Summer Courses in Ionad Chaluim Chille Ìle

Week 1 beginning 4th July 2011

This week gives children the opportunity to learn Gaelic. We offer two courses one for older children who might wish to experience High School Gaelic before commencing High School and one to interest younger children where the emphasis will be on learning through song and play.


Course 1 Introduction to Gaelic in High School
From 10 – 12 Monday to Friday
Registration 9.45 Monday 4th July

This short course would be of interest to children who are due to go into High School education in the next year or so. It will be taught by the Gaelic teacher in Islay High School.

Cost £20.


Course 2 Fàilte gu Gàidhlig – for children to understand that Gaelic is fun
From 2 – 4 Monday to Friday
Registration 1.45 each day

An afternoon of fun and games which will appeal to younger children.

Cost £20

Week 2 beginning 11th July 2011

This week gives adults the opportunity to acquire / improve their skills in Gaelic and will hopefully help satisfy the large demand which we have received for conversational classes. We hope to run Standard Grade classes in the autumn and the first course will be a good opportunity for immersion in Gaelic. It is not necessary to attend this course prior to signing up for the Standard Grade course and it will also be a good “back to basics” course for people who wish to refresh their Gaelic.

The second course comprises five drop in classes where basic Gaelic will be taught and where the emphasis will be on “learning Gaelic is fun”

Course 3 Introduction to Standard Grade Gaelic
From 9.30 – 4 Monday to Friday
Registration 9.15 Monday 11th July

In anticipation of starting a Standard Grade Gaelic class we are offering a week long mini immersion course to give prospective students the chance to acquire vocabulary and basic conversation skills before commencing the course in the autumn. Alternatively a good way for learners to either start learning Gaelic or alternatively have the opportunity to use their existing skills. This course will be taught by the teacher who will deliver the Standard Grade course in the autumn.

Cost £90
It may be that this course will attract ILA funding. Check ILA website to confirm.

Course 4 Fàilte gu Gàidhlig - for adults to understand that Gaelic is fun
From 2 – 4 Monday – Friday
Registration 1.45 daily.

As an alternative we offer a series of “welcome to Gaelic” sessions where anyone interested in trying their hand at Gaelic can spend a couple of hours learning basic Gaelic conversational phrases. The emphasis on this course is to enjoy the introduction to Gaelic with a view to progressing with their Gaelic skills.

Cost £7 per drop in session or £25 for the whole week.

Week 3 beginning 18th July 2011

Week three gives an opportunity to combine learning the chanter and improving Gaelic. It gives the opportunity to start the Ùlpan course which will then continue in ICCI over the winter period.


Course 5 Chanter through medium of Gaelic
From 10 – 12 Monday to Friday
Registration 9.45 Monday 18th July

An opportunity to learn chanter and acquire the relevant Gaelic language skills.

Cost £25


Course 6 Ùlpan classes. Units 1 – 12
From 9.30 – 4 Monday to Friday
Registration 9.15 Monday 18th July


Ùlpan is the modern method to acquire Gaelic conversational skills. This is the introductory set of units in a course which should lead to conversational fluency.

Cost £90
It may be that this course will attract ILA funding. Check ILA website to confirm.


Week 4 beginning 25th July 2011

This week give further opportunity to converse in Gaelic with two separate levels of conversational classes. For cèilidh enthusiasts we provide an opportunity to learn various Islay choruses to allow for full participation. For those anxious to improve their singing ability we also offer classes in the Alexander technique for Gaelic singers. Again for those who wish to combine music and Gaelic tuition in the same course we offer the opportunity to have basic guitar and tin whistle with appropriate Gaelic tuition in these skills.

Course 7 Gaelic conversation. 5 separate topics for discussion
From 10 – 12 Monday to Friday for beginners
Registration 9.45 daily

Cost £12 per session or £50 for block of 5

From 2 - 4 Monday to Friday for intermediate students
Registration 1.45 daily

Cost £12 per session or £50 for block of 5
An opportunity for learners at beginners and more advanced levels to speak in Gaelic with support from an experienced tutor.

Course 8 The Gaelic choruses of Islay
From 10 – 12.30 Tuesday to Saturday
Registration 9.45 daily

An opportunity to explore Islay’s cultural heritage through local Gaelic song. No musical training is required simply an enthusiasm to be involved.

Cost £7 per drop in session or £25 for the whole week.


Course 9 Bilingual Guitar tuition for beginners
From 2 – 3.00 Tuesday to Friday
Registration 1.45 Tuesday 26th July

Cost £7 per drop in session or £25 for the whole week.


Course 10 Bilingual Whistle tuition for beginners
From 3.30 – 5.00 Tuesday to Friday
Registration 3.15 Tuesday 26th July

Cost £7 per drop in session or £25 for the whole week.


Week 5 beginning 22nd August 2011

Finally we have two workshops which will be delivered by Beathag Mhoireasdan. She will be celebrating Islay’s links with Irish in a series of workshops which will introduce participants to Irish She will also do Gaelic tuition for students who are at the stage of Upper Intermediate / Advanced Gaelic.

Course 11 Introduction to Irish
From 9.30 – 12.30 Monday to Friday
Registration 9.15 Monday 22nd August
Cost £45

It may be that this course will attract ILA funding. Check ILA website to confirm.

Course 12 Upper Intermediate / Advanced Gaelic
From 2 – 4.30 Monday to Friday
Registration 1.45 Monday 22nd August
Cost £45

It may be that this course will attract ILA funding. Check ILA website to confirm.