Andreas Wolff

At the Highlands and Islands Media Awards this year, the winner of the Gaelic prize was none other than Berlin-born German, Andreas Wolff, fluent in six languages and now working for Gaelic language, digital TV channel, BBC Alba, plus Radio nan Gaidheal, as a broadcast journalist. He also writes a Gaelic column for the Scottish Catholic Observer and has just started taking on a Gaelic in the Home class in Connel, Argyll.

1. Where, when and why did you start learning Gaelic?

I came to Scotland at first as a tourist, aged 14 and loved it, especially on the West Coast. I came back year after year. Since I've got a weakness for beautiful languages I soon fell in love with Gaelic. When I was 17, I decided to spend half a year at school in Scotland to improve my English before taking the German Abitur (sixth-year studies exams) and by chance it happened to be a school near Glasgow. The physics teacher there was a Barrach (Barraman) and he taught me some phrases. 

At that time I wouldn't have been able to say why I liked Gaelic so much, but now I think it is because it has a very rich culture which big languages, like English and German, have largely lost. I mean the folklore with its stories and songs; I sing in the Taynuilt Gaelic choir and by myself as well. 

I also feel that the Gaels, though sometimes a bit shy, are very kind and warm-hearted people. I think they are especially blessed by God. Where else but in the Western Isles would cars stop to ask you, if you wanted a lift without you putting out a thumb? It's almost impossible to go for a walk there for the kindness of the people and it won't take long before you'll be offered a strubag, a cup of tea and something to eat.

2. Were you already fluent in five languages by then - which ones and how does Gaelic compare, including the learning of it, to the others?

Besides German and English I was already fluent in French, having spent four months in France before coming here. I only learned Spanish after that. I have cousins in South America and spent long holydays there in Colombia and Ecuador. I learned Italian in between (a bit at school, a bit at university and some on numerous holydays to Italy). It certainly helps to keep these going, that my wife is half-Venezuelan and half-Italian. I am also able to have a basic conversation in Russian, Portuguese and Irish Gaelic. Scots Gaelic is a bit more difficult to learn than Spanish, which I found easiest. But anything you enjoy doing is easy and I just loved it all the way. I consider myself to be a language junkie.

3. Why here now?

It was only six-and-a-half years ago, aged 28, that I decided I needed a break. I completed a law course in Germany but wasn't really very successful in that career. So I decided to come to Sabhal Mor Ostaig, the Gaelic college on Skye, where I had been on short courses during the summer before. I was going to stay for a maximum of one year but loved it so much that I stayed for an honours degree in Gaelic language and culture.

4. How did you get into journalism?

After my degree I did another course at the college mainly aimed at training people to work in the television industry. It was very condensed and took only six months. After that we all went on a six-month placement. I was lucky and got mine with 'Eorpa', the BBC's Gaelic language programme looking at European current affairs. And while I was working there I saw an advert for a broadcast journalist trainee post, which I luckily got.

5. What were the circumstances behind joining BBC Alba? What do you do specifically with the channel?

I joined the BBC full-time on the first day of operation of BBC ALBA. It was exciting and there was loads to learn. But my colleagues were very helpful and so it was a very good experience. I started off in the newsroom doing radio work and then got training to do video journalism as well. Last summer, the opportunity arose to swap with a colleague in Oban which I gladly did, because my wife lives here. So these days I cover stories all over Argyll and Lochaber both for radio and television. I am an one-man crew standing in front of, and behind, the camera and also doing the editing afterwards.

6. What does it mean winning the Gaelic title at the Highlands and Islands Media Awards?

I am very, very pleased and hadn't expected it at all. In fact, before entering, I thought I'd just send something in to get into the habit of doing so, but I was first time lucky. Last year, I had entered my Gaelic column for the Scottish Catholic Observer and became runner-up at the Scottish Press Awards, which certainly encouraged me to keep on going.

7. Presumably, native-speaking colleagues have been amused by your beating them to the prize?

On the contrary: They have all been very kind and congratulated me. In fact native speaker, Alasdair Campbell, from the West Highland Free Press and I, swapped places from last year, but I was very pleased to see that he genuinly said he was happy for me.

8. Any more languages you wish to learn and does that mean you inevitably leaving Scotland for pastures new?

I'd love to bring my Russian and Portuguese up to scratch and I'd love to learn Chinese and Arabic, but they aren't quite as easy as Gaelic, I don't think. I don't have any plans to leave Scotland except for maybe an extensive holiday. Never say never, but I'm sure I'll be around for a guid wee while still.

9. Proudest moment as a journalist?

Winning of the Highlands and Islands Media Award.

10. Funniest or most embarrassing?

I had to laugh out loud when the Scottish Catholic Observer in its reflections on the year 2009, in December, printed on the page for the month of May a picture of Barak Obama, The Pope and myself.