Slices of
Contemporary Hebridean
Life and Work in 40
English and Gaelic
videos presented for
language learners
Craigard Day Centre –
Re-Store Recycling
Project – Hebridean Food
– Ceòlas Summer School – Taigh Chearsabhagh
Museum and Art Centre –
Bi Beò Songwriters
Short online films with
transcripts and
translations, suitable
for pre-intermediate to
post-intermediate
learners, totalling 3
hours of listening
material divided evenly
between the two
languages
Content / topic:
Care for adults with
special needs
Duration: 6:00 Level (listening
level required): A2
Summary: This is a
short documentary about
the Craigard Day Centre
in Lochmaddy, North Uist.
It’s a centre for people
with disabilities, run
by the Social Services
Department of Comhairle
nan Eilean Siar, the
Western Isles Council.
Cultural notes:
Recorded in North Uist
in the Outer Hebrides,
where a high proportion
of the community is
bilingual in Gaelic and
English.
Language notes:
Simple documentary
narrative and
description
Copyright: CopyLeft
Content / topic:
Care for adults with
special needs
Duration: 2:03 Level (listening
level required): B1
Summary:
Donald Mackinnon is a
client at Craigard Day
Centre. Here he talks
about his activities at Craigard. He also talks
about the pictures he’s
exhibiting at the Taigh
Chearsabhagh art centre.
He goes on to say what
else he does during the
week, mentioning the
names (NAAFI, Lovats) of
another workplace, and
his musical activities
at the weekend.
Cultural notes:
Recorded in North Uist
in the Outer Hebrides,
where a high proportion
of the community is
bilingual in Gaelic and
English.
Language notes:
Unscripted authentic
speech at natural pace,
exhibiting
characteristic
"performance errors" -
false starts, pauses,
repetitions, etc -
describing daily
activities.
Content / topic:
Care for adults with
special needs
Duration: 3:38 Level (listening
level required): B2
Summary:
Marnie Keltie is the Day
Care Supervisor at the Craigard Day Centre in
Lochmaddy, North Uist.
She talks about the
activities they do, and
the reasons why they’re
important.
Cultural notes:
Recorded in North Uist
in the Outer Hebrides,
where a high proportion
of the community is
bilingual in Gaelic and
English.
Language notes:
Unscripted authentic
speech at natural pace,
exhibiting
characteristic
"performance errors" -
false starts, pauses,
repetitions, etc -
describing daily
activities, and
explaining their
importance
Summary: The
Re-Store Project is a
social enterprise in
South Uist. Old
furniture is restored
and recycled. The
project also houses a
book recycling scheme,
and provides employment
and training
opportunities in the
local community.
Cultural notes:
Recorded in South Uist
in the Outer Hebrides,
where a high proportion
of the community is
bilingual in Gaelic and
English
Language notes:
Simple documentary
narrative and
description of furniture
recycling process, with
the focus on the
craftsman
Copyright:
CopyLeft
Summary:
Seumas Macdonald is the
Craftsman/Trainer at the
Re-Store project in Bornais, South Uist. He
talks about the work and
training they do, and
the value of the project
to the trainees and the
community.
Cultural notes:
Recorded in South Uist
in the Outer Hebrides,
where a high proportion
of the community is
bilingual in Gaelic and
English
Language notes:
Unscripted authentic
speech at natural pace,
exhibiting
characteristic
"performance errors" -
false starts, pauses,
repetitions, etc -
describing daily
activities, and
explaining their
importance
Content / topic:
Furniture restoration
and recycling PLUS
voluntary sector
engagement in rural
development
Duration: Level (listening
level required): B2
Summary: Neil
Macdonald is a director
on the Board of
Management of Cothrom,
the community group that
manages the Re-Store
project. He describes
the directors'
responsibilities for the
work of Cothrom in
general and the
importance of voluntary
group involvement in
island community life.
Cultural notes:
Recorded in South Uist
in the Outer Hebrides,
where a high proportion
of the community is
bilingual in Gaelic and
English
Language notes:
Unscripted authentic
speech at natural pace,
exhibiting
characteristic
"performance errors" -
false starts, pauses,
repetitions, etc -
describing management
and community issues
Summary: The
Hebridean Smokehouse on
North Uist processes
salmon and other
foodstuffs for a global
market. This documentary
illustrates the
preparation and
packaging of the product
Cultural notes:
Recorded in South Uist
in the Outer Hebrides,
where a high proportion
of the community is
bilingual in Gaelic and
English
Language notes:
Simple documentary
narrative and
description of food
preparation and
packaging process, with
the focus on the product
Summary:
Alasdair MacEachen is an
Environmental Health
Officer in Benbecula. He
describes the
implications of his job
in terms of both
enforcement and
education in particular
relation to food
handling and production.
Cultural notes:
Recorded in Benbecula in
the Outer Hebrides,
where a high proportion
of the community is
bilingual in Gaelic and
English.
Language notes:
Unscripted authentic
speech at natural pace,
exhibiting
characteristic
"performance errors" -
false starts, pauses,
repetitions, etc -
describing job remit and
regulatory framework
Content / topic:
Food preparation, and
local specialities
Duration: 7:02
Level (listening
level required): A2
Summary: The
“Blas Uibhist” night was
put on by the Ceòlas
community group in South Uist to celebrate local
food as well as music.
Local food producers
offered tastings of
their products, and a
well-known hotelier gave
a cookery demonstration.
The evening finished
with live local music.
The event was held in
Gaelic, with
simultaneous translation
into English
Cultural notes:
Recorded in South Uist
in the Outer Hebrides,
where a high proportion
of the community is
bilingual in Gaelic and
English
Language notes:
Simple documentary
narrative and
description
Content / topic:
Food preparation, and
local specialities
Duration: 2:25
Level (listening
level required): B2
Summary:
Isabel Graham is a
well-known hotelier and
cook at the Orasay Inn
in South Uist. Here she
describes how she uses
local produce when
preparing meals for
guests.
Cultural notes:
Recorded in South Uist
in the Outer Hebrides,
where a high proportion
of the community is
bilingual in Gaelic and
English
Language notes:
Unscripted authentic
speech at natural pace,
exhibiting
characteristic
"performance errors" -
false starts, pauses,
repetitions, etc -
expressing preferences
and explaining choices
Summary: The
Ceòlas music summer
school is held annually
in South Uist. It aims
to integrate traditional
music and dance in a
community setting. It
has strong links with
tutors from Cape Breton
in Canada, where old
styles of Scottish
fiddling and stepdancing
have been maintained.
The school attracts
students from around the
world.
Cultural notes:
Recorded in South Uist
and Eriskay in the Outer
Hebrides, where a high
proportion of the
community is bilingual
in Gaelic and English
Language notes:
Simple documentary
narrative and
description
Content / topic:
Community impact of
summer school
Duration: 3:57
Level (listening
level required): B2
Summary: Mary
Macinnes is the
chairperson of the local
committee that organises
the summer school each
year. She describes the
activities of the group
and the impact of Ceolas
on the local community.
Cultural notes:
Recorded in South Uist
in the Outer Hebrides,
where a high proportion
of the community is
bilingual in Gaelic and
English
Language notes:
Unscripted authentic
speech at natural pace,
exhibiting
characteristic
"performance errors" -
false starts, pauses,
repetitions, etc -
describing activities,
and assessing impacts
Content / topic:
Educational impact of
summer school
Duration: 3:30
Level (listening
level required): B2
Summary: Dale
Cummings is an American
student who has
regularly attended the
school over many years.
He talks about the
quality of the
instruction and the
curriculum, and
describes its personal
impact upon himself.
Cultural notes:
Recorded in South Uist
in the Outer Hebrides,
where a high proportion
of the community is
bilingual in Gaelic and
English
Language notes:
Unscripted authentic
speech at natural pace,
exhibiting
characteristic
"performance errors" -
false starts, pauses,
repetitions, etc -
describing learning
activities and giving
personal opinions
Summary: Taigh
Chearsabhagh is a key
attraction for both
visitors and local
people in North Uist. It
has an important
development and
educational role in the
visual arts, as well as
in conserving and
displaying aspects of
local culture and
history.
Cultural notes:
Recorded in North Uist
in the Outer Hebrides,
where a high proportion
of the community is
bilingual in Gaelic and
English
Language notes:
Simple documentary
narrative and
description
Content / topic:
Value of museum and art
centre as visitor
attraction and
educational centre
Duration:
Level (listening
level required): B2
Summary:
Donald Ferguson speaks
as a student on the
first year of the BA in
Fine Art that is hosted
by Taigh Chearsabhagh.
He describes and
comments on the
facilities in the centre
and the quality of
services and teaching
staff on the course.
Cultural notes:
Recorded in Benbecula in
the Outer Hebrides,
where a high proportion
of the community is
bilingual in Gaelic and
English
Language notes:
Unscripted authentic
speech at natural pace,
exhibiting
characteristic
"performance errors" -
false starts, pauses,
repetitions, etc -
listing and grading
services and facilities
Summary: Kevin
De Las Casas and James
McLetchie, both resident
in North Uist, write and
perform songs with their
group “Bi Beò”. The
documentary follows the
song creation process
from initial ideas round
a kitchen table through
musical arrangement to
studio recording.
Cultural notes:
Recorded in North Uist
and Benbecula in the
Outer Hebrides, where a
high proportion of the
community is bilingual
in Gaelic and English
Language notes:
Simple documentary
narrative and
description
Summary: James
McLetchie talks about
what prompted him to
write the words to the
song “Na seann daoine”.
He explains the
references to local
people and family
members, and reflects on
how things have changed
in his local community.
Cultural notes:
Recorded in North Uist
in the Outer Hebrides,
where a high proportion
of the community is
bilingual in Gaelic and
English
Language notes:
Unscripted authentic
speech at natural pace,
exhibiting
characteristic
"performance errors" -
false starts, pauses,
repetitions, etc -
explaining writing
process
Summary: Kevin
De Las Casas talks to
James McLetchie about
the song creation
process, and about his
musical background and
influences. He also
describes his own
musical development
since arriving in Uist,
and the importance of
performance experience
for both composing and
recording.
Cultural notes:
Recorded in North Uist
in the Outer Hebrides,
where a high proportion
of the community is
bilingual in Gaelic and
English
Language notes:
Unscripted authentic
speech at natural pace,
exhibiting
characteristic
"performance errors" -
false starts, pauses,
repetitions, etc -
explaining composition
process
Summary:
"Interview portraying
the FITCH marketing
company. The interviewer
asks the following
questions:
What is your business
mission / core product(s)
What is your marketing
strategy?
Are there special
specifications /
requirements that your
customers must meet?
(like size, reputation
etc.) If so why?
What are the most vital
marketing parameters of
a consulting company,
whose product is finding
solutions for other
companies?
How do you develop new
products?
How would you
characterize competition
in your field?
How do you differentiate
in this market compared
to your competitors?"
Cultural notes:
Interesting case study
showing strategies for
marketing and branding
products
Language notes:
The interviewer is
Danish, but the bulk /
core of the interview is
the part of the
interviewee who is
British.
Copyright:
CopyLeft
Summary:
"Interview with a
portrait of the SYNOCO
marketing company.
During the interview the
following questions are
raised:
How do you create a
competitive edge in your
field? (Technological
advances? Product
development?)
What is more important;
focusing on production
or sale?
In what way do you take
the global market into
consideration at the
planning stage of your
products?
Is it only production,
which is influenced by
the global market, or is
this also the case with
other activities like
marketing, control and
distribution?
What demands do the
global market place on
your employees? (E.g.
cultural understanding,
flexibility)
When we are talking
about good marketing
strategy, what do you
consider to be the
greatest differences
between business to
business relations and
other markets, e.g. the
consumer market?
Cultural notes:
Interesting case study
showing marketing
strategies
Language notes:
The interviewer is
Danish, but the bulk /
core of the interview is
the part of the
interviewee who is
British.
Copyright:
CopyLeft
Video:
Transcription of
video:
English text:
www.languages.dk/archive/video_data/UK/UK02_EN.pdf
Summary: Step
by step instruction on
how to wire a plug. The
plug used is a British
type with a fuse
Cultural notes:
Instructional video
which may be suitable
for all vocations
Language notes:
Typical instructions.
Intermediate
Copyright:
CopyLeft
Summary: Step
by step instruction on
how to wire a plug. The
plug used is a British
type with a fuse
Cultural notes:
Instructional video
which may be suitable
for all vocations
Language notes:
Typical instructions.
Simplified version.
Copyright:
CopyLeft
Content / topic:
ICT and society
Duration: 2:23 Level (listening
level required): B1
Summary:
The ultimate robot:
A fully automatic lawn
mower for the homeowner.
Tired of mowing your
lawn? Fed-up with your
lawn service? Or relying
on the neighbor’s team?
Robomow is the ultimate
in lawn mowing
convenience.
Especially designed to
mow your lawn completely
automatically. Powered
by a rechargeable
battery, Robomow is
extremely quiet and
environment friendly.
While Robomow
automatically cuts your
lawn you can enjoy your
free time the way you
like most. All Robomow
models traverse your
lawn in a systematic
pattern of zigzag lines,
which repeats it self in
several different
angles.
Language notes:
American English.
Suitable for students at
listening/reading level
B2 and upwards
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
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