Why Gaelic Needs Both
- Nov 10
- 3 min read
Many people assume Gaelic courses all work the same way, but the landscape has changed. Over the last twenty-five years, the student profile has shifted, learning happens online as well as in person, and the global audience for Gaelic is far bigger than it used to be. The needs of today’s learners are different, and so are the ways we reach them.
Scotland has a growing mix of Gaelic providers: national organisations, colleges, community groups, volunteer projects, and commercial businesses. Each plays a different role, and that diversity is not a weakness — it’s a strength. A living language survives because many people contribute, not just one model.
Funded organisations do important work
National and publicly supported bodies carry responsibilities that independent teachers can’t:
long-term research
community projects
full-time staff
national policies and planning
These organisations create visible structures for Gaelic — qualifications, schools, teacher training and cultural events. Without them, the language would lose vital pillars of support.
But large institutions move slowly, and student expectations have changed. Learners today want flexible training, online access, personalised feedback, cultural experience, and modern teaching methods. Funding alone doesn’t guarantee those things. That is where independent providers have become essential.
Independent providers fill the gaps
Commercial Gaelic providers survive only if students succeed. If the teaching doesn’t work, there is no funding safety net. That pressure has created innovation:
flexible online learning
conversation-focused coaching
multilingual support
personalised attention
faster response and adaptation
cultural immersion and real-world engagement
Many international students don’t even know the major institutions exist — but they find independent providers online. Others try college courses, enjoy them, and then continue privately to develop fluency. Both sides are needed.
Together we could convert app learners into real speakers
Millions of people have downloaded Gaelic apps. Very few go beyond basic words and phrases. This is not because the apps are ineffective — it’s because apps are only a first step. Real Gaelic needs conversation, feedback, correction, cultural context, and confidence.
A fair partnership between funded institutions and commercial providers could create a clear pathway:
App → Short beginner course → Conversation practice → Immersion Everyone benefits. The learner progresses, the language gains real speakers, and both types of providers grow. But for that to work, collaboration has to be mutual, not one-directional.
Collaboration should be fair, not one-way
Sometimes independent teachers are asked to promote courses from funded organisations “for visibility”. Visibility has value. If one provider is asked to share another’s courses, the benefit should flow both ways: shared posts, reciprocal referrals, joint projects, or a formal advertising agreement.
This is not competition — it’s sustainability. Independent Gaelic services pay their own bills, invest in materials, bring learners to the islands, and create economic impact without public support. Fair collaboration keeps the whole ecosystem healthy.
A sustainable Gaelic future needs every model
Passion keeps the heart of Gaelic alive, but passion alone is not a business plan. The language needs paid teachers, well-run courses, marketing, technology, books, software, and community spaces. When funded organisations and commercial providers support each other fairly, more learners join, more courses run, and Gaelic becomes stronger in the real world — not just on paper.
At Love Gaelic, we will continue offering high-quality teaching and cultural experiences, and we remain open to collaborative work with organisations who support a fair, two-way approach. When the ecosystem is balanced, everyone wins — especially the language.
