Conference tallis::celt

952.0. "Official Scottish Gaelic survey - please respond" by SYSTEM::COCKBURN (Craig Cockburn) Tue Sep 17 1991 07:25

(crossposted from the MARVIN::SCOTLAND notes conference, note 40.116)

All,

This is a major official international survey of people learning or
teaching Scottish Gaelic. Please forward this message on to 
anyone who may be interested - it is very important for Gaelic 
that as many learners and tutors as possible reply.

Please send the attached completed form to the address below, or
electronically to me. If you send it to me, I will acknowledge your
reply so that you are sure I've received it OK. I will personally
deliver your forms to CLI - I'm going up to this years Mod and CLI's
annual general meeting is on at the same place and time!

Mairead N NicIomhair 
Oifigear Leasachaidh F�ghlaim
Comunn na G�idhlig
89 & 93 Sr�id Chrombail, 
Steornabhagh, 
Eilean Leodhais, 
ALBA
PA87 2DG          Fon (phone ) 0851 4734/4493    +[44] 851 4734
                                              or +[44] 851 4493
 
(Margaret M MacIver, Education Officer, Comunn na G�idhlig,
 89 & 93 Cromwell Street, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, SCOTLAND, PA87 2DG)

Please feel free to edit the form if your answers do not fit into
the spaces provided!

Craig Cockburn         Monday 16th September 1991
                       Di-luain, 16mh latha den t-Sultuine 1991.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here's what the survey is about (English translation follows the Gaelic)

An L�nasdal 1991    (August 1991)

A Bhana/Charaid      (Dear Sir/Madam)

O chionn ghoirid ghabh Comunn na G�idhlg (CNAG), ann an co-bhonn ri
Comann an Luchd Ionnsachaidh (CLI), os l�imh rannsachadh n�iseanta
a dh�anamh air feumalachdan luchd-ionnsachaidh. Am measg rudan eile
th�inig am b�rr anns an sgr�dadh seo b'e gun robh an t-�m ann
dhuinn cuideachd coimhead ri suidheachadh na G�idhlig taobh am muigh
Alba. Mar sin, chaidh rannsachadh eadar-n�iseanta a chur air d�igh
agus is ann an luib seo tha mi sgriobhadh thugaibh.

   (Comunn na G�idhlig, in conjunction with the Gaelic Learners Association
    CLI, has recently completed a national survey of the needs of adult
    Gaelic learners. As a result of this, the need to assess the situation
    as regards Gaelic learners worldwide has been impressed upon us.
    Accordingly, an international survey is now being undertaken.)

Ann a bhith gabhail a leithid seo os l�imh, tha sinne gu math mothachail 
gu bheil, air feadh an t-saoghail, m�ran ann mar sibh p�in aig a bheil
�idh anns a' Gh�idhlig agus a dualchas ach chan eil fiosrachadh ro
mhionaideach againn air c� iad, c�ite bheil iad agus d� bhrosnaich
iad chun na G�idhlig. Chan eil fios ro chinnteach againn, a bharrachd,
air d� na c�rsaichean a tha iad a' cleachdadh. Mar sin, 'se an d�chas
th'ann gum minich an rannsachadh seo an suidheachadh dhuinn agus, ann
an solus sin, gum faigh sinn air taic agus cuideachadh a thoirt a r�ir
na leasaichidhean a tha an dr�sda a' gabhail �ite ann an Alba - gu
h-�raidh a thaobh f�ghlaim.

   (The purpose of this survey is twofold. Firstly, it will provide us
    with comprehensive and useful data as to where interest in Gaelic
    and its culture exists on an international basis. Secondly and more
    importantly, it will enable us to investigate the situation as
    regards courses on offer, methods of instruction adopted and support
    materials available in the different countries. The hope is that 
    the information gained from this survey will enable us to provide 
    support for learners worldwide in accordance with developments, both 
    educational and social, occurring here in Scotland at the present time.)

An cois na litreach seo gheibh sibh ceisteachan a tha, mar a chi sibh,
air a dealbh an d� chuid do luchd-teagaisg agus do luchd-ionnsachaidh.
Bhithinn-sa gu m�r nur comain nan lionadh sibh a-steach i a r�ir ur
suidheachaidh agus nan tilleadh sibh air ais thugainn i cho luath sa
ghabhas agus, co-dhi�bh, ro dheireadh an D�mhair. Ma 'se ceisteachan
G�idhlig a b'fhe�rr leibh chan eil agaibh ach fios a chur agus th�id
te a chur thugaibh. Mar a tha sinn an d�chas a thuigeas sibh, tha
cosgaisean puist agus riannachd a' cur bacaidh �irnn na dh� a chur
thugaibh c�mhla no eadhon te d� ch�nanach.

   (The effectiveness of this survey will depend very much on co-operation
    from people like yourself and so I would be very grateful if
    you could complete and return the enclosed questionnaire to the
    above adress preferably before the end of October.)

   (The questionnaire has been designed to include the needs of both
    tutors and learners and thus comments are required only for those
    sections relevant to your situation. The questionnaire can be 
    completed in either Gaelic or English. Although this version is
    in English, a Gaelic version is available on request from 
    Comunn na G�idhlig at the above address)

Le co-obrachadh bho dhaoine mar sibh p�in, bhiodh sinne an d�chas
nach e mh�in gun deidheadh c�isean a leasachadh do luchd-ionnsachaidh
na G�idhlig air fad ach cuideachd, gun tigeadh piseach agus adhartas air
staid agus inbhe na c�nain.

Mar sin, bithidh mise toilichte le taic sam bith a bheir sibh dhuinn anns
an obair seo agus bithidh mi coimhead air adhart ri bhur beachdan 
fhaighinn.

M�ran taing dhuibh airson ur cuideachaidh

leis gach deadh dh�rachd

Mairead N NicIomhair, Oifigear Leasachaidh F�ghlaim


   (I shall look forward very much to your comments and trust that the 
    results of our investigations will not only be of practical use to
    all Gaelic learners, but will also go a long way towards enhancing
    the status of the language throughout the world in the years to come
    and be an inspiration to those who speak the language at home and abroad. 
    I thank you for your assistance in the matter)

Yours sincerely,

Margaret M MacIver, Education Officer





               ***** THE SURVEY *****
---------------- cut here -----------------------------------------------------

Duilleagan 1 / Page 1

International Scottish Gaelic learners survey, August 1991.


Aireamh/Number   [      ]          Duthaich/Country ................
(for official use)


Ainm/Name:   .............................

Seoladh/Address:  __________________________

                  __________________________

                  __________________________

                  __________________________

                  __________________________


Section 1: Background
=====================

1. Are you a fluent speaker  [     ]  or a learner [    ] (please tick)


2. Are you male [    ]  or female [    ]


3. What is your age?

   a)   Under 18  [   ]     d) 36-50 [   ]

   b)   18-25     [   ]     e) 51-65 [   ]

   c)   26-35     [   ]     f) 65 +  [   ]



4. What is your occupation?  .............................................


5. If you are not a native of your country of residence, how long have
   you been staying there?

   .................(years)


6. Do you have Scottish connections?     Yes [   ]    No [   ]

   If yes, please give brief details:








Duilleagan 2 / Page 2             LEARNERS ONLY

Section 2:  Level of achievement   
================================

7.  Please state your reason(s) for your decision to learn the language:









8.  To date, what kind of exposure have you had to Gaelic? Please give
    details:










9.  In your own opinion, what progress have you made in learning Gaelic
    and what stage would you say you were at?









10. Please describe your experience of learning Gaelic outwith Scotland.
    What would you say are the major problems and how do you feel they
    could be solved?









Duilleagan 3 / Page 3           LEARNERS ONLY (Continued)


Section 3: Learning situation
=============================


11. Please give details of the type of class you attend or the kind of
    situation in which you learn Gaelic









12. If you follow formal instruction, does your government provide your
    class with assistance - financial or otherwise?










13. Please detail any printed course materials used by you and/or the
    class and comment on their effectiveness in your particular situation.











14. Do you use any audio-visual aids to assist you in your learning process?
    If so, could you indicate which ones and comment on their effectiveness.








Duilleagan 4 / Page 4          TUTORS ONLY


Section 4: Resources
====================

15. State reason(s) for your decision to teach Gaelic








16. Do you use your own materials as a complete course or as a supplement
    to a published course? Please give details








17. Please detail published courses used by you and comment on their
    effectiveness.







18. Please list below any audio-visual aids used in your class and 
    comment on their usefulness in your situation









19. Please comment on your experience in obtaining and creating 
    suitable materials for teaching purposes.








Duilleagan 5 / Page 5             TUTORS ONLY (Continued)


Section 5: Training needs
=========================

20. Do you have any Scottish certification (or other) in Gaelic?



21. What training, if any, have you received for the teaching of Gaelic?








22. Do you consider training to be important in your situation?








23. Given your situation, detail any ideas you may have on how your
    training needs could be met.












24. If a learner yourself and tutoring others, please comment on any
    particular problems you may be experiencing






Duilleagan 6 / Page 6             RELEVANT TO BOTH CATEGORIES


Section 6: Ongoing support
==========================

25a. Please indicate which, if any, of the following types of support
     you have used in the past.

     i) Facilities provided by Comunn an Luchd-Ionnsachaidh 

        (the Gaelic Learners Association) .................................


     ii) Weekend course(s) at .............................................


     iii) Summer course(s) at .............................................


     iv) Holiday with Gaelic speaking family at ...........................



     v)  Gaelic publishing companies ......................................


  b. Please describe your experience(s) indicating whether or not it/they
     met with your expectations









26. If you participated in (ii), (iii) or (iv) of the above, please give 
    details as to how the course and/or holiday was organised.









27a. Below please give name(s) and address(es) of any society, club or
     service in your own country or community that provides support
     for Gaelic












Duilleagan 7 / Page 7             RELEVANT TO BOTH CATEGORIES

27b. Nature of support:







27c. Do you personally use these services? Please give details









28. Are there any other support services you would welcome in your
    country or, perhaps, from Scotland?











Section 7: The Scottish Experience    RELEVANT TO BOTH CATEGORIES
==================================

29a. Are you a member of any cultural organisation based in Scotland?

     Yes [     ]      No [     ]

 
     If yes, please specify:






  b. How valuable do you consider this membership to be?







Duilleagan 8 / Page 8             RELEVANT TO BOTH CATEGORIES


30. Have you ever visited Scotland?    Yes [     ]    No  [      ]

    If yes, what areas did you visit?







31. What factor(s) prompted your visit?








32. As regards the Gaelic language did you experience(s) meet with 
    your expectations?








33. In your experience, how does Scotland compare with other countries
    as far as the promotion of language and culture is concerned?











34. Are you aware of any successful initiatives used by other minority
    languages that could be applied to Gaelic?






Duilleagan 9 / Page 9             RELEVANT TO BOTH CATEGORIES

35a. Do you intend to visit Scotland in the near future?
 
     Yes [    ]    No [    ]

  b. If yes, what will you be looking for as regards Gaelic language
     and culture?








36. Do you have any further ideas or suggestions you would like to make
    to Gaelic promotors in Scotland as regards Gaelic awareness and the
    visitor?









Section 8 - Conclusion            RELEVANT TO BOTH CATEGORIES
======================       


37. Any further comment(s) you wish to make on any aspect not already
    covered by the questionnaire?










38. Please indicate if you would like your name to be added to the 
    mailing lists of Gaelic support services and facilities in Scotland









                                                     MORAN TAING