Contact from Recruitment Agencies

I typically get a lot of calls from Recruitment Agencies. Usually it's about 20-25 a week. At 5-10 mins a call plus the inevitable telephone tag that goes on when I phone back and they are busy, this could take up 3-4 hours of my week. This is a necessary use of my time when I am job hunting, but I don't have spare time during the day for that at all when I am working and neither do many other candidates that are in demand. It's also rather obviously a sign of leaving when someone gets calls in the office several times a day and very quickly has to leave the room to speak somewhere private, not a good signal to send your employer or other employees. When I'm not working the default use of the phone is a fairly inefficient waste of time, please see the tips below on how we can use this time more efficiently.

I do think speaking to someone is important when the call is relevant and specific and to get to know the candidate. I'm not against phone calls at all, but with the volume of them, the length of them and the random calling at random times of day it's a bad way to manage time. If agencies want to talk for more than 5 mins and email simply won't do, like many popular candidates I'm either working, busy or can't talk - if you schedule some time to speak and we both have the time set aside we will both be a lot better prepared.

Some further tips:

1. My initial preferred form of contact is email. I can read email in busy places such as on the bus or train where it's too noisy to speak. I can also read email in patchy communication areas (also the train) where a phone conversation isn't practical or the quiet coach when it isn't permitted. I'm also on Skype: Craig.Cockburn for online chat - please send me a message which I will pick up and reply to the next time I log in.

2. Please don't call for a general chat about my job seeking status and recent career when this information is freely available online. This is available on LinkedIn, please look there first. If LinkedIn says I am currently in a job, then I'm currently in a job. If LinkedIn says I have finished my contract then I have finished my contract. If you have a template list of questions, please send me the template list of questions and I can fill it in quickly and you'll probably get an email reply giving you the information you need a lot quicker than if you leave a voicemail. You know, the stuff about salary/rate, location, contract/perm, career aspirations, etc. It's all fairly standard stuff. Once we get that out the way then we can schedule a proper talk for the relevant opportunities. Neither of us likes playing telephone tag and an introductory email is a much better use of my time, and yours, than random calls about permanent jobs in the wrong location or contract jobs at half my acceptable rate. Generally I only look for work within 90 mins of Central London, however I make exceptions for outstanding opportunities.

3. I am always happy for agencies to have my current CV (Resume) so we can stay in touch and you can follow my career and goals. Please send me an email at craig@siliconglen.com

4. I have two phones, one for incoming and one for outgoing. This allows me to browse the web, read relevant emails, etc whilst talking. The incoming one is usually on silent unless I am expecting a call as I don't want the phone ringing at work 20 times a week. It usually goes to voicemail. If it does go to voicemail, you are nearly always guaranteed a quicker response if you use the email address above. This is because I won't have to pick up the voicemail, write down the phone number and find a time to call back and hope you are there. Instead, I can just click reply and not worry if I've misheard the message, got a digit wrong or need to find somewhere quiet. I've had several calls from agents calling from bad reception areas and it took several attempts to get the phone number from the message, this is a waste of time. At least twice I have worked in a bad reception area. It is incredibly frustrating trying to deal with agencies who insist on using the phone in these circumstances and it is ultimately their loss if they can't put forward the best candidates because they insist on being able to talk to them to confirm basic details even when this isn't possible.

5. I've read James Caan's book on how he started in recruitment and made millions. In the beginning it was partly due to having a prestigious address in Pall Mall. I know that the address means a lot to many agencies for image purposes and so many agencies rent serviced offices. For this reason, and others, they often call from withheld or shared phone numbers. Please do not do this, it is exceptionally unprofessional. I have no idea when the call rings from a withheld number if it's a reputable agency I really want to talk to, a cold call agency I can put off, or a dodgy scammer. If you don't want to get mixed up with the dodgy scammer, don't call from a withheld number. It should be a simple switch on the office exchange, it isn't a big deal to change it and if it is then why not use Skype out instead? Not only does revealing your number let me know who is calling it means it's much much easier for me to call you back. Surely you want this? Please also call from a normal geographic landline rather than a non geographic number.

6. When you send me an email, please include a link to your LinkedIn profile so we can connect there and preferably also your mobile phone number. I classify all my contacts and email the recruitment related ones when my contract is coming to an end. I am able to do this effectively, despite LinkedIn's best attempts at making this selective mailing impossible. If we are connected on LinkedIn, you will know immediately when I am looking for work. Please forward your LinkedIn email account mail to your work address if you use a personal email address for this.

7. Don't ever send me a text from a number I can't reply to. This is exceptionally irritating and also quite rude. The equivalent of requiring someone to write a letter to stop anonymous sales phone calls. If you communicate with my by text, it is only courtesy to allow me to reply the same way.

8. If I call you from a different number, don't store it in your database. The number I put on my CV is the number you should use. If I wanted you to use a different number, I would put it on my CV.

9. Despite the insistence of many agencies in using the phone, none appear to use Skype. This strikes me as odd as we have both the benefit of talking by phone as well as the benefits of video calling.

10. I get a ton of mail about completely irrelevant vacancies that have no relevance whatsoever to my skills, largely because some agencies don't have very effective email campaign software and instead prefer the blanket email approach as it's cheaper than advertising. Please send these to a startup I have an interest in at MoveJobs.com . If you email them to movejobs@yahoogroups.com they will go to a pre-moderated list that goes onto the web at the Move Jobs Board and auto tweets the updates to the associated http://twitter.com/move_jobs  twitter account at peak times of day when people are most likely to be looking for work. If your standard signature says the email is confidential and can't be redistributed then this will be ignored; you are sending it to a group for publication, that's what it's for. There are a lot of innovative ideas coming with movejobs.com, based largely on my 20 years of jobseeking and having thought up probably the world's first on-line recruitment agency in 1989 and winning an award for it through Shell Livewire and appearing in the local paper at the time.

Thanks for your time, if any candidates or agencies have any further thoughts, please add them in the comments.

Bilingual Gaelic / English news from Nova Scotia

There is a regular newsletter (approximately weekly) published by the Office of Gaelic affairs in Nova Scotia, Canada. For backissues, please see the Iomradh-Sùileachaidh nam Meadhannan (Media Monitoring Report) archives.

Craig

Gaelic events in Edinburgh - August & September 2011

Please send any updates to John Macleod <john@andarach.com>
 

Saturday 13.08.11 – 3.30pm              Cànan is Cèic (Gaelic Conversation Session) – Venue: Two Thin Laddies, 103 High Riggs. (Cont:  mechthild@cli.org.uk).

Saturday 13.08.11 – 4.00pm               Book Festival event – Charlotte Square. Book Launch of “Steall à Iomadh Lòn” autobiography of John A Macpherson. (Cont: 0845 373 5888)

Sunday 14.08.11 – 12.30pm                Weekly Gaelic service, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. (Cont: 225 1900)

Monday 15.08.11 – 11.00am              Gaelic Coffee Morning – Café Nero, Frasers, West End. Conversational opportunity for Gaelic speakers of all ages & abilities. (Cont: 0131 228 5035)

Tuesday 16.08.11 – 7.30pm               Gaelic Conversation Circle – Tollcross School, 117 Fountainbridge with Calum Cameron. (Cont: 334 7005)

Wednesday 17.08.11 – 7.00pm          Fringe event – Poozies & Dàimh concert, Queen’s Hall, (1hr45m) (Cont: 668 2019)

Wednesday 17.08.11 – 7.30pm          Fringe event – Na Clàrsairean with Lothian Gaelic Choir & Màiri Macleod, St. Andrew’s & St George’s Church, George St. (2hrs) (Cont: 225 3847)

Thursday 18.08.11 – 1.30pm              Book Festival event – Charlotte Square. ‘Nothing but the Poem’ – the poems of Sorley Maclean. A relaxed discussion. (Cont: 0845 373 5888)

Thursday 18.08.11 – 3.00pm              Book Festival event – Charlotte Square. Discussion with Donald Meek. (Cont: 0845 373 5888)

Saturday 20.08.11 – 2.30pm               Fringe event – Tea concert with Na Clàrsairean, Colmcille Centre, Newbattle Tce. (2hrs). (Cont: 226 0000).

Sunday 21.08.11 – 12.30pm                Weekly Gaelic service, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. (Cont: 225 1900)

Monday 22.08.11 – 11.00am              Gaelic Coffee Morning – Café Nero, Frasers, West End. Conversational opportunity for Gaelic speakers of all ages & abilities. (Cont: 0131 228 5035)

Tuesday 23.08.11                               Book Festival event – Charlotte Square. Na Caimbeulaich. Book preview of songs & biographies of The Campbells of Greepe. (Cont: 0845 373 5888)

Tuesday 23.08.11 – 7.30pm               Gaelic Conversation Circle – Tollcross School, 117 Fountainbridge with Calum Cameron. (Cont: 334 7005)

Tuesday 23.08.11 – 8.00pm               Joy Dunlop Trio, Leith Folk Club, The Village Inn. Featuring songs from new album “Dùsgadh”. Cont: 07502 024852).  

Wednesday 24.08.11 – 2.00pm          Gaelic Conversation Session – The Forest Café, 3 Bristo Place. (Conversation & music – Early Learners). (Cont: Mark at  feadan24@hotmail.com) 

Wednesday 24.08.11 – 2.00pm          Book Festival event – Charlotte Square, RBS Corner Theatre. ‘Tribute to Sorley Maclean’ – with Peter Mackay, Chris Whyte, Derrick McClure & Mark Wringe. (Cont: 0845 373 5888)

Wednesday 24.08.11 – 7.15pm          Coisir Dhun Eideann (formerly Edinburgh Saltire Gaelic Choir) weekly rehearsal – Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Tce. (Cont. 669 6418)

Wednesday 24.08.11 – 7.30pm          Fringe event – Clarsach Society concert with young musicians Calum Macleod, Ellie Evans, Karen Pollard & Megan Bruce, Colmcille Centre, Newbattle Tce. (2hrs). (Cont: 226 0000).

Thursday 25.08.11 – 7.15pm              Lothian Gaelic Choir weekly rehearsal – Tollcross Primary School, Fountainbridge. (Cont: 07906 318561)

Friday 26.08.11 – 11.00am                 Book Festival event – Charlotte Square. Book launch of “Air a Thòir” – Martin McIntyre’s new novel. (Cont: 0845 373 5888)

Friday 26.08.11 – 7.00pm                   Ceilidh nan Amhrain Gàidhlig – Gaelic & Irish songs to learn, Room 3 Tollcross Comm Centre (2hrs). With Déirdre Ní Mhathúna. 

Saturday 27.08.11 – 3.30pm               Cànan is Cèic (Gaelic Conversation Session) – Venue: Two Thin Laddies, 103 High Riggs. (Cont:  mechthild@cli.org.uk).

Sunday 28.08.11 – 12.30pm                Weekly Gaelic service, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. (Cont: 225 1900)

Monday 29.08.11 – 11.00am              Gaelic Coffee Morning – Café Nero, Frasers, West End. Conversational opportunity for Gaelic speakers of all ages & abilities. (Cont: 0131 228 5035)

Tuesday 30.08.11 – 7.30pm               Gaelic Conversation Circle – Tollcross School, 117 Fountainbridge with Calum Cameron. (Cont: 334 7005)

Wednesday 31.08.11 – 2.00pm          Gaelic Conversation Session – The Forest Café, 3 Bristo Place. (Conversation & music – Early Learners). (Cont: Mark at  feadan24@hotmail.com) 

Thursday 01.09.11 – 7.15pm              Lothian Gaelic Choir weekly rehearsal – Tollcross Primary School, Fountainbridge. (Cont: 07906 318561)

Friday 02.09.11 – 7.00pm                   Ceilidh nan Amhrain Gàidhlig – Gaelic & Irish songs to learn, Room 3 Tollcross Comm Centre (2hrs). With Déirdre Ní Mhathúna. 

Saturday 03.09.11 – 3.30pm               Cànan is Cèic (Gaelic Conversation Session) – Venue: Two Thin Laddies, 103 High Riggs. (Cont:  mechthild@cli.org.uk).

Sunday 04.09.11 – 12.30pm                Weekly Gaelic service, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. (Cont: 225 1900)

Sunday 04.09.11 – 3.00pm                  Gaelic service, Perth Free Church. Rev. Duncan Macleod. (Cont: 228 3782).

Monday 05.09.11 – 11.00am              Gaelic Coffee Morning – Café Nero, Frasers, West End. Conversational opportunity for Gaelic speakers of all ages & abilities. (Cont: 0131 228 5035)

Monday 05.09.11 – 1.00pm                Gaelic Lunch Club, Ramada Mount Royal Hotel, Princes St. Guest speaker: Murdo Angus Mackay. (Cont: 07906 318561).

Tuesday 06.09.11 – 7.30pm               Gaelic Conversation Circle – SNP Rooms, North St. Andrew St. with Calum Cameron. (Cont: 334 7005)

Wednesday 07.09.11 – 2.00pm          Gaelic Conversation Session – The Forest Café, 3 Bristo Place. (Conversation & music – Early Learners). (Cont: Mark at  feadan24@hotmail.com)   

Edinburgh Book Festival : Gaelic events Aug 2011

----- Forwarded message -----
From: "John Macleod" <john@andarach.com>
To: <john@andarach.com>
Subject: Gaelic events - Edinburgh Book Festival
Date: Thu, Aug 11, 2011 10:18

A' chairdean,

Tuilleadh fiosrachaidh mu thachartas Gaidhlig ann an Dun Eideann. Some more Gaelic events in the city this month.

Iain

Disathairne 13 Lùnastal / Saturday 13th August - 4.00pm
Cur air Bhog Leabhair le Seonaidh Ailig Mac a' Phearsain
Book Launch by John Alick MacPherson 

Thèid fèin-eachdraidh le Seonaidh Ailig Mac a' Phearsain, Steall à Iomadh Lòn, a chur air bhog aig Fèis Leabhraichean Eadar-nàiseanta Dhùn Èideann. Airson barrachd fiosrachaidh agus tiocaidean, fonaibh gu  0845 373 5888 neo tadhail air http://www.edbookfest.co.uk/

Steall à Iomadh Lòn, an autobiography by John Alec MacPherson, will be launched at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. For more information and tickets, see http://www.edbookfest.co.uk/  or telephone 0845 373 5888

Dimàirt 23 Lùnastal / Tuesday 23rd August  
Na Caimbeulaich The Campbells

Cothrom ro-shealladh sònraichte fhaighinn air cruinneachadh ùr de dh'òrain agus eachdraidh-beatha bho Caimbeulaich a' Ghriop, san Eilean Sgitheanach. Bidh na Caimbeulaich a' bruidhinn mun leabhar agus a' seinn aig Fèis Leabhraichean Eadar-nàiseanta Dhùn Èideann. Airson barrachd fiosrachaidh agus tiocaidean, faic https://lsh507.securepod.com/gaelicbooks.org/merchantmanager/www.edbookfest.co.uk

An oppurtunity to get a special preview of a new publication of the songs and biographies of the Campbells of Greepe, in the Isle of Skye. The Campbells will be speaking about the book and singing at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. For more information and tickets, see www.edbookfest.co.uk  or telephone 0845 373 5888

Diciadain 24 Lùnastal / Wednesday 24th August - 2.00f
Somhairle MacGill-EainSorley MacLean

Bidh tachartas sònraichte a' gabhail àite anns an RBS Corner Theatre ann an Dùn Èideann mar phàirt de Fèis Leabhraichean Eadar-nàiseanta Dhùn Èideann airson Bliadhna Shomhairle a chomharrachadh. Airson barrachd fiosrachaidh agus tiocaidean, faic https://lsh507.securepod.com/gaelicbooks.org/merchantmanager/www.edbookfest.co.uk

There will be a special event to mark the 100th anniversary of Sorley MacLean in the RBS Corner Theatre, Edinburgh, as part of the Edinburgh International Book Festival. For more information and tickets, see www.edbookfest.co.uk


Dihaoine 26 Lùnastal / Friday 26th August - 11.00m 
Cur air Bhog Leabhair le Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir
Book Launch by Martin MacIntyre

Thèid an nobhail as ùire le Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir, Air a Thòir, fhoillseachadh aig Fèis Leabhraichean Eadar-nàiseanta Dhùn Èideann. Airson barrachd fiosrachaidh agus tiocaidean, faic https://lsh507.securepod.com/gaelicbooks.org/merchantmanager/www.edbookfest.co.uk

Martin MacIntyre's new novel, Air a Thòir, will be launched at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. For more information and tickets, see www.edbookfest.co.uk

2 New And Exciting Gaelic Courses For Glasgow

The Moray Language Centre will be setting up 2 new and exciting TIP (Total Immersion Plus) centred Gaelic In The Home and Altram Courses in Glasgow in 2012.

These full time courses are user-friendly and immediately accessible for they come in blocks of 8, 15 or 44 weeks which should accommodate most lifestyles today; whatever time pattern you choose, they all ultimately bring one to a conversational Gaelic fluency, efficiently and without the usual stress, in other words, an unexpected great deal of fun to be had while learning to speak Gaelic.

Anyone seriously intending having a Gaelic speaking family whereupon the language is not only central to them as a unit, but also as part of each individual family member’s life as they go about their daily routine, will need to be aware of the information given below.

Accordingly the following tasks will help enormously in making the language acquisition process much less stressful and indeed, giving those who want to make such a commitment, the best chance for succeeding in their objective.

1. It almost goes without saying, that potential parents must be confidently fluent in Gaelic beforehand and here is the critically important point regarding such an objective; the earlier they reach the desired fluency, the better they will be in passing Gaelic onto their child when it does arrive.
   
2. There are many reasons why the early fluency level is highly desirable, a particularly significant reason is that it will give a generous amount of time for the would-be parents to acquire the richest vocabulary; the language of the home; interacting with their child; the language of closeness between partners/couples etc.; out and about in the wider community; socialising and so on, in fact, in most spheres concerned with modern day living.

It has taken quite some time for us to fully appreciate that school is not the right place to acquire home orientated Gaelic, moreover it is not within their remit to do so. What schools are rightly concerned with is, maths, science, sport, history, geography, music etc. and terms related to these topics and the world outside Scotland. Consider, would one expect to hear one’s child coming home from school having acquired language appropriate to a close relationship between adults; I think not.

To return to what is on offer, which is a range of innovative and highly accessible Gaelic acquisition courses, that will not only bring singles, couples, prospective and expectant parents, those already parents, grandparents, relatives, friends etc. to a conversational fluency in a variety of packages that are both user-friendly and speedy in their delivery.

In addition, we can add immeasurably to the language capability of lapsed or rusty speakers, people who can speak Gaelic but aren’t confident in using it, those already fluent in the language, by way of broadening the range, fluency and vocabulary.

Those considering taking advantage of what is on offer, will do well to remember that these courses contain no reading, writing, grammar or translation in the initial phase, this means no books, pens, paper, note taking etc., the use of personal recording devices is encouraged though.

If any of this appeals to you or your partner, friends etc., please get in touch with Finlay at finlay@fmdf.org.uk or telephone, 01542-836322 or 07789-826934 so that we can have a good chat about what is on offer and remember, don’t leave your response too long because we only cater for small groups, so places will be at a premium.

We would also appreciate it if you would pass this information around as widely as possible. At the same time, we are also seeking the services of fluent Gaelic speakers to help in a variety of ways, but especially in tutoring and in support roles, so please give us a call as well.

For information regarding this news bulletin please contact:

Finlay Macleoid

11 Campbell Street

Portessie

Buckie

Moray AB56 1TJ

Mobile 07789-826934

Home 01542-836322

email finlay@fmdf.org.uk

Gaelic events in Edinburgh - August 2011

Monday 01.08.11 – 11.00am         Gaelic Coffee Morning – Café Nero, Frasers, West End. Conversational opportunity for Gaelic speakers of all ages & abilities. (Cont: 0131 228 5035)

Tuesday 02.08.11 – 7.30pm               Gaelic Conversation Circle – Tollcross School, 117 Fountainbridge with Calum Cameron. (Cont: 334 7005)

Wednesday 03.08.11 – 2.00pm          Gaelic Conversation Session – The Forest Café, 3 Bristo Place. (Conversation & music – Early Learners). (Cont: Mark at  feadan24@hotmail.com) 

Wednesday 03.08.11 – 7.15pm          Coisir Dhun Eideann (formerly Edinburgh Saltire Gaelic Choir) weekly rehearsal – Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Tce. (Cont. 669 6418)

Saturday 06.08.11 – 3.30pm              Cànan is Cèic (Gaelic Conversation Session) – Venue: Two Thin Laddies, 103 High Riggs. (Cont:  mechthild@cli.org.uk).

Sunday 07.08.11 – 12.30pm               Weekly Gaelic service, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. (Cont: 225 1900)

Monday 08.08.11 – 11.00am             Gaelic Coffee Morning – Café Nero, Frasers, West End. Conversational opportunity for Gaelic speakers of all ages & abilities. (Cont: 0131 228 5035)

Tuesday 09.08.11 – 7.30pm               Gaelic Conversation Circle – Tollcross School, 117 Fountainbridge with Calum Cameron. (Cont: 334 7005)

Tuesday 09.08.11 – 6.45pm               Fringe event – Feis Rois & friends, Accoustic Music Centre, St. Bride's (3hrs) (Cont: 668 2019)

Wednesday 10.08.11 – 2.00pm          Gaelic Conversation Session – The Forest Café, 3 Bristo Place. (Conversation & music – Early Learners). (Cont: Mark at  feadan24@hotmail.com) 

Wednesday 10.08.11 – 7.15pm          Coisir Dhun Eideann (formerly Edinburgh Saltire Gaelic Choir) weekly rehearsal – Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Tce. (Cont. 669 6418)

Saturday 13.08.11 – 3.30pm              Cànan is Cèic (Gaelic Conversation Session) – Venue: Two Thin Laddies, 103 High Riggs. (Cont:  mechthild@cli.org.uk).

Sunday 14.08.11 – 12.30pm               Weekly Gaelic service, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. (Cont: 225 1900)

Monday 15.08.11 – 11.00am             Gaelic Coffee Morning – Café Nero, Frasers, West End. Conversational opportunity for Gaelic speakers of all ages & abilities. (Cont: 0131 228 5035)

Tuesday 16.08.11 – 7.30pm               Gaelic Conversation Circle – Tollcross School, 117 Fountainbridge with Calum Cameron. (Cont: 334 7005)

Wednesday 17.08.11 – 7.00pm          Fringe event – Poozies & Dàimh concert, Queen's Hall, (1hr45m) (Cont: 668 2019)

Wednesday 17.08.11 – 7.30pm          Fringe event – Na Clàrsairean with Lothian Gaelic Choir & Màiri Macleod, St. Andrew's & St George's Church, George St. (2hrs) (Cont: 225 3847)

Thursday 18.08.11 – 1.30pm             Book Festival event – Charlotte Square. 'Nothing but the Poem' – the poems of Sorley Maclean. A relaxed discussion. (Cont: 0845 373 5888)

Saturday 20.08.11 – 2.30pm              Fringe event – Tea concert with Na Clàrsairean, Colmcille Centre, Newbattle Tce. (2hrs). (Cont: 226 0000).

Sunday 21.08.11 – 12.30pm               Weekly Gaelic service, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. (Cont: 225 1900)

Monday 22.08.11 – 11.00am             Gaelic Coffee Morning – Café Nero, Frasers, West End. Conversational opportunity for Gaelic speakers of all ages & abilities. (Cont: 0131 228 5035)

Tuesday 23.08.11 – 7.30pm               Gaelic Conversation Circle – Tollcross School, 117 Fountainbridge with Calum Cameron. (Cont: 334 7005)

Wednesday 24.08.11 – 2.00pm          Gaelic Conversation Session – The Forest Café, 3 Bristo Place. (Conversation & music – Early Learners). (Cont: Mark at  feadan24@hotmail.com) 

Wednesday 24.08.11 – 2.00pm          Book Festival event – Charlotte Square, RBS Corner Theatre. 'Tribute to Sorley Maclean' – with Peter Mackay, Chris Whyte, Derrick McClure & Mark Wringe. (Cont: 0845 373 5888)

Wednesday 24.08.11 – 7.15pm          Coisir Dhun Eideann (formerly Edinburgh Saltire Gaelic Choir) weekly rehearsal – Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Tce. (Cont. 669 6418)

Wednesday 24.08.11 – 7.30pm          Fringe event – Clarsach Society concert with young musicians Calum Macleod, Ellie Evans, Karen Pollard & Megan Bruce, Colmcille Centre, Newbattle Tce. (2hrs). (Cont: 226 0000).

Thursday 25.08.11 – 7.15pm             Lothian Gaelic Choir weekly rehearsal – Tollcross Primary School, Fountainbridge. (Cont: 07906 318561)

Friday 26.08.11 – 7.00pm                  Ceilidh nan Amhrain Gàidhlig – Gaelic & Irish songs to learn, Room 3 Tollcross Comm Centre (2hrs). With Déirdre Ní Mhathúna. 

Saturday 27.08.11 – 3.30pm              Cànan is Cèic (Gaelic Conversation Session) – Venue: Two Thin Laddies, 103 High Riggs. (Cont:  mechthild@cli.org.uk).

Sunday 28.08.11 – 12.30pm               Weekly Gaelic service, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. (Cont: 225 1900)

Monday 29.08.11 – 11.00am             Gaelic Coffee Morning – Café Nero, Frasers, West End. Conversational opportunity for Gaelic speakers of all ages & abilities. (Cont: 0131 228 5035)

Tuesday 30.08.11 – 7.30pm               Gaelic Conversation Circle – Tollcross School, 117 Fountainbridge with Calum Cameron. (Cont: 334 7005)

Wednesday 31.08.11 – 2.00pm          Gaelic Conversation Session – The Forest Café, 3 Bristo Place. (Conversation & music – Early Learners). (Cont: Mark at  feadan24@hotmail.com)   

Gaelic in Scotland, renewal and growth

Having recently returned from a holiday in Oban, I thought it would be appropriate to comment on the state of Gaelic having been involved in promoting the language for over 10 years while I lived in Scotland - a fuller biography is at the end of the article.

To be honest, I'm worried about the state of Gaelic today. Very worried. I see Gaelic disappearing from use in Scotland largely due to apathy and to some extent misguided opposition and prejudice from a small vocal minority. You only have to view the comments here to see the prejudice that Gaelic has to put up with, the sort of comments that would be banned if we were talking about Blacks, Muslims or other ethnic groups.

I don't want Gaelic to disappear from Scotland the same way it died out in the Carolinas (early 20th century), Isle of Man (1974) and is on the precipice in Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia has less than 1,000 speakers left despite it being the most common mother tongue amongst the fathers of the Canadian federation and once spoken by 200,000 in Canada in the 1850s. Gaelic culture generates $23.5m annually for the Canadian economy. The comparable figure for Scotland is £41m (Scottish Parliament figures). Besides the economic loss, the cultural loss would be immense.

From my own point of view growing up in Dunblane, Perthshire, I had to contend with Gaelic apathy as recently as the 1980's. The nearest hill to my house was "uamh bheag". Incomprehensible and even unpronounceable without Gaelic. We had the Mod Bardic crown winner as a teacher in our school; Alasdair MacInnes of Glencoe (sadly passed away in 2009) yet despite his requests to teach Gaelic so that we could understand and even pronounce local placenames, the local education authority kept blocking him saying there was "no demand". Yet, we were never actually asked as pupils if we wanted to learn Gaelic. Instead the schools ran classes in Russian and Latin, both of which had 4 pupils. Apparently there was enough demand in a school of over 700 pupils to run those classes, so why not Gaelic?

Legislation is necessary, but is not enough. What is necessary for Gaelic to be revived is to counter not only the blocks such as the ones above, but also the wider lack of confidence, enthusiasm and patriotism in Gaelic  amongst both Gaelic speakers and non-Gaelic speakers in Scotland. We need to encourage Gaelic speakers to use the language more readily and confidently rather than defaulting to English and so that non-Gaelic speakers don't put up narrow minded blocks towards the revival of Gaelic. Gaelic speakers no matter their quantity should be as confident and willing to use Gaelic as the Welsh are with theirs.

All too often we see the letters columns of papers that should know better filled with the type of hostile remarks about the amount of money spent on Gaelic and Gaelic being spent on signs "where no one has spoken Gaelic for centuries" and similar arguments as referred to here. These are of course the same vacuous arguments put forward by the English Defence League and the National Front - people afraid of change. Devolution had never been a part of Scottish history. We embraced it in 1999. Voting for independence minded politicians had never been a part of Scottish history. We did so to elect an independence minded government in 2007 and by a landslide in 2011. Internet culture didn't exist at all less than a generation ago and now it is part of the everyday life of a majority. The argument of whether something has been the historic part of a community or not is the cowardly argument of those resistant to change and has too many echoes of the English Defence League and the British National Party for my liking. In the broader context, when I travel around London, I see advertisements in Polish only, signs in Chinese only, no hesitation or problem with people from all over the world using their languages without question and none of the "that language hasn't been spoken here traditionally" that Scots use as an excuse for putting down Gaelic. Supporting Gaelic in Scotland should not be a problem, compare that to Southwark in London - when I managed the website redesign for that London borough I learned that there were 170 languages spoken in the borough including an Irish population almost the size of Oban. Multilingualism is much more an everyday way of life in London than it is in the Highlands.

I find it frustrating that many Bed and Breakfasts are keen to embrace Gaelic placenames to attract tourists, "Ceol na mara" "Ben More" etc, many Scots keen to embrace Gaelic (Highland) dress, Gaelic (Highland) bagpipes, yet are ambivalent or even hostile to the language itself. This vocal minority needs to be put in context with repeated surveys showing that the majority of Scots throughout Scotland are supportive of Gaelic as a national language and not just one for the Highlands and Islands. We need to build wider enthusiasm and support for Gaelic so that it can enjoy the same growth that Welsh is enjoying (over 20% of the Welsh population) and Modern Hebrew enjoyed when it went from almost nothing to 7 million speakers in a century. A language needs to be supported by legislation, but more than that there needs to be a positive attitude amongst both speakers of the language and non-speakers who share the same country.  People should be asking questions like "why is it easier for me to pick up Radio1 and Radio2 in the Highlands rather than Radio nan Gàidheal?", "Why does Radio nan Gàidheal change to broadcasting on Radio Scotland English for much of the time?" "Why is the link to BBC Alba hard to find on the BBC Scotland news page and when I do find it, Google Chrome offers to translate it from Irish?!"

I fought for the ban on smoking in public places. We now have legislation to enforce the ban. However, even before the ban we had places voluntarily banning smoking. It was commonplace to ban it on airlines, cinemas, many restaurants and even some pub chains had non smoking areas in all their pubs in the pre-ban days. The same is true of supporting Gaelic. Legal support for Gaelic is necessary, at least comparable to that in Wales, but prior to that we need people to take the initiative without legislation to support the language, legal support or otherwise in much the same way that we did with "smoke free". This support needs to extend beyond the 3Cs of core support - the local Coisir, An Comunn and Croileagan to the wider community, Gaelic speakers or otherwise. 7% of people in Argyll and Bute speak Gaelic according to the Scotland 2001 Census Report. But less than 7% of The Oban Times is in Gaelic - Why? Why are the signs informing me of the smoking ban in English only? A Gaelic translation would not be illegal so why not make one? Where you see English only, ask "why is there no Gaelic translation for this - you wouldn't break any laws and you would support the local culture". A simple "Just Translate It" attitude should apply. Behave as if a law has been passed and put Gaelic up alongside official notices. A few token street signs and bank names is not enough. There are plenty other things that could be translated at little or no cost and would significantly add to the presence of Gaelic so that Gaelic leaps off the street sign and onto the street, How about Gaelic translations of menus? Some communities have their own local currency to promote their community, perhaps a Gaelic currency with "Tha Gàidhlig agam" on it would work (with appropriate discounts for using it). There are lots of initiatives that don't require legislation to get people to get behind Gaelic, speakers or otherwise.

Google+ has gone from nothing to over 25 million users in a month. If Gaelic added 25,000 "users" in 10 years it would be a major leap forward. People started using G+ because it was interesting, they could talk to their friends and it was cool. It is uncool for young people not to be on social media. If only Gaelic had the same coolness factor as social media! If being against Gaelic or not using Gaelic had an "uncool" factor then Gaelic would be in an entirely different place. Runrig and Capercaillie led the way, but where is the Gaelic Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga or Susan Boyle for Gaelic to not only be cool but to take it to the masses in wide numbers as Clannad did when they got to #1 in 1982 singing in Irish? Who is joining Manran in making Gaelic attractive for youth culture?

Nova Scotia was once Gaelic speaking. Now for every Gaelic speaker there are 90 French speakers. The French put down the foot and said "non" to English. Will the world of Gaelic be saying "Chan eil" as we move forward?

The Gaelic national plan 2012-2017 is being compiled, your comments are welcome.

Craig Cockburn, August 2011. Written on a Sunday - I don't believe in being constrained by past attitudes.
The author is writing in a personal capacity, and was a director of the Gaelic learners' association 1992-1998, a moderator of the Gaelic discussion list Gaelic-L in the 1990s, sang in national and local mods with choirs and as a soloist in the fluent category and has written about Gaelic song. He wrote the first online guide to Scotland, a guide to Gaelic events in London, worked for many years for the Scottish Tourist Board, was editor of the Gaelic community group newsletter and helped to relaunch the Edinburgh Mod.