Education students off to Scotland for practicum-“It puts a nice polish towards what we have been working for”

Meaghan O’Handley and Emily MacKinnon, two second year StFX education students, will be travelling to the Isle of Skye in Scotland in March to complete their final teaching practicum at a Gaelic primary school in Portree.

Both say it’s a dream come true.

“It’s what we have been working towards our whole lives,” says Meaghan, who grew up and first studied Gaelic in Boisdale, Cape Breton. “We both took Celtic Studies in high school and we both wanted to be teachers. Now with our graduation from education at StFX approaching, it puts a nice polish towards what we’ve been working for.”

“And it’s a nice beginning to our Gaelic teaching career,” says Emily, another Cape Breton native, from Ainslie Glen.

L-r, Meaghan O’Handley, Dr. Jeff Orr, Emily MacKinnon and Walter Duggan.

The duo grew up in separate areas of the island, but travelled similar routes to this point.

They both took Gaelic classes in high school and followed that interest with undergraduate degrees at StFX. In 2007, Meaghan graduated with a degree in Celtic Studies and history, and Emily with a degree in Celtic Studies and English.

When they applied to StFX’s School of Education, they knew they wanted to incorporate their Gaelic background into their teaching. They were thrilled when in the fall of 2007, the School of Education started offering a Gaelic methodology course, taught by Effie Rankin completely in Gaelic.

Now, the  two students who hope to teach Gaelic in Nova Scotia after they graduate, say the six-week work experience overseas should provide so many benefits.

“Our fluency will improve and our confidence level with the language,” says Emily. “And we’ll be learning how to hold a classroom together in Gaelic, and everything that goes along with that, besides teaching,” Meaghan says.

They’re keen for the connections they will make and the skills and experience they will be able to parlay into their teaching careers.

B.Ed students at StFX do four teaching placements over their two years, with an option for an alternative placement in their final teaching practice. This is the first time a student will travel to Scotland for the practicum, says Walter Duggan, admissions and field coordinator.

The idea started when Ian Dutton, a teacher recruiter from the U.K. visited StFX and heard about Meaghan and Emily’s Celtic backgrounds. He came up with the idea to complete a practicum in Scotland.

“We said sure, let’s figure out how to do this,” says StFX school director Dr. Jeff Orr.

Dr. Orr says everyone from the Nova Scotia Office of Gaelic Affairs to StFX Celtic Studies, to local school boards, to Effie Rankin and Walter Duggan, have been extremely helpful. “We’re very proud and excited of all the people who have stepped forward in support of this.”

“There’s considerable growing demand for Gaelic in schools,” Dr. Orr says.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for two young people to expand their horizons in something that they love,” says Mr. Duggan. “This is kind of the crowing jewel.”
Š