Nicola Thain Testimonial
Nicola Thain grew up in Stornoway. She now lives in Point and her children, Harvi and Belle, attend Sgoil an Rubha.
“I’ve always wished my parents had put me through Gaelic Medium Education, but at the time, they worried that no one would be able to help me with my homework. When I started my own family, I felt strongly that if the opportunity allowed, my children would go through Gaelic Medium. I had the same concerns my parents had, but I knew the benefits of being bilingual far outweighed them.
My son went to Sgoil Àraich, where he thrived. He absolutely loved it, and the nursery staff were fantastic—so supportive and reassuring. Seeing how much he developed there made the decision to continue with Gaelic education much easier. My little girl attended Thig a’ Chluich classes every week, which gave her so much more confidence in Gaelic. Now, in Sgoil Àraich, she sings all her nursery rhymes in Gaelic, rarely in English. She surprises us with random Gaelic words—she’s just soaking it all in.
At first, I worried about how I would manage homework without being fluent in Gaelic myself. But there’s so much support available—online, through the school, and from other parents—I’ve never been stuck. In fact, my son now corrects my pronunciation and teaches me so much Gaelic! It’s incredible to hear him hold conversations in Gaelic and to see my daughter understand it when we’re out and about.
I always encourage friends and family to speak Gaelic to them, even if I don’t fully understand. Although I learned some Gaelic at school, no one ever spoke it to me, so I only picked up the bare minimum. Now, I try to create a Gaelic-rich environment at home with cartoons and songs. And as my little girl prepares to start school, I’ve noticed something wonderful—she and her brother have started playing and chatting together in Gaelic.
Together, we’re all learning”.
Is ann à Steòrnabhagh a tha Nicola Thain. Tha i a-nis a’ fuireach anns an Rubha agus tha a’ chlann aice, Harvi agus Belle, a’ dol gu Sgoil an Rubha.
“Bha mi riamh a’ miannachadh gun robh mo phàrantan air mo chur tro Fhoghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig, ach aig an àm, bha iad dhen bheachd nach biodh duine ann airson mo chuideachadh le m’ obair-dachaigh. Nuair a bha teaghlach agam fhìn, bha mi gu mòr airson cothrom a thoirt dom chuid chloinne a dhol tro fhoghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidlig. Bha an aon rud a’ cur dragh orm fhìn, sin a bhith a’ cumail taic le obair-dachaigh, ach bha mi cinnteach gun robh na buannachdan a bha an lùib dà-chànanas fada nas làidire na draghan sam bith a bha ormsa gu pearsanta.
Chaidh am balach agam, Harvi, gu Sgoil Àraich An Rubha, agus shoirbhich gu mòr leis. Bha an luchd-obrach ann cho taiceil agus misneachail agus rinn sin diofar mòr dhòmhsa. Nuair a
chunnaic mi cho math ’s a bha e a’ dèanamh, bha e tòrr nas fhasa an co-dhùnadh a dhèanamh cumail ris a’ Ghàidhlig.
Bha mo nighean bheag, Belle, a’ dol gach seachdain gu Thig a’ Chluich, bho aois gu math òg agus thug sin misneachd mhòr dhi anns a’ Ghàidhlig. A-nis, ann an Sgoil-àraich An Rubha, tha i a’ seinn a h-uile òran sa Ghàidhlig—chan eil facal Beurla ri chluinntinn! Tha i dìreach a’ gabhail a h-uile càil a-steach.
Bha beagan de dh’iomagain orm an toiseach nach biodh mi comasach air obair-dachaigh a dhèanamh còmhla riutha, leis nach eil mi fhìn fileanta. Ach tha pailteas de thaic ann—air-loidhne, tron sgoil agus bho phàrantan eile—cha robh mi riamh ann a’ faireachdainn aonranach no leam fhìn. A-nis tha mo mhac a-nis gam cheartachadh air m’ fhuaimneachadh agus ag innse dhomh far a bheil mise a’ dol ceàrr! Tha e àlainn agus na adhbhar pròis a bhith gan cluinntinn a’ bruidhinn ri chèile sa Ghàidhlig agus an tè bheag a’ tuigsinn a h-uile facal.
Bidh mi tric ag iarraidh air mo theaghlach is mo charaidean bruidhinn sa Ghàidhlig riutha, eadhon ged nach eil mise a’ tuigsinn a h-uile facal. Ged a rinn mi beagan Gàidhlig san sgoil, cha robh duine a’ bruidhinn rium, agus mar sin cha do dh’fhàg mi an sgoil ach le beagan bhriathran. A-nis, tha mi a’ feuchainn ri Gàidhlig a chumail beò san taigh, le cartùnan is òrain. Agus a-nis, leis gu bheil mo nighean a’ dol dhan sgoil a dh’ aithghearr, tha rudeigin brèagha air tachairt—tha ise agus a bràthair a’ cluich agus a’ bruidhinn ri chèile sa Ghàidhlig fada nas trice agus ann an dòigh gu math nadarrach.
Tha sinn uile ag ionnsachadh, còmhla”.
