Gaelic 

What will I study?

This course offers you the chance to develop skills in reading, listening, talking and writing in Gaelic, important for learning, work and life. You will also learn to understand how language works and how to get across information and ideas.

You will study a wide range of different types of texts in different media. You will also learn to think critically, creatively and develop cultural awareness.

The course has two compulsory units, plus added value unit that assesses your practical skills.

Gaelic (Learners): Understanding Language (9 SCQF credit points)

In this unit you will:

• develop reading and listening skills in Gaelic

• develop your knowledge of straightforward Gaelic in the contexts of society, learning, employability and culture.

Gaelic (Learners): Using Language (9 SCQF credit points)

In this unit you will:

• develop talking and writing skills in Gaelic

• develop your knowledge of straightforward Gaelic in the contexts of society, learning, employability and culture.

Added Value Unit: Gaelic (Learners) Assignment (6 SCQF credit points)

In this unit you will:

• select relevant information from at least two written texts

• make a verbal presentation in Gaelic, and respond appropriately to questions in Gaelic.

How will I be assessed?

Your teacher or tutor will assess your work on a regular basis throughout the course. Items of work might include:

•  practical work – reading, speaking or listening to texts

•  written work – producing simple texts

•  class-based exams.

You must pass both units plus the added value unit to gain the course qualification.

What will I study?

This course offers you the opportunity to develop skills in reading, listening, talking and writing in Gaelic, which are essential for learning, work and life. You will also learn to understand how language works and how to get across information and ideas.

You will study a wide range of various types of texts in a variety media. You will also learn to think critically, creatively and develop cultural awareness.

The course comprises three areas of study.

Reading and Writing; Listening

You will develop:

• reading, writing and listening skills in Gaelic

• your knowledge of detailed language in the contexts of society, learning, employability and culture.

Assignment – Writing

You will develop:

• writing and grammatical skills in Gaelic

• your knowledge and understanding of detailed language in the contexts of society, learning, employability and culture.

Performance – Talking

You will develop:

• talking and writing skills in Gaelic

• your knowledge and understanding of detailed language in the contexts of society, learning, employability and culture.

How will I be assessed?

The course assessment has five components totalling 120 marks:

• Component 1: question paper 1: Reading – worth 30 marks

• Component 2: question paper 1: Writing – worth 20 marks 

• Component 3: question paper 2: Listening – worth 20 marks 

• Component 4: assignment - writing – worth 20 marks

• Component 5: performance - talking – worth 30 marks.

For the performance component, you will be asked to deliver a spoken presentation and take part in a conversation in Gaelic in one of the following contexts: society, learning, employability or culture. Your performance will be set by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and marked internally by an SQA assessor.

The question papers will be set and marked externally by the SQA.

The grade awarded is based on the total marks achieved across all course assessment components.

The course assessment is graded A-D.  

What will I study?

This course aims to help you develop your reading, listening, talking and writing skills in Gaelic, in a variety of contexts. You will encounter a wide range of different types of texts in different media. In addition, the course also provides you with knowledge of Gaelic and the customs and way of life of the Gaelic people.

In particular you will learn to develop:

• reading, listening, talking and writing skills in Gaelic

• application of knowledge and understanding of Gaelic

• the skill of translation

• literacy skills.

How will I be assessed?

The course assessment has five components totalling 120 marks:

• Component 1: question paper 1 (reading) – worth 30 marks

• Component 2: question paper 1 (directed writing) – worth 20 marks

• Component 3: question paper 2 (listening) – worth 20 marks

• Component 4: assignment (writing) – worth 20 marks

• Component 5: performance (talking) – worth 30 marks.

For the assignment component, you will be required to produce a piece of writing (200-250 words) in Gaelic based on one of the following contexts: society, learning, employability, culture.

For the performance component, you will take part in a discussion with your teacher or lecturer, using detailed and complex language on at least two different contexts, and respond to questions in Gaelic relating to each of the contexts.

The performance component is set and verified externally by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), and assessed and marked by your school or college.

Both the question papers and the assignment are set and externally marked by SQA.

The grade awarded is based on the total marks achieved across course assessment.

The course assessment is graded A-D.

What will I study?

On this course you will develop skills, knowledge and understanding of the following areas:

• advanced reading, listening, talking, and writing skills in Gaelic, as appropriate to purpose and audience, in the contexts of society, learning, employability, culture

• advanced knowledge and understanding required to understand and use complex and sophisticated language, as appropriate to purpose and audience, in the contexts of society, learning, employability, culture

• applying advanced grammatical knowledge to read, listen to, and use Gaelic

• applying inferencing skills to analyse and evaluate complex and sophisticated texts in Gaelic

• applying advanced knowledge and understanding to translate complex and sophisticated language

• analysis of literature, media or language in work within the context of Gaelic.

How will I be assessed?

Course Assessment

The course assessment consists of four components totalling 200 marks:

• Component 1 – Question paper: Reading and Translation (50 marks)

• Component 2 – Question paper: Listening and Discursive Writing (70 marks)

• Component 3 – Portfolio (30 marks)

• Component 4 – Performance: Talking (50 marks).

The performance – You will demonstrate your skills in Gaelic by talking about themes or topics relating to at least one context from society, learning, employability or culture, and the portfolio study of literature, media or language in work.

The portfolio – You will produce a piece of writing in English of 1,200 – 1,500 words, based on your analysis of either a piece of literature or media or language in work within the context of Gaelic.

The performance component is set and verified externally by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), and assessed and marked by your school or college.

Both the question papers and the assignment are set and externally marked by SQA.

The grade awarded is based on the total marks achieved across course assessment.