Elise
Don't panic! English follows the Gaelic!
Dè an t-ainm a th' ort? Elise.
Co às a tha thu? / Càite a bheil thu a' fuireach? Tha mi a' fuireach ann an Indiana, Ameireaga . Thogadh mi ann am baile beag ann an Illinois.
Dè thog d' ùidh anns a' chànan? Bha gaol agam a-riamh air rudan Ceilteach, agus dh'fhàs seo nuair a dh'fhàs mi na b' aosta. Bha mi a-riamh ag iarraidh Gàidhlig ionnsachadh, ach seach a bhith a' togail facal an siud ‘s an seo agus na h-òrain., cha robh dòigh agam airson ionnsachadh. San t-samhradh, bha mi nam phàirt den sgioba clàraidh sna h-Eileanan Sìar. Rinn sinn agallamhan le luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig mun chànan, cultar....a h-uile rud. Bha seachdain againne ag ionnsachadh beagan Gàidhlig. Thuit mi ann an gaol leis a h-uile rud agus tha mi ag iarraidh nas urrainn dhomh ionnsachadh, ged nach eil mòran taic san sgìre agam.
A bheil molaidhean agad airson luchd-ionnsachaidh eile? Can rudan tric. Feuch faclan is abairtean a theagasg dha daoine eile. Is toigh leam rannsachadh, agus mholainn eòlas a chur air eachdraidh a' chànain . Tadhail air a' Ghàidhealtachd!
Ciamar a tha thu a' cleachdadh Gàidhlig nad bheatha làitheil? Tha mi air abairtean is faclan a theagasg dha daoine eile agus bidh mi a' feuchainn ri faclan a chur ann an còmhraidhean. Bidh mi a' lorg stèiseanan rèidio, a' briseadh sìos òrain agus cheannaich mi leabhraichean a th' ann am Beurla is anns a' Ghàidhlig.
Dè an abairt Ghàidhlig as fheàrr leat? Chuala mi “Chan eil droch aimsir ann, dìreach droch aodach”.
What's your name? Elise
Where do you stay/are you from? I'm living in Terre Haute, Indiana, America. I grew up in a very small farm town in East-central Illinois.
What inspired you to learn Gaelic? I've always had a love for all things Celtic, and it's only grown as I've gotten older. I've always wanted to learn, but apart from picking apart a few words here and there from songs, had no way to learn. This past summer I was part of a videography team in the Outer Hebrides. We interviewed Gàidhlig speakers about the language, culture…everything. We had a week of learning some very basic spoken Gàidhlig before heading out. I fell in love with all of it and want to keep learning as much as I can, even with very few resources in my area.
What tips do you have for other Gaelic learners? Repeat things often. Try to teach someone else some words, phrases. I love researching, so I also suggest knowing the history of the language. More than anything: visit the outer isles of Scotland if you haven't already.
How do you use Gaelic in your daily lives? I have taught my friends a few phrases and sometimes try to slip in words as often as possible. I dig up radio stations, dissect songs, and bought a couple books that have parallel English and Gàidhlig.
Do you have a favourite Gaelic expression? One I heard while traversing the Hebrides: "There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes."
