Impact case study database

Research led by the University of Aberdeen has impacted the policy, structure and delivery of adult learning of Gaelic in Scotland and worldwide by:

● informing key funding decisions regarding learning methodology by Bòrd na Gàidhlig;

● developing frameworks to assess language competencies;

● developing innovative learning materials.

Informing Bòrd na Gàidhlig strategy

MacLeod and Macleod’s Ùlpan report [P3] has been used by Bòrd na Gàidhlig to re-design their policy on supporting and developing adult language acquisition. According to Bòrd na Gàidhlig ‘The research was invaluable in informing our policy decisions regarding adult language acquisition and informing the National Gaelic Language Plan 2018-23’. Bòrd na Gàidhlig confirms that the report ‘has had a significant, positive impact on Gaelic for adults in Scotland and has been an important part of the development of this sector in recent years’ [S1]. Prior to Aberdeen’s research, Bòrd na Gàidhlig allocated most of its funding for adult learning through the Ùlpan method: this method, as reported by MacLeod and Macleod, was not well supported by materials outside of the class, leading to reduced engagement by learners, who in turn faced difficulties assessing their own progress. MacLeod and Macleod’s findings raised Bòrd na Gàidhlig’s awareness of the issues regarding the Ùlpan method and helped to inform Bòrd na Gàidhlig’s decisions regarding funding allocation [S1].

Developing frameworks to assess language competencies

Michelle Macleod worked with the University of Glasgow to create the first empirically derived framework for the measurement of Gaelic linguistic competencies. The Comasan Luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig / CLAG framework (based on the international standard Common European Framework of Reference for languages) has been adopted by Learngaelic.net (the national portal for information about learning Gaelic) to support learners’ progression. Macleod’s contribution led to the production of linguistic baselines for measuring competency, derived from native speaker recordings, and also aligned the CLAG framework with existing measures (e.g. the SQA and SCQF) with the new one. This provided an objective means of describing learner proficiency. The pages went live on the LearnGaelic.net website on 6 January 2020 and, as of December 2020, 4371 people have accessed the site’s self-assessment tool [S2]. Bòrd na Gàidhlig has said, ‘ The resource will sit within a suite of resources envisaged in the strategy currently being developed by the Bòrd and other national partners’ [S3]. With funding support from Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Watson and Macleod undertook a CEFR-GLAG test implementation pilot for the first level of the framework with 12 adult learners from across Scotland, which took place on 1 August 2020 [P5; S4]. Agreement has been reached with LearnGaelic.net to roll out more tests at different levels in the future.

Developing innovative learning materials

Macleod and MacLeod’s research [1] pointed to the need for more innovative learning materials. In 2017 Dr Watson worked with international language company Glossika (https://ai.glossika.com/\), to develop language courses for a global audience for Scottish Gaelic, Irish, Welsh and Breton Fluency 1-3 [P4]. Glossika is an immersive learning portal, supported by a team of linguists and polyglots based in Taiwan, dedicated to helping learners achieve fluency through a spaced repetition language-learning method, which is completely audio-based. Watson worked with Glossika to develop content for both Scottish Gaelic and other Celtic languages. The Scottish Gaelic course, which is freely accessible on the website, is available via the Glossika app and has had 2514 registered learners (4 December 2020) [S5]. The online newspaper Isle of Man Today cited the Manx language development officer for Culture Vannin saying: ‘ This is a fantastic addition to the already substantial body of on-line material available for the learner of Manx. It is also great that Glossika are providing the course free to learners as a way of supporting minority languages. This will be of long-term benefit to the language and culture of the island’ [S6]. According to Glossika, Gaelic was the third most popular free course on Glossika [S7]. In addition to the Glossika materials, and in line with one of the recommendations of [1] that there was a need for more learning materials, Watson has published three new Gaelic textbooks during the census period adding to his Progressive Gaelic series:

Progressive Gaelic 3, Aberdeen: Follais Books, 2017: pp. 220.

Progressive Gaelic 4, Aberdeen: Follais Books, 2018: pp. 230.

Gaelic Workbook 1, Aberdeen: Follais Books, 2020: pp. 222.

His most recent edition, ‘Gaelic Workbook 1: Progressive Gaelic Level 1 Workbook’, published in May 2020 remains #2 best seller out of 64,000 [S7]. A user review from Reddit Gaidhlig [S8] highlighted the accessibility of his research material:

‘I have found the best books so far, for me, have been the Moray Watson Progressive Gaelic books (on Amazon). Very strong but operate at a pace that respects the capacity of the learner’ [S8].