Alasdair
Don't panic! English follows the Gaelic!
Dè an t-ainm a th' ort? 'S mise Alasdair agus tha mi seachd bliadhna deug a dh'aois.
Co às a tha thu?/ Càite a bheil thu a' fuireach? 'S ann à Dolair a tha mi bho thùs, baile beag ann an Siorrachd chlach Mhanainn. Ach, an-dràst' tha mi a' fuireach air an Eilean Sgitheanach aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.
Dè thog d' ùidh anns a' chànan? Thog mi ùidh sa Ghàidhlig nuair a bha mi na b' òige - mu thimcheall dhà dheug, tha mi a' smaoineachadh. Cha robh mi air Gàidhlig a chluinntinn nuair a bha mi a' fàs suas air sgàth 's nach eil mo phàrantan à Alba (tha m' athair à Sealan Nuadh agus mo mhàthair às an Eadailt). Ach, air sgàth 's gun dh'ionnsaich mi tòrr cànanan nuair a bha mi san sgoil smaoinich mi, "Carson nach ionnsaich mi a' Ghàidhlig cuideachd?". Sgeul fada air a dhèanamh goirid, fhuair mi eòlach air daoine a tha a' fuireach ann an Ceann Sàil Eighre, air an Eilean Sgitheanach, agus chaidh mi a chèilidh orra còmhla ri mo theaghlach, agus b' e siud an t-àm a lorg mi a' Ghàidhlig. A' fuireach ann am Meadhan na h-Alba chan eil thu a' faicinn Gàidhlig idir, mar seo b' e rudeigin ùr, inntinneach a bh' ann dhòmhsa.
A bheil molaidhean agad airson luchd-ionnsachaidh eile? Cùm a' dol! Na bi a' smaoineachadh nach eil thu a' dèanamh adhartas sam bith. Fiù 's ma tha thu ag ionnsachadh còig faclan ùra gach latha tha sin math dha-rìribh. Cha robh na facail agad an latha roimhe, an robh? :-) Tha e doirbh a bhith ag ionnsachadh cànan ùr, tha fhios 'am air an siud - dh'ionnsaich mi ceithir - ach le beagan neart; bidh a h-uile rud a' tighinn thugad. Tha mi den beachd gu bheil e math a bhith ag èisteachd ris a' Ghàidhlig air an rèidio na air an Tbh airson na fuaimean a chluinntinn - 's e siud an pàirt as cudromaiche mu deidhinn! Cuideachd feuch gun leugh, agus sgrìobh, thu cho tric 's as urrainn dhut.
Ciamar a tha thu a' cleachdadh Gàidhlig nad bheatha làitheil? Uill, nuair a tha mi aig an taigh tha mi a' bruidhinn Gàidhlig ri mo mhàthair, a tha air Gàidhlig ionnsachadh a-nis, agus air-loidhne còmhla ri mo charaidean no daoine eile cuideachd. Tha mi ga cleachdadh aig m' obair cuideachd - tha mi ag obair aig Club Sgoile Ghàidhlig agus air stèisean rèidio a' dèanamh prògram rèidio. A bharrachd air seo tha mi aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Colaiste Ghàidhlig na h-Alba, air an Cùrsa Comais a dhèanamh. Mar seo, tha mi a' cleachdadh Gàidhlig fad an latha agus, na mo bheachd-sa, 's e siud an dòigh as fheàrr airson a bhith ga h-ionnsachadh! San àm ri teachd tha mi 'n dòchas gum bi mi nam thidsear Gàidhlig aig ìre àrd-sgoil, mar seo bidh mi a' cleachdadh a' chànain fad an latha.
Dè an abairt Ghàidhlig as fheàrr leat? Chan e seo abairt cheart Ghàidhlig bho bliadhnachan air ais, ach 's toil leam i co-dhiù. Chaidh mo charaidean 's mi fhìn a dh'Èirinn an-uiridh agus nuair a bha sinn ann, chleachd sinn an abairt Albannach "well guid" ach sa Ghàidhlig! Mar seo, tha mi a' cur sìos an abairt ùr Ghàidhlig: "Bha sin uill math!" Cuideachd, faodaidh sibh a bhith ga chleachdadh le buadhair sam bith, mar eisimpleir: "Bha sin uill blasta" no "Bhiodh sin uill èibhinn!". Feumail, nach eil?
Dìreach ma tha thu a' gabhail iongantas anns an dealbh aig a' mhullach den duilleig seo - chan eil mi a' coimhead mar siud fad na tìde! 'S e oidhche Shamhna a bh' ann aig an t-Sabhal. Abair pàrtaidh a bha siud...
What's your name? My name is Alexander and I am 17 years of age.
Where do you stay/are you from? I am originally from Dollar, a small village in Clackmannanshire. However, at the minute i am living on the Isle of Skye at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.
What inspired you to learn Gaelic? I was interested in Gaelic when I was younger - around the age of 12 I think. I had never heard Gaelic before as my parents aren't from Scotland (my father is from New Zealand and my mother is from Italy ). However, due to the fact I was doing many other languages in school i thought, "Why don't I learn Gaelic as well?". Long story short, I came to know people that live in Kensaleyre, on the Isle of Skye, and I went to visit them with my family one year and that is when I found Gaelic. Living in Central Scotland, you don't see Gaelic in your life, so it was something new and interesting to me.
What tips do you have for other Gaelic learners? Keep going! Don't ever think you aren't making progress. Even if you only learn 5 words a day that is excellent. It's 5 words you didn't have the day before, isn't it? :-) It is hard to learn a new language - I know, I have learned four - but with a little bit of push and shove, it will come to you. I am of the opinion that it is good to listen to the radio, or the TV, to hear the sounds of Gaelic - this is a very important part of it! Also, try and read, and write, as often as you can.
How do you use Gaelic in your daily life? Well, when I am at home I speak Gaelic to my mother, who is now learning it, and online with my friends or to other people as well. I use Gaelic at my work as well - I work at a Gaelic after school club and on a Skye radio station where I do a Gaelic radio show. On top of that I am at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Scotland 's Gaelic College, doing an Cùrsa Comais. Along with this, I use Gaelic all day long and, in my opinion, this is the best way to learn. In the future I hope to become a high school teacher so I will be using the language all the time then as well.
Do you have a favourite Gaelic expression? This isn't a proper Gaelic phrase as such from years ago, but I like it anyway. Last year my friends and I went to Ireland and while we were there we used the Scots phrase "well guid" but in Gaelic! So, this is the phrase I am putting down: "That was well guid!". On top of that, you can use any adjective will it, for example: "That was well tasty" or "That would be well funny". Useful, isn't it?
Just in case you were wondering about the picture at the top of this page – I don't look like that all the time! It was Halloween at Sabhal Mòr - What a party that was ...
