BBC ALBA is bringing back SpeakGaelic – the channel's flagship programme for teaching the language.
Joy Dunlop and Calum Maclean will be working with intermediate-level Gaelic learners, helping to polish up their language skills.
Dunlop, embarking on the journey of learning Gaelic herself, will be teaching viewers conversational phrases and vocabulary, on topics including health and wellbeing, sports, cooking and the environment.
The programme will showcase speakers from a range of skill levels, from beginners to native speakers with an intimate knowledge of the history and culture of the language.
Dunlop said: “It’s such a pleasure to be involved in this multi-faceted project and to feel that we are supporting a whole new generation of new speakers.
“Their enthusiasm and love for the course is infectious and I hope that it helps inspire others to take the first step in their learning journey.”
Alongside Dunlop, Calum Maclean, recently crowned Scotland’s top TikTok influencer, will take the viewers on a tour across Scotland.
Maclean said: “I’m delighted to be back on the road, exploring Scotland and meeting people from all over. From Parkour, to dinosaur footprints, and Morris dancing, there’s nothing I wouldn’t try at least once!”
SpeakGaelic’s third season will air at 7.30pm every Monday evening.
The first 13 episodes of the show can be found on BBC iPlayer and YouTube.
In October, the Scottish Government released the third renewal of the Gaelic language plan, spanning from 2022 to 2027. The plan detailed a united effort to promote Gaelic speaking, reading, and writing skills, and expand the visibility, quality and consistency of the language.
Results from the 2011 census showed that the number of Gaelic speakers in Scotland had fallen since the 2001 census. In total, between 1991 and 2011, Gaelic speakers had dropped by over 11%.
Gaelic has been classified as a "definitely endangered" language by Unesco.
The SpeakGaelic podcast can be found on BBC Sounds and support learning materials can be found at www.speakgaelic.scot
