AIBU to expect my kids to not to told off for speaking English in a welsh medium school?

[Hairyfairy01]

I have 2 dc in year 3 and 6 who attend a welsh medium primary school and have been taught in the welsh medium since they started school. However both dc are brought up in an english speaking household. English medium education at primary level is not available in this area of wales. Both dc have reported to me that they get told off for speaking English in the classroom, corridors, lunchtime and playtime by both teachers and pupil members of the school 'welsh' council. Now I have no issues with encouraging the welsh language and totally support their scheme of rewarding pupils for speaking welsh in social situations. However I do have an issue of telling kids off for speaking english, not so much in lesson time, but more at lunchtime / playtime. Surely at these 'downtime' occasions kids should be able to speak whatever language they like, be it French, Chinese or whatever. I can only imagine that this is what happens in other primary schools where children's home / first language is different to the main language of the school occurs? Are they all told off for speaking French / Chinese etc? Feeling furious but not sure if iabu?

No that's not on. I had involvement with languages and the policy is that children should never be told to not speak to others in their home language. I assume that is the same if it happens to be a welsh speaking school. Surely!?

Yanbu I feel exactly the same. Wales has two languages - except Gwynedd, which has one. I think it's insane that they don't do anything in English until year 4.

Yanbu in the slightest.
My children were in a dual stream (English and Welsh) primary school until I discovered that my children (from the bloody English stream!) were being told off if they spoke to their friends (from the Welsh stream) in English at play/lunch breaks. How the fuck else were they supposed to communicate with their friends/make new friends in their own time? I was fully supportive of keeping the Welsh language alive until my children went to this school and were treated as second class citizens and essentially segregated from the main part of the school. Grrrrr. Makes me so bloody cross.

It’s pretty standard in Gaelscoileanna (Irish language schools) that Irish is the language of all communication within the school and throughout the school day.

Perhaps similar rules apply in this case?

Wow, it seems to have got worse since I grew up in Wales. In secondary school we had separate forms groups for the English kids and we were taught separately and generally segregated and treated as second class citizens.

Are they really told off, or just reminded to speak Welsh? Being pulled up for something can feel more dramatic than it really is when you're little.

This happened at my DC's school (but not Welsh). It was to ensure mastery of the school's language. Strange, but true!

Its the same in English medium schools especially when teachers do not speak the language, this is to prevent bullying and the such like.

This is exactly why we moved out of Gwynedd and in to Conwy when our 1st dc had done a year in a Gwynedd school.
I have also heard tales from fellow parents of other local schools that their dc have been reprimanded for speaking English in the playground.

What annoys me isnthe lack of consistency around the country. I grew up in Denbighshire and there was a choice, whereas half an hour down the road there is only one option.

I have no issues about speaking Welsh, but when it comes to education... Either teach it in Welsh throughout the whole country or don’t do it at all.

I've got two in Welsh Medium school and they do get reminded to speak in Welsh at all times. I'm glad. I'm not a Welsh Speaker and the whole point of educating them in Welsh was for them to achieve fluency. It IS an advantage. I've been cut off from many job applications where Welsh is a requirement. You could have sent them to English medium?

Leave Wales! Who needs this atmosphere for their English speaking children? It’s segregation and unacceptable. Madness - especially as Welsh Education isn’t the best! Leave the Welsh speakers to their own schools.

It’s only an advantage in Wales! Most of the uk isn’t Wales.

That’s the issue dona there isn’t always an option unless you move.

Why give options in some areas and not others?

I think it's insane that they don't do anything in English until year 4.

Year 3.

It’s completely standard in welsh medium schools - it’s to give them a strong welsh foundation. DD primarily speaks English at home (I’m reasonably fluent in welsh but rusty) and DH is English but trying to learn. She reads and writes plenty in both languages at home so won’t have any issues when “formal” English lessons happen next year.

It makes sense to me that they are encouraged to use welsh all day. It’s almost July - I suspect your kids are repeat offenders if they have been told off.

bubbles infact it’s only an advantage if you want to work for the dinosaur council that os Gwynedd CC

It’s only an advantage in Wales! Most of the uk isn’t Wales.

The early bilingualism opens doors outside of Wales.

Repeat offenders for speaking their 1st language during their break time?.... Could you imagine the uproar if you asked a Muslim child to stop speaking Hindu in an English school during lunch?!

I disagree with Welsh language opening doors to other languages. I have many friend who are first language Welsh and none can speak other languages and their English writing skills are appalling

Tity how. Speaking Welsh is only good in Wales surely

Patagonia too zwellers

I think it would be a slipery slope if they are trying to keep the language up in the school. English is quite pervasive. It's a bit different to allowing someone to speak a minority language in an English school.

I don't see why the kids need to speak English?

Repeat offenders for speaking their 1st language during their break time?.... Could you imagine the uproar if you asked a Muslim child to stop speaking Hindu in an English school during lunch?!

Lol at the Muslim kids speaking Hindu.

I disagree with Welsh language opening doors to other languages.

All languages open doors to other languages.

It's not on. When my kids were at school they banned the Korean student (1/4 of the school) from speaking Korean to each other and there was rightful outrage. In lessons, okay, but at lunchtime should be free to speak whatever language they want.