Learning Gaelic in the Community of Flodigarry

Learning through Living Culture, (Gaelic in Flodigarry)

A 5 day residential community based course including outdoor education and class-based literature workshops.  The Course will run on three separate weeks this year:

27 – 31 May
15 – 19 July
26 – 30 August

This one-week course has been launched for advanced learners of Gaelic who wish to improve their oral and literary skills as well as deepen their knowledge of the Gaelic literature, history and culture of North Skye in the heart of a thriving Gaelic community.  It is expected that this course will attract learners who seek to reach fluency in their studies or profession as well as those who wish to reach fluency for personal development.        

The course will consist of daily tours of the Trotternish peninsula concentrating on the local areas of Flodigarry, Staffin and Kilmuir.  The course will include visits to museums and sights of special historical interest where the students will have the opportunity to learn from local people who are specialists in one or more subjects such as palaeontology and the onomastics (placenames) of North Skye, to give two examples.  The course will also look at the local Gaelic speaking crofting community, its traditions and current practices, as well as some of the issues the people here face as a community.    

Workshops led in creative writing, poetry, short story writing as well as study of the local dialect.  There will be some practical workshops too.    
During the week students will be referred to a range of useful sources, and groups which may help them to extend their knowledge and skill after they return home and there will also be the chance to meet some of the characters and talented individuals of the local area at informal cèilidhs!
 
Entry requirements:
No previous knowledge or experience of community involvement is required but a reasonable degree of fluency in Gaelic is essential
Further Information, please contact :   
 
Martin  on 01471 888 240
Alasdair on 01471 888 242
or e-mail cg.smo@uhi.ac.uk

Timetable & attendance details: 
The course will start on Monday at 10am with a welcome session and then a program of events will take place after that.   Course attendees are encouraged to arrive on the Sunday evening before the course starts.    The course is due to finish at 1530 on the Friday afternoon. A course timetable will appear here in due course.   There are only 12 places available on the course and as such allocation will be dealt with on a first come first served basis due to the high interest in the course.

Accommodation:
Accommodation is provided in the Dun Flodigarry Hostel. Applicants are encouraged to stay in the Hostel, which is immaculately kept, to create a strong Gaelic environment conducive to fluency.  Meals will be provided by the residents of Flodigarry Students should contact Dun Flodigarry Hostel directly to book accommodation on 01470 552 212.
Their website is: www.hostelflodigarry.co.uk

Meals:
Although some meals will be prepared and provided by the people of Flodigarry as part of the hospitality it is worth thinking about bringing food with you to the hostel to prepare on other occasions or indeed eating at local establishments, such as the Hotel next door or the Columba 1400 centre in Staffin.  There is a kitchen at the hostel which you can use and also buy food such as for breakfast.
Exact details of which meals provided will appear here in due course.

Clothing:
Attendees are advised to bring warm/waterproof clothing, and walking boot/wellies.

Course cost: £200   (Course fee only)