2003 Immersion Weekend
Fàilte gu Boulder! [Welcome to Boulder] |
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An Comunn Gaidhealach - America (ACGA) hosts the 7th Annual Immersion Weekend in beautiful Boulder, Colorado, June 6 - 9, 2003. The long weekend will feature some of the best Gaelic teachers available in North America. The University of Colorado at Boulder campus will be the setting for an inspirational and fun weekend of learning and sharing Scottish Gaelic. The Immersion Weekend is an exceptional opportunity for learners and speakers of Scottish Gaelic to come together to celebrate the heritage and strive to learn the language and the culture of the Scottish Highlands and Islands.The weekend will also provide extended opportunities for more proficient students and native speakers to gather and enjoy Gaelic conversation. Classes will meet the needs of those who are just beginning their Gaelic study as well as others who are intermediate students or those approaching fluency. In four different levels of classes our internationally noted teachers will cover material for all levels of learners.
Workshops will be held in Gaelic song and many other related topics. Extracurricular activities will include a social mixer to welcome everyone on Friday night, a Saturday night ceilidh and a Sunday evening outing to a popular restaurant for a "Celtic Gathering". The campus of the University of Colorado at Boulder is located within walking distance of many shops, restaurants, art galleries and spots of cultural interest as well as walking and hiking trails. For more information, please contact Ann Dickson at
303-715-0563 or send her an e-mail at atdickson@msn.com |
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"I had never before taken a class nor heard
the language used conversationally [but the Immersion Weekend
classes] never felt overwhelming... (I knew it was a worthwhile
weekend when I woke up Sunday morning hearing a bird singing in
gaelic: ceithir, ceithir!!)" |
Co bhitheas a' teagaisg? [Who will be teaching?] |
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Donnie MacDonald a native Gaelic speaker from the village of Skigersta on the Isle of Lewis. His inspiration comes from the Gaelic speaking community in which he was raised and his mother, a Gaelic school teacher. He has worked with learners and study groups for years. Donnie is a fine Gaelic singer and a member of the folk duo "Men of Worth". He currently lives in California. Muriel Fisher a native of Skye and currently lives in Arizona where she teaches Gaelic through her Tucson Gaelic Institute and at the University of Arizona. She is also a feature correspondent with BBC Alba and writes for Fios: The North Lewis Weekly. Muriel also teaches during the summers at Sabhal Mor Ostaig. This is Muriel's third year as a teacher at the Immersion Weekend. Jamie MacDonald teaches Gaelic in the Celtic Department at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. A native of North Carolina, he grew up steeped in Scottish culture. Jamie obtained his Ph. D in Scottish Studies from the University of Edinburgh in 1993. He is a lover of Gaelic singing and collecting Gaelic songs. Jamie has taught at numerous Immersion Weekends, workshops and seminars. Richard Hill - one of the founding and guiding members of Slighe nan Gaidheal, a flourishing Gaelic community in Seattle. He has been immersing himself in Gaelic since he was a child and has studied in Scotland and Nova Scotia. Rich enjoys teaching Gaelic classes and workshops and sharing Gaelic folklore. He is well known for his beautiful Gaelic songs. He is an inspiration to other Gaelic learners. |
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"The [Immersion] Weekend worked really well
for me. I found myself automatically trying to translate stray
thoughts into Gaelic for days!" |
Cìsean [Fees] |
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The Immersion Weekend will begin on Friday afternoon, June 6, 2003 and extend through early afternoon on Monday, June 9, 2003. The fee for the weekend of classes, workshops, special activities, coffee breaks and learning materials is $125 for ACGA members ($140 for non-members). Early registration is encouraged to avoid a late fee (accessed after May 19th). The registration form has been published in two different
formats Microsoft
Word and Adobe
Acrobat. |
Cuid Oidche [Rooms and Meals] |
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Room and meals will be available
at the University of Colorado at Boulder Conference Center. For
those staying at the Conference Center, separate registration is
required to reserve your room and meals. The Conference Center
reservation form must be returned (by fax or post) to the Office
of Conference Services. The charges for the weekend for food and
lodging (Friday afternoon/dinner through Monday afternoon/lunch,
excluding Sunday dinner) are: Single room - $251.70 plus tax
Double room - $160.05 plus tax We've published the form in two different formats - Microsoft Word, and Adobe Acrobat for your convenience. For local attendees who wish to take advantage of the meals at
the Conference Center the charge is $75 for three meals a day
beginning with Friday night dinner through Monday lunch, excluding
Sunday night dinner. That fee will be collected at registration on
Friday afternoon. Sorry, no partial meal plan is available |
Siubhal [Travel] |
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For a variety of travel options and information about the
Denver/Boulder area check out the Travel
page.. |
Clàr-Ùine [Schedule] |
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Registration on Friday afternoon will be followed by dinner and a welcome mixer. Classes and workshops are scheduled during the day on Saturday and Sunday and in the morning on Monday. The ACGA Annual Meeting will be on Sunday afternoon. Everyone is encouraged to attend the meeting to learn more about ACGA and the many volunteer opportunities available to ACGA members. |
