03 March 2005
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Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts announcement March 4, 2005
St. Ann’s, March 4th 2005
The Gaelic College Foundations’ Board of Governors today announces that: The Gaelic College Foundation, which is supported by the Dept of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, is making available, at no cost, an on-tine beginners course in Gaelic language to any student registered in any Nova Scotia school at the Grade 7 to 12 levels. The first applicants may begin the course on May 1st, 2005.
This is a milestone day for our College and also for the current Initiative to revitalize the Gaelic language in Nova Scotia ...
The course, “Beul an Tobair”, is a beginner course that has been successfully offered on-line for the past two years. The course consists of twelve lessons, songs, extensive reference materials, and on-going instructor feedback and support. The course has been granted full university accreditation by Cape Breton University and has been accepted by the Nova Scotia Board of Education as meeting the criteria for the Grade 10 Gaelic Curriculum for the Province. The intermediate module of the course has also gone on-line recently and currently has enrolled students. Cape Breton University has been a partner in the development of that module.
In his remarks, Sam MacPhee, Executive Director for the College, commented, “This is a milestone day for our College and also for the current Initiative to revitalize the Gaelic language in Nova Scotia. I am sure that the members of the community who founded this institution nearly 70 years ago would be pleased with this announcement. Given the fact that all students today have at least some access to computers and that they relate closely to modem technology, we believe that this program offers an opportunity for any youth interested in the language to have access to a proven course that will help stimulate and develop that interest.
The development of Beul an Tobair has been a team effort Gaelic College instructor Angus MacLeod who suggested the creation of an on-line Gaelic course crafted the lesson content under the guidance of Hector MacNeil, Director of Gael c Studies. Webmaster Ralph Dillon has been responsible for bringing the course to life on the Internet.
If interest merits, modifications to make the Beul an Tobair course more appealing and relative to the interests of younger students is a possibility. This, in turn, could make the course accessible to students at lower Grade levels.
Reflecting on the announcement, MacNeil commented “The Gaelic language is the root of our culture. Sadly, everyday use of the language is far less common today than in the past It has been the view of those involved in language instruction here that the effort to revive the language can only be effectively achieved if it is available to students in our schools. Today we take a big step forward in that regard.”
Gaelic College Director Sam MacPhee's remarks - March 4th 2005
Minister Rodney, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen; It is a pleasure to welcome you here today. This is a milestone day for our College and also for the current Initiative to revitalize the Gaelic language in Nova Scotia.
I am sure that the members of this community who founded this institution nearly 70 years ago would be pleased with the announcement that we are about to make.
The Gaelic language is at the root of our culture. Sadly, everyday use of the language is far less common today than in the past. It is the view of those involved in language instruction here that the effort to revive Gaelic can only be effectively achieved if it is available to students in our schools.
Today we take a big step forward in that regard.
On behalf of the Board of Governors, I wish to announce that The Gaelic College Foundation,which is supported by the Dept of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, is making available, at no cost, an on-line beginners course in Gaelic language to any student registered in a Nova Scotia school at the Grade 7 to 12 levels. The first applicants may begin the course on Maylst, 2005.
Given the fact that all students today have at least some access to computers and that they relate closely to modern technology, we believe that this program offers an excellent opportunity for any youth interested in the language to have access to a proven course that will help stimulate and develop that interest.
The course, Beul an Tobair, is a beginner course that we have been successfully offering on-line for the past two years. The course consists of twelve lessons, songs, extensive reference materials, and on-going instructor feedback and support.It has been granted full university accreditation by Cape Breton University and has been accepted by the Nova Scotia Board of Education as meeting the criteria for the Grade 10 Gaelic Curriculum for the Province.
The intermediate module of the course has also gone on-line recently and currently has enrolled students. Cape Breton University has been a partner in the development of the second module. The development of Beul an Tobair has been a team effort. College instructor, Angus MacLeod, suggested 3 years ago, that we develop an on-line Gaelic course. After discussion on its feasibility, we decided to proceed.
Angus has crafted the lesson content under the guidance and assistance of Hector MacNeil, our Director of Gaelic Studies and the course would not have come to life on the Internet without the meticulous work of webmaster Ralph Dillon.
I want to thank these three gentlemen for their efforts and persistence and hope that they can work together on future development of this initiative.lf interest in this phasemerits it, modifications to make the Beul an Tobair course more appealing and relative to the interests of younger students is a possibility. This, in turn, could make the course accessible to students at lower Grade levels.
We are really pleased to have the Minister with us today- Firstly, to thank him personally for the support that his Department has afforded this institution and helped to make projects like this feasible.
Secondly, to commend him on the leadership that he has shown in creating the current Initiative that will revitalize the language throughout the Province.
He can be assured of our continued support for that Initiative.
It is my pleasure to ask him for his remarks at this time - the Honourable Rodney MacDonald.
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