SABHAL MÒR OSTAIG LAUNCHING WORLD’S FIRST NATIONAL GAELIC ACCREDITATION

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture, is delighted to be launching Scotland’s first-ever national framework of assessment and accreditation for Gaelic speakers. The accreditation programme provides a localised Gaelic version of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), providing key learning milestones and official certification for Gaelic speakers and learners.

The framework will be known as FICE (Frèam Iomraidh Cumanta Eòrpach) and will provide a crucial ‘next step’ for the thousands of learners currently using SpeakGaelic, Duolingo, or other educational tools. FICE will create progression markers for Gaelic learners, providing official accreditation to indicate earned language skills.

Màrtainn Mac a’ Bhàillidh, Adult Learning Manager at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture said:

“In many other languages, including Irish and Welsh, a localised version of CEFR has become an invaluable tool to verify, measure, and share information on language competence. The implementation of a localised CEFR for Gaelic (FICE) will create an easy way for Gaelic speakers to assess their language skills and consequently achieve a national accreditation to reflect their competency. The implementation of FICE will also support organisations who seek to develop and deliver Gaelic Language Plans by providing a clear pathway of progression for staff learning Gaelic.”

Eairdsidh MacGilleathain, Depute Director of Studies at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, said:

“Since its launch in 2021, we’ve seen thousands of people begin their Gaelic journey through a range of SpeakGaelic learning resources. The aim of FICE is to build on this appetite for learning by providing a national accreditation programme to mark Gaelic learners’ progress and milestones in language acquisition. From Gaelic Learners to fluent speakers, through the FICE accreditation programme, people will be able to take exams to ascertain and reflect their language skills.”

The formal launch of the FICE assessment programme will take place this summer through a week-long course where participants will sit a FICE exam at the end of the week to achieve a certificate in A1 Gaelic. The short course will run from the 16^th to 20^th of June and applications are now open.

Following the official launch of FICE, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig will work in partnership with community groups, local and national organisations, and other academic institutions to roll out a national programme of FICE exams.