My university has confirmed I can speak Gaelic!

I'm delighted to announce that I have been awarded a Cert HE with Distinction in Gaelic with Immersion, from the University of Glasgow (a Cert HE is equivalent to the first year of undergraduate study, i.e. first year of a degree), with three A/Excellent grades for reading and writing, listening and speaking, and community. The course, which I have been studying full time since last September, was taught through the medium of Scottish Gaelic, with me attending the Gaelic and Celtic Department in Glasgow every day from 10am-3pm to study. In addition to thirty-six assessments, the course included me having to contribute to a Gaelic speaking tour of the University for World Gaelic Week, and concluded with three weeks on the island of South Uist, where we were immersed with the local Gaelic speaking community. This was my eighth year of attending a university in the last thirty-five years, and I can honestly say that it was by far the most enjoyable - but I think that's me now sorted on the academic front for a bit!

Scottish Gaelic is a part of me - my grandfather's family were from the Highlands (Highland Perthshire, Invernesshire and Rossshire), and I have evidence of several ancestors having spoken the language - and it has been an absolute pleasure to reclaim it as one of my ancestral tongues, one which I now use on a daily basis, alongside English. I'm hoping to explore some Gaelic opportunities in the coming months, in addition to continuing my genealogy work. Whilst I now consider myself functionally fluent, I still have a hell of a way to go, but it's going to be fun now to find and create opportunties to push myself even further!

A big thanks to Kathleen Reddy, Ruaraidh Mac an t-Saoir, Alasdair Mac Gille Bhain, and Eilidh Nic Carmaig for their tuition over the last year, as well as to Sara Robertson and Ruairidh Greumach, and especially to all my fellow students. Chòrd a h-uile rud rium gu mòr!

For information on the Gaelic Immersion course at the University of Glasgow, visit https://www.gla.ac.uk/study/cpd/gaelicwithimmersion/. 

Suas leis a' Ghàidhlig! 

Chris 

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