Welsh Language

What is the Value of the Welsh Language in Primary Education?

When living and learning in Wales it is easily assumed that the language is taught to carry on the traditions, however I believe there is most defiantly more to why it is valued. The Welsh Government (2017) agreed and stated that ‘the Welsh Language is integral to those reforms, as it is to the government-wide objectives of building resilient communities, culture and language and promoting and protecting Wales’ place in the world.’ It was found that the language is still commonly used, when conducting investigations into how people in Wales used the language. Gov.Wales (2015) found in a survey that found in Wales that 47% of welsh speakers were fluent of with the language, and 53% quoted that they used the welsh language daily. Additionally, BERA (2016) conducted a study into pupil’s views on the Welsh language being taught in schools. The results found that 64.5% of the children thought that it was important to learn the language of their county, also in regard to how much they speak the language 59.5% said it was important to speak it in the classroom setting. Furthermore, a large number of the children feel that it is important for the welsh language to be valued in the country, with 75% of the children believing this. (BERA, 2016)

By looking into how this is inflicted to the children of Wales in the schools, it was found that there are around 65,000 children in bilingual and Welsh medium school (Welsh Government, 2015). Throughout Wales there are currently five different types of schools, that involve the welsh language:

·     Welsh Medium Primary Schools – where the children are taught with the Welsh language as there first

·     Dual Stream Primary Schools – were children are taught threw a mixture of the both languages of Welsh and English

·     Traditional – Welsh is a main teaching language within the foundation phase, with the addition of little English

·     Predominately English Medium – teaching of both languages, around 20% of the Welsh Language

·     Predominately English Medium Primary School – English is the most used language of the school, Welsh is taught as a second language

(The School Run, 2019)

As the introduction of Donaldson’s (2015) curriculum he aimed to see ‘Manypeople see the Welsh language as a real strength of the education system. However, the place of the Welsh language in the curriculum needs to be strengthened.’  So, his aim is to get children to confidently speak the language in everyday settings, by also increasing how much it is used in the workplace as children move on throughout their lives. Stats Wales (2018) found that from the years of 1-2 within Wales were 15,915 welsh speakers, with 6,277 of the language speakers being in Cardiff. With the amount of people, it doesn’t show a huge amount of people living in Wales speaking the welsh language, showing the value needs to be raised so that the language is used more within the country.

Estyn (2013) stated that developing the Welsh language is one out of the seven areas of the learning framework for children’s learning. In the report it states that children should start to learn the welsh language in the foundation phase, to communicate through the language so that as they grow up, they can both listen and understand the language. By the children starting the language in the foundation phase it is valued a lot more, as the children see the real meaning of why the welsh language should be used. Also, by the children being born and having their home life in the country, knowing the language shows a big sense of pride for the country they live in. Where this is a main practise in mainly all welsh medium primary schools, predominately English medium schools also have framework. The Estyn Report stated that ‘“In schools and settings where English is the main medium of communication, children’s Welsh language skills should be progressively developed throughout the Foundation Phase by implementing the Welsh Language Development Area of Learning.’Showing that the student doesn’t need to be first language welsh, in order to learn and build upon their knowledge of the welsh language.

So, what are the recognised benefits of a Welsh language classroom in primary schools? The Welsh Government (2015) stated that by being bilingual makes it less challenging for children to learn other languages, this can also be used to help show children that people have different cultures and traditions. It was also found that it had a clear effect on the brain, as it is constantly learning new words and vocabulary. (Welsh Government, 2015) Additionally, another big advantage is that it gives people in Wales, a noticeable advantage when looking for jobs. As supported again by the Welsh Government (2015) who stated that 1/3 employers agree that when a person can speak the language, they are more employable when it comes to customer service skills.  Additionally, the Guardian (2017) wrote that the Welsh language helps enhance children’s lives, as they are able to open the door to cultural inheritance. This keeps the value of the Welsh language carried on throughout generations and upholding the pride people have for their country. Kumon (2019) wrote that children who have learnt more than one language are more creative, better at solving difficult problems and always strive for higher marks on standardised tests. Moreover, they also found that when children can speak the language well enough to be classed as fluent, they feel specifically satisfied when they use that language abroad. This advances their autonomy, confidence and self-esteem. (Kumon, 2019) Children also get the feeling of enjoyment when learning a new language, as they are in a social setting that uses the best modern and traditional methods of teaching combined. (Aberystwyth University, 2019) Also by knowing the Welsh language it also promotes equality between languages, by creating a wider community of people to connect with.

In conclusion, the Welsh language is highly valued in the culture of Wales, as people enjoy the learning and teachings of the language. The new curriculum introduced by Donaldson (2015) following his ideas of it needing to be strengthened, as I personally think the language can be taught more depending at what school the child attends. There are also many benefits to children learning the language, as it gives them very high opportunities to work in Wales above people that don’t speak the Welsh language.

References 

Aberystwyth University (2019) Welsh Medium Provision: Advantages. Available at: https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/ccc/welsh-medium-provision/advantages/(Accessed: 21^stMarch 2019)

BERA (2016) Living, not just learning, the Welsh Language. Available at: https://www.bera.ac.uk/blog/living-not-just-learning-the-welsh-language(Accessed: 21^stMarch 2019)

Donaldson, G. (2015). Successful Futures: Independent Review of Curriculum and Assessment Arrangements in Wales. Welsh Assembly Government Crown

Estyn (2013) Welsh Language Development in the Foundation Phase. Available at: https://www.estyn.gov.wales/sites/default/files/documents/Welsh%20Language%20Development%20in%20the%20Foundation%20Phase%20-%20January%202013.pdf(Accessed: 20^thMarch 2019)

Gov.Wales (2015) Welsh Language use Survey: 2013-2015. Available at: https://gov.wales/welsh-language-use-survey-2013-2015(Accessed: 20^thMarch 2019)

Kumon (2019) Is learning a foreign language good for kids at a young age? Available at: https://www.kumon.co.uk/blog/is-learning-a-foreign-language-good-for-kids-at-a-young-age/(Accessed: 21^stMarch 2019)

Stats Wales (2018) Pupils taught Welsh as a first language in primary, middle and secondary schools in year groups 1-11, by local authority, region and year. Available at: https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue/Education-and-Skills/Schools-and-Teachers/Schools-Census/Pupil-Level-Annual-School-Census/Welsh-Language/pupilstaughtwelshprimarymiddlesecondaryschools-by-localauthorityregion-year(Accessed: 20^thMarch 2019)

 The Guardian (2017) Welsh-Language teaching helps enrich children’s lives. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/20/welsh-language-teaching-helps-enrich-childrens-lives  (Accessed: 21^stMarch 2019)

The School Run (2019) Welsh Language teaching in Wales: Different types of Primary Schools. Available at: https://www.theschoolrun.com/welsh-teaching-in-primary-schools(Accessed: 20^thMarch 2019)

 Welsh Government (2015) – Children 4-11. Available at: https://cymraeg.llyw.cymru/learning/schools/children-ages-4-11/?lang=en(Accessed: 21^stMarch 2019)

Welsh Government (2017) Welsh in Education: Action Plan 2017-21. Available at: https://beta.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2018-02/welsh-in-education-action-plan-2017–21.pdf(Accessed: 19^thMarch 2019)