COINNEAMH A1+ SAN LÙNASTAL ’24!

AUGUST ’24 A1+ MEETUP!

[English below]

Air Disathairne san Lùnastal 2024, thàinig sinn cruinn còmhla a-rithist aig An Lòchran gus Gàidhlig ionnsachadh tro dhiofar gheamaichean agus eacarsaichean-labhairt. Seo geàrr-chunntas dhen tachartas seo a bha ag amas air luchd-tòiseachaidh agus luchd-ionnsachaidh.

Às dèidh dhuinn cur an aithne a chèile, thòisich sinn le geama a bha stèidhichte air seantansan furasta sa Ghàidhlig, seantansan a chluinneas tu gu tric ann an còmhradh sam bith (“Ciamar a tha thu?”, “Dè an t-ainm a th’ ort?”, “A bheil ùidh agad ann an...”, amsaa.). Às dèidh sin, chleachd sinn na rosgrannan seo ann an suidheachadh-còmhraidh, ’s a h-uile aoigh a’ faighinn cothrom ceistean àbhaisteach fhaighneachd agus a fhreagairt. Ghabh sinn fois an uair sin, le tì, cofaidh agus greimeannan-bìdh gan toirt seachad.

San dàrna leth, chluich sinn geama a bha rud beag na bu duilghe, ’s sinn a’ cleachdadh a’ ghnìomhair “faigh” agus a’ fàs cleachdte ris na diofar thràthan (Tha mi a’ faighinn, fhuair mi, gheibh mi, gheibhinn...). Seo bhideo far am faic thu ciamar a dh’obraich e.

Chuir sinn an t-ionnsachadh seo gu feum an uair sin, ’s sinn a’ dèanamh eacarsaichean-labhairt san tràth chaithte agus san tràth theachdail. Ma dh’fhàsas tu cleachdte ri cleachdadh gnìomhair neo-riaghailtich coltach ri “faigh”, bidh e nas fhasa an aon rud a dhèanamh a thaobh na feadhainn eile (abair, rach, faic, amsaa.).

Chuir sinn crìoch air an fheasgar le bhith a' bruidhinn mu #sgrìobhi - an fharpais-sgrìobhaidh mhìosail do luchd-ionnsachaidh a th’ againn - agus mun fhacal “Àbhaisteachadh” (Beurla: Normalising). Leis an fhacal seo, tha mi a’ ciallachadh gum bu chòir dhan neach-ionnsachaidh barrachd Ghàidhlig fhaighinn a-steach na b[h]eatha làitheil, tro bhith a’ leughadh ann an Gàidhlig aig àrd-ìre, a’ sgrìobhadh leabhar-latha, ag èisteachd ri Gàidhlig aig àrd-ìre, amsaa. Tha tòrr dhòighean ann Gàidhlig àbhaisteachadh nad bheatha fhèin, fiù ’s mur h-eil agad ach 25 mionaid gach latha. ’S e an rud as cudromaiche gum bithear ga dhèanamh gu cunbhalach agus gum feuchar ri Beurla a chur ris an dàrna taobh - gun cleachdar dòighean-bogaidh, mar a chanas iad.

Sin na dà rudan a tha cudromach - ùine, agus na dòighean-ionnsachaidh cearta.

Mòran taing dhan fheadhainn a bha an làthair agus a thug taic dhuinn leis a’ ghlanadh agus an sgioblachadh aig deireadh an fheasgair. Chaidh ceathrar dhinn an ath dhoras dhan Lios Mhòr às dèidh làimh gus pinnt a ghabhail còmhla.

Chun an ath mhìos, a chàirdean!

Andy xx

[English]

On a Saturday in August 2024, we gathered again at An Lòchran to learn Gaelic via various games and speaking exercises. Here's a summary of this event that was aimed at beginners and learners.

After a round of introductions, we started off with a game based on easy sentences in Gaelic, sentences you often hear in any conversation (“How are you?”, “What's your name?”, “Are you interested in...”, etc.). After that, we used these sentences in a conversational setting, giving our guests a chance to ask basic questions and answer them. We then took a break, with tea, coffee and snacks served.

In the second half, we played a game that was a bit more difficult, using the verb “faigh” (to get) and getting used to the different tenses (Tha mi a’ faighinn = I get / I’m getting, fhuair mi = I got, gheibh mi = I will get, gheibhinn = I would get...). Here’s a video where you can see how this worked.

We then put this learning into pratice, doing speaking exercises in the past and future tenses. If you get used to using an irregular verb like “faigh”, it makes it easier to do the same with the other verbs (abair = to say, rach = to go, faic = to see, etc.).

We ended the afternoon by talking about #sgrìobhi (#writeit) - our monthly writing competition for learners - and the word “Àbhaisteachadh” (Normalising). With this word, I encourage learners to get more Gaelic into their daily lives, by e.g. reading in Gaelic at high level, keeping a diary, listening to Gaelic at high level, etc. There are many ways to normalize Gaelic in one’s own life, even if you only have 25 minutes a day. The most important thing is to do it regularly, and to try and avoid English - to use immersion methods, basically.

Those are the two things that matter. Time, and the right learning methods.

Many thanks to those who attended, and who helped us with the cleaning and tidying up at the end. Four of us went next door to the Lismore afterwards for a pint together.

Until next month, folks!

Andy xx