Speak for Yersel: Mapping Scots in the 21st Century Classroom Scots

The Scottish Government, in conjunction with Education Scotland, launched their Scots Language Policy in 2015. It has two main aims: 1. to promote the learning and teaching of Scots in the classroom; 2. to provide access to relevant resources to do so. The policy has resulted in a number of initiatives for the study of Scots, including the appointment of Scots Language Coordinators who work directly with schools to achieve these aims. As a result, in recent years there has been a marked increase in activity, and the resources available to do so. However, discussions with stakeholders across a range of forums demonstrate that there remains considerable scope for further development. Specifically, there is a need for a dynamic, digital resource which is easily accessible, stand-alone, and tailored to the local communities in which the materials are used. Such a resource would maximise engagement for both teachers and pupils across Scotland, thus making a substantial contribution to the aims set out by Education Scotland on the study of Scots.

In this project we will work with a Scots Language Coordinator at Education Scotland to provide such a resource. We will build on the recently launched Scots Syntax Atlas (scotssyntaxatlas.ac.uk) in order to provide a number of online interactive activities for secondary school pupils. These activities investigate the words, sounds and sentences used in Scots throughout Scotland, and the social attitudes which arise from these.

Specifically, we will:
1.create a series of interactive online activities where pupils will report on their own speech patterns (production) and what they think of others' speech (perception).
2.generate a dynamic digital resource which compares and contrasts pupils own and others' production and perception.
3.produce a series of online worksheets which enable pupils to reflect on their own and others' speech patterns as gathered from 1&2 above.
4.pilot this resource in 10 schools (c300 pupils) throughout Scotland within the lifetime of the project, in preparation for much wider dissemination to more schools beyond the funding period.

The Speak for Yersel project will significantly extend the depth and reach of provision to schools who wish to further develop their teaching and learning of Scots. More broadly, it will provide young learners with a fuller understanding of that most crucial of human abilities, language, and the part it plays in our everyday lives.