An t-Ionnsachadh Òg || Early Learning

Early learning through Gaelic language with parents and babies in Cape Breton Island. This program takes a fresh and unique approach to language learning. Parents learned with their babies through activities like changing diapers, singing lullabies, feeding, dressing and playing with their children. Teacher Margie Beaton and participant Erin MacKenzie share some of their experiences, opinions and hopes for the future.
Gaelic in Cape Breton and mainland Nova Scotia has a long and deep history and has undergone a real revival in recent years. Learning a language with an infant is a natural, fun and bonding experience. Please contact [e-mail] or like us on Facebook (Growing through Gaelic) for more information.
An t-ionnsachadh òg; an t-ionnsachadh bòidheachd || Youthful learning is beautiful learning
Filmographer: Steve Rankin || steverankinphotography.com/

[@happytraveller8953]

Gle mhath!!! Sgoinneil!

[@frederickbosworth2436]

We had friends in college who were a married couple: he was German and she was Finnish, and both spoke excellent English. They were not sure which country they would end up living in, so the Dad only spoke German to their young children, the Mom only spoken Finnish to them, and the parents spoke English to each other. The children learned all three, though they eventually figured out that there was not a Daddy Language and a Mommy Language in every family, and they preferred to speak English like the other children they played with. Another couple we knew were an American husband and Japanese wife, both of whom spoke both languages. They spoke a mixture of Japanese and English in the home as mood struck them, and the children understood both languages, but had a great deal of trouble not using Japanese mixed in when they started school. Probably something like English on some week days and Japanese on another would have been better.

[@evamustard3546]

This is beautiful and a powerful example of Raising the Village in the Gaelic tradition. May we learn from this and grow a community of belonging and pluralism by valuing and sharing our rich cultural legacy for all our children be they Mi'kmaq, Gaelic, Acadian, Syrian ...