What is the value of the Welsh language in Primary Education?


Emily Vaughan
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What is the value of the Welsh language in Primary Education?

The Welsh language is an important part of the curriculum in Wales. The Welsh government (2007) published that ‘it’s Welsh medium education strategy, aimed at improving the teaching and learning of the language throughout the country. It drew on an earlier vision to create a truly bilingual Wales.’ For this result children are now attending schools in Wales that learn the Welsh language from an early age as they are taught predominantly through the medium of the Welsh language.

Welsh in schools are the main language to speak in Wales and an everyday communication. In the Foundation Stage all children are taught the medium of Welsh. The Welsh language is speaking as the first language in the Welsh medium schools as it’s a Welsh speaking school and not English. Only a third of schools in Wales do teach the pupils primarily in Welsh (Tickle and Morris, 2017). Donaldson (2015) intends to have more children speaking the Welsh language to become ethical, informed citizens of Wales and to the other cultures that may come into the Welsh population.

The Education Reform Act, (1988) ‘Welsh became compulsory for every pupil at Key Stage 1, 2 and 3 in 1990. From September 1999, compulsion was extended to Key Stage 4. The Welsh language development area of learning in the Foundation Phase for 3 to 7 years old has also means that children in English medium settings and schools start to learn the Welsh language from the age of three. More recently, the Welsh Government has shown its commitment to developing Wales as a bilingual nation through its Welsh Language Strategy.’ (Donaldson,2015).

The Welsh language is known to be an important language as Professor Davies, (2013) states that learning the language is ‘a very tedious experience for large numbers of young people and that they don’t regard the subject as being relevant or of any value to them’. Most children and young people don’t feel that the current provision for learning Welsh at Key Stage 3 and 4 enables them to be confident to use the Welsh language outside schools but also outside of the Welsh lessons.

Many ways in primary schools that enhances and engages children’s knowledge on the Welsh language, is using a variety of activities are provided involving the use of rhymes, poems and games. Pupils in schools are given opportunities to work in pairs and groups to help one another and a supportive atmosphere is provided in which pupils are not afraid to try again and in which they are able to ‘fail in safety’.  All teachers show enthusiasm for the Welsh language and how to introduce it into the lessons in a way such as role play to encourage speaking the language and use their listening skills but also using different resources such as IPADS, Books for children to read and research about the topic and practice Welsh words. Skills of Welsh are developed through communicating in a range of enjoyable, practical planned activities and to use a range of stimuli that build on and increase children’s previous knowledge and experiences in safe and stimulating indoor and outdoor learning environments.
The Foundation Phase, children should learn to use and communicate in Welsh to the best of their ability. Children should be able to Welsh being spoken and respond appropriately in familiar situations by using a range of patterns. All children are being encouraged to speak the language in schools and should be increasingly exposed to Welsh.

In conclusion, the Welsh language is to thrive across Wales for children and young people must accept that it is an important language to have in your lifestyle but all for parents and teachers on having the further understanding of the history of Wales to be able to encourage their pupils or children on the Welsh language and why it’s important.  

References:

Donaldson, G. (2015). Successful Futures: Independent Review of Curriculum and Assessment Arrangements in Wales. Welsh Assembly Government. Crown. (Accessed: 15th April 2018)
Tickle, L. and Morris, S. (2017). ‘We’re told we’re anti-Welsh bigots and fascists’ – the storm over Welsh-first schooling. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/jun/20/storm-welsh-only-schools-minority-language(Accessed: April 2018).
The School Run (2018) Available at: https://www.theschoolrun.com (Accessed: 15th April 2018).
Welsh Government (2013) One language for all: Review of Welsh second language at Key Stages 3 and 4 – Report and recommendations Welsh Government. (Accessed: 15th April 2018)
Williams, C (2002) Using Language Games to Develop Oracy, CBAC/WJEC. (Accessed: 15th April 2018)






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