bhith cumail a’ dol leis a’ Ghàidhlig. On toiseach, chòrd e rium gu mòr a bhith ag ionnsachadh cànan a tha cho beartach. Bha fàilte chridheil orm aig Club Gàidhlig Obar Dheathain agus, an uair sin, rinn mi trì bliadhna gu leth ag ionnsachadh air astar le Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. Bha na deuchainnean gam phiobrachadh! Cha bu luaithe a chuir mi crìoch air a’ chùrsa na choisinn mi duais aig a’ Mhòd airson sgeulachd ghoirid a sgrìobh mi – bha sin na bhrosnachadh mòr dhomh agus thòisich mi air na nobhailean mar thoradh air seo. 

What motivated you to keep learning Gaelic when you were learning it?

It wasn’t difficult for me to continue with Gaelic. From the beginning I really enjoyed learning a language that is so rich. I recieved a warm welcome at the Aberdeen Gaelic Club and then I did three and a half years distance-learning with Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. The exams motivated me a lot! As soon as I finished the course I won an award at the Mòd for a short story I wrote – that was a great encouragement to me and I started on novels as a result of this.

Dè na rudan matha a tha a’ Ghàidhlig air toirt dhuibh?

Tha e air còrdadh rium gu mòr a bhith a’ coinneachadh ri caraidean ùra ann an saoghal na Gàidhlig. Bha tidsearan fìor mhath agam agus tha mi a’ cumail ‘in touch’ riutha. O chionn ochd bliadhna, choinnich mi ri Dòmhnall Iain MacLeòid ann an Glinn Eilg agus tha sinn air a bith a’ bruidhinn air a’ fòn gach seachdain on uair sin – abair caraid dìleas, agus tha mi air tòrr Gàidhlig ionnsachadh bho bhith a’ bruidhinn ris. A thuilleadh air seo, tha e air tlachd a thoirt dhomh èisteachd ri Radio nan Gàidheal agus a bhith a’ leughadh leabhraichean Gàidhlig! 

What things have you gained through Gaelic?

I have greatly enjoyed meeting new friends in the Gaelic world. I had very good teacher and I keep in touch with them. Eight years ago I met Donald John MacLeod in Glenelg and we have been talking on the phone every week since – what a loyal friend, and I have learned a lot of Gaelic from talking to him. Besides this, it’s a pleasure to me to listen to Radio nan Gàidheal and to read Gaelic books!

Alistair Paul

’S ann à Glaschu a tha Alistair bho thùs, ach tha e a-nis a’ fuireach ann an Eilean Arainn. On a ghluais e ann, tha e air ùidh a ghabhail ann an eachdraidh, dualchas agus ceòl an àite, agus ’s e sin a thug air Gàidhlig ionnsachadh. Chòrd an cànan ris uiread ’s gu robh e ag iarraidh sgrìobhadh innte cuideachd agus tha e a-nis air cruinneachadh sgeulachdan goirid a sgrìobhadh a choisinn an duais airson na Làmh-sgrìobhainn as Fheàrr do dh’Inbhich ann an 2020 agus tha a’ chiad nobhail aige gu bhith tighinn a-mach anns a’ Ghearran 2023.

Alistair is originally from Glasgow, but now lives on the Isle of Arran. Since he moved there, he has taken an interest in its history, folklore, traditions and music, and that is what made him learn Gaelic. He enjoyed the language so much that he wanted to write in it as well and he has now written a short story collection with which won the award for the Best Unpublished Manuscript for Adults in 2020 and his first novel is coming out in February 2023.

Dè bha gur brosnachadh gus cumail ag ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig nuair a bha sibhse ga h-ionnsachadh? 

Nuair a thig e gu ionnsachadh cànain, nam bheachd, chan e an dòigh as cudromaiche ach am miann. 'S dòcha gun robh mi fortanach san t-seadh 's nach robh ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig a-riamh na uallach dhomh ach na thlachd. Le leabhar Gàidhlig nam làimh bhithinn mar bhalach òg ann am bùth dhèideagan le iongantasan air gach taobh dhan coimheadainn is gach facal ùr a dh'ionnsaichinn mar neamhnaid a chuirinn ris an stòras agam. 'S ann mar sin a tha mi fhathast.

What motivated you to keep learning Gaelic when you were learning it?

When it comes to language learning, in my opinion, the most important way is just the desire. Maybe I was fortunate in the sense that learning Gaelic was never a burden to me but a pleasure. With a Gaelic book in my hand I would be like a young boy in a toy shop with wonders on every side I looked to and every new word that I’d learn as a pearl that I added to my collection. I am still like that.

Dè na rudan matha a tha a’ Ghàidhlig air toirt dhuibh?

Dhomhsa tha Gàidhlig mu dheidhinn cheanglaichean. Tha i air na ceanglaichean a th' agam le dualchas, eachdraidh is cruth-tìre an àite ’s a bheil mi a' fuireach a neartachadh is ceanglaichean ùra a chruthachadh dhomh do na caraidean a rinn mi na cois. Agus b' i a’ Ghàidhlig a bhrosnaich mi a bhith nam sgrìobhadair.

What things have you gained through Gaelic?

For me Gaelic is about connections. It has strengthened my connections with folklore, tradition, history and geography in the place where I live and created new connections to friends I made through Gaelic. And it is Gaelic which motivated me to become a writer.

Nach math sin a chluinntinn! Freagairtean snoga, sgoinneil a bh’ aca.
Nan robh sibh a’ smaoineachadh air sgur a dh’ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig, smaoinichibh air na rudan matha as urrainn dhi a thoirt dhuibh (no a tha i air toirt dhuibh mu thràth is dòcha!). Thoiribh sùil air na leabhraichean Gàidhlig a tha ann agus feuchaibh ri caraidean Gàidhlig a dhèanamh (air-loidhne no mur timcheall) agus cuimhnichibh cho spòrsail ’s as urrainn dhan a’ Ghàidhlig a bhith agus cho beartach ’s a tha an cànan! Tha luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig an sàs ann an saoghal na Gàidhlig ann an iomadh diofar dhòigh agus tha àite ann air ur son-se cuideachd. Tha e doirbh cànan ionnsachadh aig amannan, ach is fhiach e!

Isn’t that great to hear! Great answers.
If you were thinking of quitting learning Gaelic, think of the great things it can give you (or has already given you perhaps!). Have a look at the Gaelic books that there are and try to make Gaelic friends (online or around you) and remember how fun Gaelic can be and how rich the language is! Gaelic learners are involved in the Gaelic world in many different ways and there is a place for you as well! It is difficult to learn a language sometimes, but it is worth it!

Mòran taing airson seo a leughadh! Nach fo-sgrìobh sibh dhan chuairt-litir againn gus cluinntinn mu na naidheachdan as ùire againn?

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