Gaelic Immersion for Teachers PGDip University of Strathclyde

Study with us

This full-time, one-year course is designed to help qualified teachers with intermediate-level Gaelic transfer to Gaelic-medium classrooms.

Why this course?

Our School of Education is the principal and longest-established provider of Gaelic-medium education (GME) initial teacher education in Scotland.

The course is unique in Scotland. It combines language training with a focus on pedagogical requirements for working in GME including:

• understanding approaches to language learning and teaching ‘immersion’ classrooms
• current policy, provision & practice relating to GME
• bilingualism in education.

What you’ll study

You’ll study six core modules and complete three placements in Gaelic-speaking classrooms and organisations.

These will focus on the development of advanced Gaelic language skills relevant to GME. The language and pedagogy modules are taught in tandem. This maximises your opportunity to develop professional competences in the spoken and written language.

Work placement

You’ll complete three placements over the course of the year. Two will be in Gaelic-medium classrooms, relevant to your existing experience and plans for future work. You’ll spend one week in November observing practice and four weeks in the spring teaching classes in Gaelic.

The third placement will be in a Gaelic-speaking organisation. You’ll complete 70 hours of voluntary work over the course of the year. You’ll use the Gaelic language and develop links for future school activities.

Project

Over the course of the year, you'll complete a project. There is flexibility in your choice of project but you’re encouraged to consult your local sponsoring authority. It may involve the school or organisation where you have taken your placements., or it may reflect other aspects of the course, such as:

• exploring the role of education in Gaelic revitalisation
• the development of new resources
• the implementation of national or local Gaelic language plans.

Assessment

Assessment includes formal language tests, assessment of oral and written presentations in Gaelic concerning a range of professionally-relevant tasks, and evaluation of the major project.

Careers

Candidates are seconded from their local authority employer for the duration of study on this programme. Those who successfully complete the programme are required to commit at least three years to teaching in a gaelic-medium position with their local authority employer.