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CILT - The National Centre for Languages
Press release
24 September 2007
Hebridean language project awarded European accolade
Gaelic college, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, working with Cothrom Training Ltd
of South Uist, has received a prestigious European award for its bilingual
video project reflecting the lives of a Hebridean community. The materials
started as a language resource for Gaelic learners but the project has quickly
evolved into an interactive library where participants contribute video clips
themselves.
Examples of the videos include a day centre client recording his own Gaelic
voiceover and Polish and Latvian workers at a local shellfish processing plant
making a film about their lives. By showing what is possible with a laptop
and camera the initiative has inspired a range of community language teaching
enterprises.
The European Award for Languages judges said of Guthan nan Eilean (Island
voices), ‘From its origins as a resource addressing the need for technology-assisted
language teaching for lesser used languages it has developed into a way of
empowering learners to develop their own films and consequently raise their
own ICT and language skills’.
Local Co-ordinator, Gordon Wells, said ‘The Island Voices project aims
to reflect the naturalness of bilingual life and work in the Hebrides. The
project could not have succeeded without full community participation and
it’s wonderful to have everyone’s contribution recognised through
this award’’.
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