COINNEAMH SA MHÀRT ’24!

MARCH ’24 MEETUP!

[Gàidhlig]

9 am Màrt, chùm sinn tachartas dà-chànanach eile aig An Lòchran ann am Partaig, Glaschu! Leis an tachartas mhìosail seo, ’s ann air luchd-tòiseachaidh, luchd-ionnsachaidh agus fileantaich a tha sinn ag amas, ’s geamaichean agus eacarsaichean a’ dol a tha freagarrach dhan a h-uile ìre na Gàidhlig.

An turas seo, dh’fheuch sinn rud no dhà ùr cuideachd 😎 Gus barrachd fhaighinn a-mach, leugh na leanas ⬇️

Thòisich sinn aig 2f mar gach turas, ’s sinn a’ cur an aithne a chèile fad 5 mionaidean. Às dèidh geama spòrsail far an robh aig na h-aoighean ri seantansan sìmplidh eadar-theangachadh bho Ghàidhlig gu Beurla, chleachd sinn conversation starter: “Ciamar a tha thu ag ionnsachadh Gàidhlig? Innis dhuinn ma dheidhinn!”

Mar sin, bha deagh chothrom aig a h-uile aoigh a bhith a’ bruidhinn air an cuid ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig gu ruige seo.

Às dèidh dhuinn fois a ghabhail, ’s mise a’ gabhail òrduighean tì, cofaidh amsaa. ann an Gàidhlig a-mhàin (😁), chluich sinn geama ùr. Dh’ionnsaich sinn dàn Gàidhlig còmhla—agus nuair a chanas mi “dàn Gàidhlig”, ’s ann “dàn Gàidhlig” a tha mi a’ ciallachadh 😉

Seagh, a chàirdean—dè eile a dh’ionnsaich sinn ach “Am bodach-ròcais” (Beurla: The Scarecrow) le Ruairidh MacThòmais nach maireann. Dàn mìorbhaileach a tha seo, le ìomhaighean a tha neartmhor agus eagalach aig an aon àm! Rinn sinn fiù ’s clàradh-bhideo dhen gheama, agus faodaidh tu coimhead air an seo:

✒️ Geama: Am bodach-ròcais le Ruairidh MacThòmais ✒️

Às dèidh dhan bhodach-ròcais sin eagal ar beatha a chur oirnn (🎃), thill sinn dhan latha an-diugh le bhith a’ dèanamh eacarsaich-labhairt eile a bha stèidhichte air a’ cheist: “Dè bhios tu a’ dèanamh aig àm na Càisge?” ’S e cothrom a bha seo dhan a h-uile duine an tràth teachdail a chleachdadh. À propos chothroman…thug mi iomradh cuideachd air an iomairt ùr againn #sgrìobhi. Seo cothrom mìosail leis An Lòchran do luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig, far am faod iad sgeul goirid (suas ri 300 facal) a sgrìobhadh agus a chur a-steach thugainn. Aig ceann a’ mhìos, thèid an sgeul as fheàrr leinn fhoillseachadh air an làrach-lìn againn! 🙂

Seo eisimpleir, leis an sgeul ann an Gàidhlig, eadar-theangachadh gu Beurla, agus fiù ’s clàradh-guth dheth 🎙️

Mar sin…feuch ris! 😉 Seo na riaghailtean.

Chuir sinn crìoch air tachartas dà-chànanach mìosail eile le bhith a’ cabadaich ann an Gàidhlig (air taobh deas an t-seòmair) no ann am Beurla (air taobh clì an t-seòmair) gu 5f. Às dèidh sin, chaidh cuid dhinn an ath-dhoras dhan Lios Mhòr gus pinnt no tè bheag a ghabhail agus an còmhradh a chumail a’ dol.

Gu h-ìosal, chì thu dealbhan a chaidh a thogail le Ann agus Riccardo 🙏🙏 Mòran taing dhan a h-uile duine a bha an làthair, agus taing shònraichte dhan fheadhainn a thug taic dhuinn leis an sgioblachadh agus an glanadh aig ceann an fheasgair.

Cha bhi sinn air ais an ath-mhìos, air sgàth ’s gun deach An Lòchran a ghlèidheadh a thaobh tachartas eile. Ach bidh sinn air ais sa Chèitean—agus tha sinn a’ dèanamh fiughair ris mu thràth!

Le gaol agus grian 🌤️

Andy + an sgioba agaibh aig An Lòchran xx

Le taing do Ruairidh MacThòmais, agus do Phetra Johana Poncarová agus John G. Gibson airson ciall na bàrdachd aige a thoirt nas dlùithe dhan phoball.

[English]

On March 9th, we held another bilingual event at An Lòchran in Partick, Glasgow! This monthly meetup is intended for beginners, learners and fluent speakers alike, with games and exercises that are appropriate for all levels of Gaelic.

This time, we tried one or two new things as well 😎 Keen to know more? Read on ⬇️

We kicked off at 2pm as usual, getting to know one another for 5 minutes. After playing a fun game where attendees had to translate simple sentences from Gaelic into English, we used a conversation starter: “Ciamar a tha thu ag ionnsachadh Gàidhlig? Innis dhuinn ma dheidhinn!” (“How are you learning Gaelic? Tell us about it!”)

With this, everyone had a good opportunity to talk about their Gaelic learning journeys so far.

After we’d taken a break, with me taking orders for tea, coffee etc. in Gaelic only (😁), we played a new game. We learned a Gaelic poem together—and when I say “a Gaelic poem”, I mean a Gaelic poem 😉

That’s right, friends—we learned none other than “Am bodach-ròcais” (The Scarecrow) by the late Derick Thomson (R.I.P.). A fantastic poem, with images that are powerful and frightening at the same time! We even recorded a video of us playing the game, and you can watch it here:

✒️ Game: The Scarecrow by Derick Thomson ✒️

After that scarecrow had frightened the life out of us (🎃), we returned to the present day by doing another speaking exercise based on the question: “Dè bhios tu a’ dèanamh aig àm na Càisge?” (“What will you be doing at Easter?”). This was an opportunity for everyone to practice using the future tense. Speaking of opportunities…I also raised the subject of our new initiative #sgrìobhi (or #writeit, in English). This is a monthly opportunity that An Lòchran is offering Scottish Gaelic learners, where they can write and send us a short story (up to 300 words). At the end of the month, the story we like the most will be published on our website! 🙂

Here’s an example, featuring the Gaelic story, a translation into English, and even a voice recording of it 🎙️

So…give it a go! 😉 Here are the rules.

We brought another monthly bilingual event to a close by chatting freely in Gaelic (on the right-hand side of the room) or in English (on the left-hand side) up until 5pm. After that, some of us went next door to the Lismore to have a pint or a wee dram, and to keep the conversation going.

Below, you’ll find some photos taken kindly by Ann and Riccardo 🙏🙏 Thank you very much to everyone who was there, and especially to those who helped us with the tidying and washing up at the end of the afternoon.

We won’t be back next month, as An Lòchran has been booked for a different event. But we will be back in May—and we’re looking forward to it already!

With love and sunshine 🌤️

Andy + your team @ An Lòchran xx

With thanks to Derick Thomson, and to Petra Johana Poncarová and John G. Gibson for bringing the meaning of his poetry closer to the public.