Gaelic in the great outdoors

For teachers working in the Gaelic medium, or even in mainstream English language schools who have pupils interested in learning the language, Spòrs Gàidhlig is a great new resource. The outdoor activity organisation offers opportunities to schools and young people to get them into the beautiful Scottish countryside and explore the natural landscape in the medium of Gaelic.

There are plenty of fun activities to choose from, including skiing, gorge walking, bush-craft and orienteering, and the list is growing – pupils certainly won’t be bored. Learning Gaelic in an immersive environment, doing activities in the language and having fun makes it easier to learn. Pupils often learn best by doing, and Spòrs Gàidhlig creates a supportive and exciting environment in which young people can thrive, have fun, learn new skills and improve their language abilities.

As students learn to associate Gaelic with the Scottish countryside and fun and exciting activities, it will fire up their synapses and they will associate Gaelic with adventure.

CULTURE

Spòrs Gàidhlig isn’t just about sport and exercise though – it’s also educational and a brilliant way to take learning out of the classroom. For Gaelic learners, learning about the history and culture of Gaelic can make the experience much more relevant, and even inspiring. Spòrs Gàidhlig offers recreational programmes about place names, geography and geology as well as history, so pupils can get to know lots about a culture they may otherwise not have a huge amount of knowledge about. Much of what’s available aligns closely with the principles and requirements of the Curriculum for Excellence.

Spòrs Gàidhlig can be flexible with sizes of groups, and can advise and assist with transport logistics, including ferries. Spòrs Gàidhlig may be fairly new, but as part of Comunn na Gàidhlig it draws on years of experience in youth and community activities. Its own instructors are fully-trained and bilingual. Plans for the longer-term even include a Spòrs Gàidhlig Outdoor Centre – so keep your eyes peeled.

For more information, visit the organisation’s website.