To ask if, given the opportunity, you would opt to have your child(ren) educated from 3-18 through the medium of another language that neither you, DP or wider family speak?

[whynogutfeeling]

I'm struggling with a decision re: Welsh medium education here in Wales at the moment. Neither DP or I, or our families, speak Welsh.

So many supporters of Welsh medium education are encouraging us to go for it and cite many advantages that such an education offers, but they are a) either Welsh speakers themselves b) have partners who are Welsh speakers if they are not or c) are totally on-board with and committed to 'project Welsh language' and / or are learning Welsh as adults.

I find myself wondering if they, if they had the option, would choose to send their child(ren) to a Mandarin / German / Spanish medium school if they had the option and also whether imagining such a scenario can help them understand our concerns?

Am I a bad parent for not choosing education through the medium of another language (in this case Welsh) for my child, when I have the option? Will I limit their opportunities by not taking the option up?

North west wales here. It's pretty hard to find a job unless your a fluent welsh speaker. It's basically impossible to get work in the council for example and pretty hard to get into the NHS unless you can speak Welsh. Even though I'm English, I understand why. The majority of people are Welsh first language. No choice here other than wm education at primary level. Only one offering teaching though English or Welsh at secondary and that's a fair distance away. It hasn't been easy teaching the kids to read in a language I can't understand, but the school has been supportive and there's lots of apps available. However I think I will be choosing em education at secondary level. Mainly so I can become more involved in the school and my kids learning. I'm very proud when they sing away in Welsh at school shows but it would be nice if I could understand it. Our em school also has better results, is more cosmopolitan and offers a great range of subject choices. I will encourage them to continue learning some subjects though the medium of Welsh though.