THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2017/2018

University Homepage
DRPS Homepage
DRPS Search
DRPS Contact
DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures : Celtic

Undergraduate Course: Education and Gaelic in Scotland (CELT10058)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Literatures, Languages and Cultures CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
Taught in Gaelic?Yes
Summary This course considers a range of key issues relating to Gaelic education in Scotland, addressing, among other topics:
- the history and development of Gaelic education, and the role of Gaelic in Scottish education generally
- practical issues relating to teaching, learning and assessment, including the development of the Gaelic curriculum
- structural issues concerning the availability of Gaelic provision, including teacher supply
- parental and wider social attitudes to Gaelic education and parental involvement in the education process
- the nature of bilingual education and bilingual pedagogy, with particular attention to Gaelic/Scotland
- provision for Gaelic in further, higher and community education
- the role of education in Gaelic development policy, and
- the role of education in minority language revitalisation more generally
Course description 1. The history and development of Gaelic education in Scotland, 1709-1960, in the context of general educational developments in Scotland

2. The development of Gaelic education since 1960: structures, frameworks, policies

3. Gaelic education in context: the nature of bilingual education and bilingual pedagogy

4. The role of education in Gaelic development policy

5. The role of education in minority language revitalisation: comparative perspectives

6. Designing the Gaelic curriculum: from from the Primary Memorandum of 1965 through 5-14 to Curriculum for Excellence

7. Assessment in Gaelic education: strategies and challenges

8. Evaluating Gaelic education: attainment and impact

9. Structural issues concerning the availability of Gaelic provision, including teacher supply

10. Gaelic education and issues of additional needs provision

11. The ethos of Gaelic-medium units and schools

12. Parental and wider social attitudes to Gaelic education and the role of Gaelic in families

13. Gaelic in further, higher and community education: strategic and pedagogical issues


The course would cover topics in the following Standards for Provisional Registration of the General Teaching Council for Scotland:

1. Professional Values and Personal Commitment.

2.1.1 Have knowledge and understanding of the nature of the curriculum and its development.

2.1.3 Have knowledge and understanding of planning coherent and progressive teaching programmes.

2.2.1 Have knowledge and understanding of the principal features of the education system, educational policy and practice.

2.2.2 Have knowledge and understanding of the schools and learning communities in which they teach and their own professional responsibilities within them.

3.1.5 Work effectively in partnership in order to promote learning and wellbeing.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesAdmission to this course will be at the discretion of the Course Organiser.
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to show an understanding and awareness of, and be able to discuss critically:
- the history and development of Gaelic education, in the context of general educational developments in Scotland
- practical issues relating to teaching, learning and assessment, including the development of the Gaelic curriculum
- structural issues concerning the availability of Gaelic provision, including teacher supply
- parental attitudes to Gaelic education and involvement in the education process
- the nature of bilingual education and bilingual pedagogy, with particular attention to Gaelic/Scotland
- provision for Gaelic in further, higher and community education
- the role of education in Gaelic development policy, and
- the role of education in minority language revitalisation more generally
Reading List
Baker, Colin (5th edn 2011). Foundations of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism. Bristol: Multilingual Matters.

Fishman, Joshua (1991), Reversing Language Shift: Theoretical and Empirical Foundations of Assistance to Threatened Languages, Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.

Grant, Nigel (1996). 'Gaelic and Education in Scotland: Developments and Perspectives'. Scottish Gaelic Studies, 17, 150-58.

HMIe (2011). Gaelic Education: Building on the successes, addressing the barriers. Edinburgh: HMIe.

Huss, Leena, Grima, Antoinette Camilleri and King, Kendall A., eds (2002). Transcending Monolingualism: Linguistic Revitalization In Education. Lisse: Swets and Zeitlinger.

MacCaluim, Alasdair (2007). Reversing Language Shift: The Social Identity and Role of Scottish Gaelic Learners. Belfast: Cló Ollscoil na Banríona.

MacLeod, Donald John (2006-9). 'Reversing the Decline of Gaelic: The Contribution of Gaelic Medium Education'. Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, 65, 228-43.

McLeod, Wilson, Alasdair MacCaluim and Irene Pollock (2010). Adult Gaelic Learning in Scotland: Opportunities, Motivations and Challenges. Inverness: Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

MacNeil, Morag M., and Stradling, Bob (2000). Emergent Identities and Bilingual Education: the Teenage Years. Sleat, Isle of Skye: Lèirsinn Research Centre.

MacNeil, Morag M., and Stradling, Bob (2000). Home and Community: Their role in enhancing the Gaelic language competencies of children in Gaelic-medium education. Sleat, Isle of Skye: Lèirsinn Research Centre.

Milligan, Lindsay et al. (2012). The Benefits and Opportunities in Establishing a National Partnership for Gaelic medium Initial Teacher Education and Continuing Professional Development. Glasgow: Glasgow Caledonian University/University of the West of Scotland.

Mitchell, Rosamond (1992). 'The "Independent" Evaluation of Bilingual Primary Education: A Narrative Account', in Evaluating Second Language Education, ed. by J. Charles Alderson & Alan Beretta, 100-40. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Müller, Martina (2005). 'Bilingualism and writing among Gaelic-medium pupils at secondary level in the Isle of Skye (Scotland)', in Integration of European Language Research, ed. by P. Sture Ureland, 365-402. Berlin: Logos.

Murray, John, and Finlay MacLeod (1981). 'Sea change in the Western Isles of Scotland: the rise of locally relevant bilingual education', in Rural education in urbanized nations: issues and innovations, ed. by Jonathan P. Sher, 235-54. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

NicNeacail, Mairead, and MacÌomhair, Mata, eds (2007). Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig. Edinburgh: Dunedin Academic Press.

Nicolson, Margaret, and MacIver, Matthew, eds (2003). Gaelic Medium Education. Edinburgh: Dunedin Academic Press.

O'Hanlon, Fiona, Wilson McLeod and Lindsay Paterson (2010). Gaelic-Medium Education in Scotland: choice and attainment at the primary and early secondary school stages. Inverness: Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

O¿Hanlon, Fiona, Lindsay Paterson and Wilson McLeod (2012). Language Models in Gaelic-medium Pre-school, Primary and Secondary Education. Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh.

Roberts, Alasdair (1991). 'Parental Attitudes to Gaelic-Medium Education in the Western Isles of Scotland'. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 12, 253-69.

Robertson, Boyd (2008). 'Gaelic Education', in Scottish Education, Third Edition: Beyond Devolution, ed. by T. G. K Bryce and W. M. Humes, 235-46. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

Smith, John A. (1978-80). 'The 1872 Education (Scotland) Act and Gaelic Education'. Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, 51, 1-67.

Stephen, Christine, et al. (2010). Review of Gaelic-Medium Early Education and Childcare/ Breithneachadh air Foghlam Tràth agus Cùram Cloinne Meadhain Ghàidhlig. Edinburgh: Scottish Government Social Research.

Stockdale, Aileen, Bryan MacGregor and Gillian Munro (2003). Migration, Gaelic-medium Education and Language Use. Sleat, Isle of Skye: Ionad Nàiseanta na h-Imrich, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserProf Wilson Mcleod
Tel: (0131 6)50 3623
Email: w.mcleod@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Christine Lennie
Tel: (0131 6)50 3524
Email: christine.lennie@ed.ac.uk
Navigation
Help & Information
Home
Introduction
Glossary
Search DPTs and Courses
Regulations
Regulations
Degree Programmes
Introduction
Browse DPTs
Courses
Introduction
Humanities and Social Science
Science and Engineering
Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Other Information
Combined Course Timetable
Prospectuses
Important Information