About SpeakGaelic

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SpeakGaelic

SpeakGaelic is a new, wide-ranging, multi-faceted learning brand, offering the most comprehensive approach to learning Scottish Gaelic in a generation.

SpeakGaelic offers users the option of face-to-face classes, self-guided online learning, and media content through a variety of platforms – or all three at the same time. As well as complete beginners, SpeakGaelic aims at enabling lapsed or less confident speakers to use their Gaelic with confidence.

A1 resources available now – see more here

About SpeakGaelic

The objective of SpeakGaelic is to transform the uptake and usage of Gaelic by providing a clear, comprehensive and integrated structure for Gaelic language learning.

The user will have the option of experiencing SpeakGaelic in three different ways, all of which will be integrated, but also capable of being consumed discretely:

  • taught through a SpeakGaelic course; and/or
  • consumed in complementary BBC ALBA/BBC Radio nan Gàidheal media content; and/or
  • self-guided through the SpeakGaelic website; and

all supported and enhanced by SpeakGaelic social media.

As well as supporting complete beginners, the materials will support Gaelic speakers at different levels of fluency to gain confidence to SpeakGaelic.

The SpeakGaelic curriculum will be based on CEFRL (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) learning outcomes, where each speaker is placed at one of six levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2).

SpeakGaelic will cover levels A1, A2, B1, B2. Provision for proficient users of Gaelic, at levels C1 and C2, will continue be through existing channels.

Each level will comprise 13 lessons, with two classes in each lesson, accompanied by a series of 13 half-hour media programmes. The learning outcomes for each of these modules will underpin all elements of SpeakGaelic in a consistent way.

About SpeakGaelic

The concept for SpeakGaelic was developed by the LearnGaelic partners and is a partnership between MG ALBA, the BBC and Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, with additional funding from the Scottish Government and Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig are the SpeakGaelic academic partner and are generating the course materials.

BBC Multiplatform Production (Gàidhlig) are producing the audio-visual and additional social media/website short form content. This content will be available on the BBC iPlayer, BBC ALBA linear channel and on BBC ALBA YouTube. BBC Radio nan Gàidheal will produce the audio content.

SpeakGaelic x The Royal National Mòd Competition Terms and Conditions

SpeakGaelic is a comprehensive approach to learning Scottish Gaelic. See speakgaelic.scot for further details.

An Comunn Gàidhealach are the organisers of the Royal National Mod.

 

For the purposes of these Terms and Conditions:

  • The ‘SpeakGaelic Partners’ are the bodies who deliver SpeakGaelic as set out here;
  • The ‘SpeakGaelic Funders’ are the bodies who fund SpeakGaelic as set out here;
  • MG ALBA is the ‘Promoter’ of the competition.
  • MG ALBA, the operating name of Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig or Gaelic Media Service, is a body established in terms of Section 183 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 and Section 208 of the Communications Act 2003 and having a registered office at Seaforth Road, Stornoway.
    Telephone: 01851705550
    Email: conaltradh@mgalba.com

 

  1. Entrants to the competition must be aged 18 years or over and legal residents of the UK.
  2. The competition is not open to employees (or their immediate families) of the SpeakGaelic Partners, the SpeakGaelic Funders, An Comunn Gàidhealach or the Promoter and its agents or anyone professionally connected with the promotion.
  3. To enter the competition, entrants must:
    1. Like the post and follow @speakgaelic and @royalnationalmod on Instagram
    2. Comment your favourite Gaelic word on the competition post
    3. Share the giveaway post and tag @speakgaelic and @royalnationalmod in your stories
  4.  The start time/date for the competition is 5pm (GMT) on 13/09/23.
    The closing time/date for competition entries is at 5PM (GMT) on 17/09/23.
    The Promoter accepts no responsibility for any late, lost or delayed entries. Incomplete or illegible entries will not be accepted.
  5. No maximum number of entries per day. Automated entries are prohibited, and any use of such automated devices or programs will cause disqualification.
  6. No purchase necessary to enter the competition.
  7. One competition winner will be chosen at random with an automated system (Microsoft Excel’s randomisation function).
    The winner will be announced publicly on @speakgaelic on Instagram on 19/09/23.
    The competition winner will receive the following prize:

    • One SpeakGaelic textbook at Level A1;
    • One SpeakGaelic textbook at Level A2; and
    • Two tickets for the Niteworks Concert on Saturday, the 21st of October at 7pm in Paisley Town Hall, Renfrewshire.
  1. The prize is not transferable or exchangeable and cannot be taken as cash. In the event the winner does not for any reason take an element of a prize at the time stipulated by the Promoter then that element of the prize will be forfeited by the winner and cash or any other form of compensation will not be supplied in lieu of that element of the prize.
  2. If for any reason a prize is not available, the Promoter reserves the right to substitute another item for it, in its sole discretion, of equal or higher value.
  3. The Promoter’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
  4. Please note that by submitting an entry to the competition each entrant warrants to the Promoter that the entry does not infringe the intellectual property rights (including but not limited to copyright and trademarks) privacy of any other person.
  5. The prize winner consents to their Instagram account name being published (as the winner of the prize) on @speakgaelic on Instagram. After announcement of the prize winner on Instagram, the prize winner consents to the Promoter contacting them by Instagram Direct Message to arrange for handover of the prize.
    The prize winner must, at the Promoter’s request, participate in all promotional activity (such as publicity and photography) surrounding the winning of the prize, free of charge, and they consent to the Promoter using their name and image in promotional material.
  6. If for any reason any aspect of this competition is not capable of running as planned, including by reason of infection by computer virus, mobile network failure, bugs, tampering, unauthorised intervention, fraud, technical failures or any causes beyond the control of the Promoter which corrupt or affect the administration security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this competition, the Promoter reserves the right in its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the competition, or invalidate any affected entries.
  7. The Promoter reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify all entries from any person, and prohibit that person’s further participation in this competition, who tampers with, or benefits from any tampering with, the entry process or the operation of the competition, acts in violation of these Terms and Conditions, acting in a disruptive manner, or acts with the intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person.
  8. To the extent permitted by law, each entrant releases the Promoter, its associated agencies and Meta from any and all liability, damages or loss incurred in connection with this competition including the redemption and use of any prize. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions shall exclude liability for (i) death or personal injury as a result of negligence; (ii) fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; or (iii) any liability that cannot be limited or excluded by law.
  9. Personal data will only be used by the Promoter and its agencies for the purposes of administering this competition and will only be used in line with this policy https://mgalba.com/homepage/privacy-cookies/?lang=en.
  10. Information regarding how to enter, how to claim and details of prizes form part of these Terms and Conditions. Submitting an entry to this competition will be deemed to constitute full acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.
  11. These Terms and Conditions are subject to Scots law and to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Scottish courts.
  12. This competition is in no way affiliated, associated or sponsored by Meta.

 

FAQs

What is SpeakGaelic?

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SpeakGaelic is the brand-name of a highly ambitious Gaelic adult learning campaign. The objective is to transform the uptake and usage of Gaelic by providing a clear, comprehensive, integrated structure for Gaelic language learning.

The user has the option of experiencing SpeakGaelic in three different ways, all of which are integrated, but also capable of being consumed discretely:

  • taught through a SpeakGaelic course; and/or
  • consumed in complementary BBC ALBA/BBC Radio nan Gàidheal media content; and/or
  • self-guided through the SpeakGaelic website; and

all supported and enhanced by SpeakGaelic social media.

As well as supporting complete beginners, the materials support Gaelic speakers at different levels of fluency to gain confidence to SpeakGaelic.

Learning champions and tutors have on-demand access to resource materials through the SpeakGaelic website.

Whose idea was it?

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The concept was developed by the LearnGaelic partners (MG ALBA, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, BBC, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Bòrd na Ceiltis (Alba)).

Who are the partners?

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The following statement should be used in any promotional activity (including but not limited to advertising, press releases, news articles, social media updates, and where possible in public statements or quotes):

“SpeakGaelic is a partnership initiative between MG ALBA, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and the BBC. The SpeakGaelic initiative has been made possible through funding from The Scottish Government, Bòrd na Gàidhlig and the partners.”

 

Who is paying for it and how much will it cost?

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The investment in monetary and in-kind contribution required to deliver the partnership’s ambition for the project, including the increased scale required for the more advanced levels (see table below), is c.£4m over four years.

Around 75% of that has been sourced or is in the process of being committed from each of the Scottish Government, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, MG ALBA, the BBC and Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. The partnership is confident that it will succeed in securing the balance required to deliver the project.

FICE/CEFR GUIDE Hours Original Intended
A1 Indicative number of teaching hours 90 to 100+ 13 weeks 13 weeks
A2 Indicative number of teaching hours 90 to 100+ 13 weeks 13 weeks
B1 Indicative number of teaching hours 150 to 200+ 13 weeks 26 weeks
B2 Indicative number of teaching hours 150 to 200+ 13 weeks 26 weeks

Are the TV programmes be available outside the UK?

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The TV programmes are available in full on the BBC iPlayer within the UK and also simultaneously on YouTube to enable international access.

What is it based on?

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The SpeakGaelic curriculum is based on CEFRL (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) learning outcomes, where each speaker is placed at one of six levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2).

SpeakGaelic covers levels A1, A2, B1, B2. Provision for proficient users of Gaelic, at levels C1 and C2, will continue through existing channels.

Each level comprises 13 lessons with two classes in each lesson accompanied by a series of 13 half-hour media programmes. The learning outcomes for each of these modules underpin all elements of SpeakGaelic in a consistent way.

Who is producing what element?

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Sabhal Mòr Ostaig are the SpeakGaelic academic partner and are generating the course materials.

BBC Multiplatform Production (Gàidhlig) are producing the audio-visual and some social media/website short form content. This content is available on the BBC iPlayer, BBC ALBA linear channel and on BBC ALBA YouTube. BBC Radio nan Gàidheal is producing the audio content.

How much will lessons cost?

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That is up to course providers. The course materials for A1 and A2 are freely available, alongside tutor materials, from the SpeakGaelic website.

Will there be a SpeakGaelic book?

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The teaching materials are entirely available on SpeakGaelic and teachers and students can access them online, and/or print them off themselves. Some course providers will print the materials for their own students. Some will offer printing to teachers and students at other establishments. There is no current intention to print a physical book consisting of these materials, as they are available online.

Will tutors need a particular qualification?

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At level A, it is not mandatory that SpeakGaelic tutors need any qualification. This point is currently being considered regarding level B.

Will SpeakGaelic courses be accredited?

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Assessments do not form an aspect of SpeakGaelic at this junction, but they are a part of the FICE/CEFR development which is currently being undertaken by Aberdeen University.  It should therefore be possible for assessments relating to the different levels of SpeakGaelic to be undertaken in future.

For more information:

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Please contact conaltradh@mgalba.com