A Cautionary Clilstore Clip

2014-09-22 A Cautionary Clilstore Clip ~ Gordon Wells ~ 1 Comment

Clilstore programmer Caoimhín Ó Donnaíle (SMO) attended the recent POOLS-3 meeting in Brno to present the multiple functionalities of the platform and associated programs. It was a fascinating session, and over the course of the meeting all participants had the chance to experiment with the software.

Caoimhín was also able to talk participants through the latest developments, including the file upload facility, which means that unit creators can now add Hot Potatoes exercises to their Clilstore units. Caoimhín produced a new unit himself, based on a poem by Skye-based Nìall Gordon – “Ro fhad’ air fairg’ an Eadarlìn”, which highlights the one drawback of the new possibilities offered by Internet technologies – their potentially addictive properties!

Virtual St Kilda

2014-05-12 Virtual St Kilda ~ Gordon Wells ~ 3 Comments

The Virtual St Kilda exhibition is up and running at Taigh Chearsabhagh, and the “mystery voice” is now revealed as that of regular Island Voices contributor, Archie Campbell, who also prepared the Gaelic version of the bilingual introduction. The project is headed up by the St Andrews University Open Virtual Worlds research group, working closely with local groups in Uist.

The exhibition gives you hands-on interaction, via an Xbox controller, with a digital re-creation of the St Kilda of the 1880s. You can walk around Village Bay (or fly over it!), exploring inside and outside various buildings. Clicking on various objects will take you to additional information, and the project is further enhanced by additional video work with island children offering imaginative interpretations of scenes and stories, ably facilitated by Mary Morrison – to whom Island Voices followers need no further introduction…

The film below was edited together by the St Andrews team. It integrates their own digital reconstruction and video work with stunning natural footage from UistFilm, as well as, flatteringly, some re-purposed shots from Island Voices’ own St Kilda documentaries in English and Gaelic. Archie’s voiceover is truly bilingual, alternating regularly and consistently from Gaelic to English. It’s a very interesting and still experimental format, so comments and suggestions are most welcome.

More sample videos are available on the Open Virtual Worlds group’s Vimeo channel, and you can read more about the group’s work here.

Pròiseact ùr aig Caraidean Uibhist

2014-05-08 Pròiseact ùr aig Caraidean Uibhist ~ Gordon Wells ~ 2 Comments

‘S fhada bho nach cuala sinn bho Loriana Pauli! Ach tha i air ais, le agallamh fìor inntinneach sa Bheurla le Sìne Stiùbhart agus Norma Neill aig Caraidean Uibhist.

Tha pròiseact ùr aig a’ bhuidheann, air a bheil an t-ainm “Telephone Befriending”.

Cluinnear barrachd mu dheidhinn le bhith a’ putadh air an dealbh shìos air neo an seo, no ma thathas airson barrachd fhaighinn a-mach mu dheidhinn faodar fòn a chur gu 01870 603233.

(Read about this in English on the Am Pàipear Voices page here.)

Media Tips

2014-04-25 Media Tips ~ Gordon Wells ~ 3 Comments

The Island Voices project originated with “Series One” in the 2005-2007 Leonardo-funded European project “POOLS”, and subsequently developed “a life of its own” after that. Technology and techniques have moved on since those early days, of course, but fundamental principles remain stable, and lessons can still be learned.

“POOLS-3” is a Transfer of Innovation project in which institutions involved in teaching Catalan, Czech, and Irish aim to replicate and develop some of the key outputs from the first POOLS project. At a recent meeting in Barcelona, Gordon Wells gave this brief presentation on approaches to media recording, based on his experiences with POOLS and Island Voices/Guthan nan Eilean.

Update (01/06/14): Stucom, our Catalan partners, have just placed online this video of Gordon’s presentation, delivered in their Smart Room. Gordon talks through the power point, simultaneously demonstrating how NOT to wear a lapel mike…

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diSSoY2S9y4?rel=0]

Voix Françaises

2014-03-31 Voix Françaises ~ Gordon Wells ~ 1 Comment

Dominique Déhu et Agnès Blaziak se sont déplacés vers Uist il ya moins d’un an, après avoir vendu leur entreprise en France. Ici, ils parlent à leur professeur d’anglais, Mary Morrison, sur le travail qu’ils ont trouvé dans Uist, leurs aspirations pour l’avenir, et pourquoi ils ont choisi cet endroit pour s’installer ici. Agnès parle aussi de sa fille Amélie qui s’est installée facilement dans son nouvel environnement, et à quelle vitesse elle apprend l’anglais!

Thàinig Dominique Déhu agus Agnès Blaziak a dh’Uibhist o chionn faisg air bliadhna, an dèidh dhaibh an gnìomhachas a reic san Fhraing. An seo, tha iad a’ bruidhinn ri Màiri Nic ’IlleMhoire mun obair a fhuair iad an seo, agus na planaichean a th’ aca san àm ri teachd, agus ciamar a thagh iad an t-àite seo airson a bhith fantail ann. Tha Agnès a’ bruidhinn cuideachd mu dheidhinn a nighean Amélie agus mar a tha i a’ faighinn air adhart na suidheachadh ùr, agus i ag ionnsachadh cho luath!

Listen here:

Dominique Déhu and Agnès Blaziak moved to Uist less than a year ago, having sold up their business in France. Here they talk to their English teacher, Mary Morrison, about the work they’ve found in Uist, their aspirations for the future, and why they chose to settle here. Agnès also talks about how well her daughter Amélie is settling into her new surroundings, and how quickly she’s learning English!

Battlefield Visit

2014-03-21 Battlefield Visit ~ Gordon Wells ~ Leave a comment

Last Friday (14th March) saw Taigh Chearsabhabh overflowing again, with members of the community attending the second cèilidh of the project An Fheadhainn tha Laighe Sàmhach. This time there was a special presentation by teachers and students from Sgoil Lìonacleit about their recent trip to various First World War sites and cemeteries. The students showed photos and a short film from their visit, and spoke openly and honestly about the emotional impact of the trip to a rapt audience. Tunes and songs were also shared in the group, with various junior and senior pipers and singers contributing.

Afterwards, Marybell Macintyre from Sgoil Lìonacleit spoke in Gaelic to Gordon Wells about the trip and about the deeper understanding that both she, as a teacher, and the students themselves had gained from it. The conversation is introduced with a snatch of the piping of Sarah MacMillan, and finishes with a taste of Duncan Mackinnon’s singing.

Listen here:

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Island Voices Stream

2014-03-13 Island Voices Stream ~ Gordon Wells ~ Leave a comment

The Uist community radio station “An Radio” took another step forward today, incorporating some sample interviews in English and Gaelic from Island Voices/Guthan nan Eilean in its 24/7 stream over the internet.

It is still some way from actually broadcasting on air, but the number of volunteers is steadily increasing, many with fresh new ideas on what to contribute. If you have some ideas yourself, why not visit the volunteers page?

In the meantime, if you want to hear the stream just go to the site and follow the “An Radio Player” link.

And here’s the “Island Voices Ident”. Listen out!

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Island Voices on the Tourist Trail

2014-03-12 Island Voices on the Tourist Trail ~ Gordon Wells ~ Leave a comment

Tommy Macdonald’s fascinating collection of interviews for the Stòras Uibhist project about Bonnie Prince Charlie has been gathered together on a single page on the “Outer Hebrides” website, dedicated to encouraging visitors to “experience life on the edge” here in the Western Isles.

That’s a message that Guthan nan Eilean is more than happy to support and endorse! The physical environment on its own is quite stunning. Combine that with a multicultural and multilingual history and heritage that live on to this day, and you have a winning combination of natural and cultural attractions.

Here’s the page where you can access all the Bonnie Prince Charlie audio material “in song and story” (and in three different languages) with a single click.

North Uist Remembrance

2014-03-01 North Uist Remembrance ~ Gordon Wells ~ 1 Comment

There was a tremendous turnout at Taigh Chearsabhagh for the launch cèilidh of the new project being led by Comann Eachdraidh Uibhist a Tuath, the North Uist Historical Society. The project, An fheadhainn tha laighe sàmhach, commemorates the outbreak of the First World War.

Local community members gathered to share reminiscences and show each other family artefacts that keep alive the memory of the sacrifices of earlier generations.

Afterwards, members of the project team talked to Gordon Wells in English and Gaelic about how the first cèilidh went, and their hopes for the planned exhibition and other future events.

Listen here:

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Love Song

2014-02-14 Love Song ~ Gordon Wells ~ 1 Comment

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A modern Gaelic love song, ’S tu mo ghaol, from the Bi Beò (nach maireann) archives forms the musical centrepiece for Island Voices’ Valentine’s Day message. You can hear it above without a transcript, or if you would like to read the words while you listen you can try this new Clilstore unit.

For a local visual celebration of the same sentiment we still find it hard to beat this message in Russian, beautifully crafted out of Grimsay scallop shells at Poll nan Crann in Benbecula. The story behind it is quite touching, and you can read all about it in this Facebook thread.

Meanwhile, and for one day only, An Radio, the new bilingual Uist community station, will be running specially themed playlists all day today. Just follow this link and click on the “An Radio Player”. Wherever you are, and whichever languages you like to use, Island Voices wishes you all a Happy Valentine’s Day!