Weel duin tae Scots Language Teacher of the Year wha hae bin nominatit in Scots Teacher o the Year (sponsored by Qualifications Scotland) in the Scots Language Awards. Vote now!
The 2026 Scots Language Awards tak place on Saturday 19th September at the iconic Discovery Centre, home of the RRS Discovery Ship (1pm). Reserve yer ticket here.
The awards will be a daytime event this year, making them as inclusive and accessible to as many award nominees from across Scotland as possible.
We askit Nicola Daniel o Scots Language Teacher of the Year thae speirins.
Tell us aboot yersel or yer ootfit.
Ahm a currulum leader ae English in Broughton High School, Edinburgh. Ahve been teachin for 30 years noo, and have aye includit Scots in ma pedagogy. Ah come fae Glesga, bide in Fawkirk an work in Edinburgh. Ah trained in Ayrshire, so Ave fair covered the Central Belt!
Whit wis it got ye involvit wi the Scots leid?
Ah studied at Glasgow Uni, where, in studyin English Language, Scots wis included as 'a variety of English'. That didnae seem right tae me. When Ah became a teacher, ma Scots journey stertit wi that grand resource, the Scots Kist. As a wean, Ah got telt tae aye speak 'proper English', wi a skelp aroon ma lug, oftentimes, if ah didnae. Hence, ah grew up bilingual, able tae codeswitch. That skill meant that folks treatit me different tae the pals ah hung aboot wi in sunny Maryhill, that interestin suburb o Glasgow. Ma school wis hauf Maryhill an the likes, an hauf Bearsden, Milgavie etc, so there wis definitely major class distinctions, but Ah managed to flit between the two. I remember wan time how a teacher's attitude towards me chynged when she realised where Ah came fae – a sneerin luik doon her nose – pure contempt. Ah swore that nae wean that came past me wid ever get treatit like that. As a result, even though Ah now work in wan ae the leafiest perts ae Edinburgh, Ah huv made sure tae champion the leid wi every wean in the school. Oor school is diverse, wi ower 67 leids spoken in it. We huv the maist diverse catchment in the country and a gid hauf ae our weans are Scots spikkers at hame, in the corridor and sometimes in the classroom. Wi another gid chunk spikken nae Scots at aw, our Scots leid spikkers can dae something they don't aye get a chance tae – they become the experts, teachin the weans fae Stockbridge, Comely Bank and New Town whit the leid o the land sounds like. Teachin it as a legitimate and academic subject gies the leid that respect and goes a fair way tae removing that classist attitude that can hing aboot the leid. Ah mind wan lassie writin her entire English folio in Scots, despite no spikken it herself at aw – Swedish wis her first leid. Another former pupil, noo a languages dominie hersel, sent me a Scots calendar frae her new school area, wi a message aboot how she remembers the Scots we learnt in ma classroom. She wis goin oan tae study the same Scots Language course Ah did wi the Open Uni.
It's dead important tae me for us to get rid ae any stigma and baeth cherish and champion the leid. It gies agency tae oor weans who spik it and gies confidence in literacy and in self. Ahm glad tae promote it wherever and hoever I can.
Why dae ye feel it is important tae use Scots in everyday life?
If ye cannae see it, ye cannae be it. Firm believer in that. Weans fae Scots spikken areas are often (but no ayeways) fae mair disadvantaged places. That comes wi a whole load ae social stigma and – aye – disadvantages. It can be a real confidence drainer tae no feel like yer voice is 'right' or 'proper' or 'correct'; that yer leid is just wrang. Yer voice is a massive pert ae yer identity, an if it's no considert socially acceptable, then it excludes ye. When yer excluded fae places where Scots disnae thrive, yer ambition and life choices are diminished. Oor leid needs to be championed – emblazoned oan the tongues ae all o Jock Tamson's weans. It's no just bad English – it's a gid Scots tongue. So, social exclusion and rejection ae yer identity – widespread learnin o Scots helps tackle that. Ye dinnae see it oan the news or hear it in the lecture halls, and you should. If Ah can be a role model ae language fur kids who are like ah wis and show them that ye can be a success regardless o backgrund or mother tongue, that's a grand thing.
There's also that issue o communication wi folk. Loads ae new Scots will be excluded fae conversations when they dinnae unnerstaun whits being spoke in Scots. Dementia patients who spoke Scots as weans react to it in ways they dinnae fur other stimuli. For aw folks who bide and work in Scotland, bein able to unnerstaun and to communicate is a massive part ae social cohesion.
Dae ye hae a favourite Scots phrase or saying?
Ma mither's favourite, which I use a lot, is 'goan take a run up ma humph', but Ahm also a big fan ae 'whits fur ye won't go by ye'.
Is there a Scots speaker who inspires you?
Ah fair enjoy the poems ae Magda Stevenson.
Do you hear Scots spoken regularly in your local area? Have you noticed any changes over time?
Aye – but it's definitely gettin mair influenced by Americanisms and London dialects.
Ony particlar career heighlichts
Och, so many…
Takin ma weans to the Scottish Parliament to influence lawmakers aboot includin Scots in legislation was a big yin!
Wha’s yer plans fir the days aheid?
Gettin by, maistly! In terms o Scots, Ahm plannin tae dae some moderation and learnin and teachin workshops in school. Ahm hopin tae dae some mair cultural activities and work wi some partners.
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The Scots Language Awards are in Dundee on the 19th September at 1pm. There wull be some grand entertainmint includin a recitals fae Yvonne Tait an Hugh Macmillan alang wi musical performances fae Iona Fyfe and Scott Gardiner.
To attend the Scots Language Awards there are a few tickets remaining. Click here to reserve your tickets.
Join Elfie Picket Theatre for the Scots language nicht BLETHER, fur a nicht o music, poetry and stories aa celebratin Scots Leid & culture. We hae twa special guests jynin us and a wee open mic. Leadin us intae a big Dundee Fringe Ceilidh! Startin at 6pm, tickets £10.
If you would like to support Hands Up for Trad in their work with Scottish language please consider donating here.