Cothroman air Foghlam Fad-beatha do dh'oileanaich 'abaich - Christina Walker (University of Aberdeen, School of Education, 2016)
Thagh mi an dà artaigil Dè na buannachdan a tha ann an dà-chànanas? agus Cothroman air Foghlam Fad-beatha do dh'oileanaich 'abaich' oir tha na cuspairean a th' air an deasbad annta a' buntainn ri foghlam an latha 'n-diugh mar a bha iad aig an àm aig an deach an sgrìobhadh. Tha na buannachdan a tha follaiseach ann an foghlam dà-chànanach samhail Foghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig a' cur taic ris an iomairt a tha a' moladh gun ionnsaich gach sgoilear an Alba dà chànan a bharrachd air a chànan màthaireil. Tha rannsachadh air dearbhadh gu bheil eòlas air dara cànan a' tabhann buannachdan pearsanta, sòisealta, inntleachdail agus eaconomach agus ga dhèanamh nas fhasa do neach-ionnsachaidh treas cànan a thogail. Anns an dara artaigil thathar a' faighinn beachd air cho cudromach 's a tha Foghlam Fad-beatha, gu sònraichte nuair a thèid a thabhann aig astar. Tha cothroman foghlam aig astar air deagh bhuaidh a thoirt air leasachadh na Gàidhlig oir tha àireamhan luchd-ionnsachaidh air èirigh ri linn agus tha barrachd thidsearan ann tro na cùrsaichean far a bheil oileanaich air cothrom fhaiginn ionnsachadh aig an dachaigh agus air an dreuchd mar luchd-teagaisg a ghabhail anns na sgìrean aca fhèin.Tha gach artaigil a' bualadh air molaidhean Plana Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig a thaobh dòighean anns an gabh àrdachadh a dhèanamh ann an àireamhan thidsearan, sgoilearan agus luchd-ionnsachadih ann an sgoiltean agus tro fhoghlam fadbeatha. The two articles The Benefits of Bilingualism and Gaelic Medium Education and Lifelong Learning Opportunities for Mature Students were selected because the topics discussed within each article are currently as relevant as they were at the time of writing. The obvious benefits of bilingual education such as Gaelic Medium Education support the current initiative in Scottish schools which promotes learning two languages as well as mother tongue. Research has proven that learners of a second language benefit personally, socially, intellectually and economically and learn a third language more easily. The second article discusses the importance of Lifelong Learning, in particular through distance learning opportunities. Gaelic language development has been enhanced by such opportunities for the numbers of learners have increased, and the Gaelic teaching profession has benefitted as a result of courses which give students the opportunity to study at home. Those students, once qualified, have taken up teaching posts in their home areas. Both articles relate to the Gaelic National Plan and its recommendations to increase significantly the number of teachers and learners of the language in schools and beyond.