Barra Calling

Benbecula-based project co-ordinator Gordon Wells has returned from a series of meetings in Barra with educators for all ages. He was invited over to attend an ESOL Welcome Point event at the Cothrom office in the Children’s Centre in Castlebay, but also took the opportunity to visit Castlebay School across the road, and the Barra campus of Lews Castle College around the corner. Gaelic teachers in the school were particularly interested in finding out more about the easy audio recording facility that Ipadio offers, and Gordon was happy to direct them to the guide that appears on the POOLS-T website. There is a direct link here to show language teachers and/or learners how to set up their own “DIY radio station”.

Here’s a sample piece, made over the telephone:

The Series One DVD/CD-Rom package was also distributed to all centres, with some spares left at the Cothrom office. It was encouraging to hear about learners’ progress through the college’s Ulpan courses. The Guthan nan Eilean online video clips may provide valuable supplementary listening practice for learners as they move up through the levels, and begin to encounter authentic speech in the community outside the classroom.