Or is the school?

[schoolissues]

Name changed for this

DD had parents evening the other day, she's in year 10 and goes to a Welsh school. DH and I don't speak any Welsh but we want to be able to help her with physics because she's struggling. We asked the school to give us some translations of what they've been learning and they said no because she'll be sitting her exams in Welsh. They said that if she needs extra help she has to give up her lunchtime. AIBU to think that she shouldn't have to give up her lunchtime when we could easily help her at home?

- we didn't want the whole course translated, just some key words

So use a dictionary. See link above to Welsh-English technical/scientific dictionary.

- she won't go at lunchtime because she doesn't care about her science grades (we tried to explain how important they are, she didn't listen)

So she can't be bothered. Now we are getting to the real issue. If she can't be bothered with it then she won't accept help at home.

- it's not a problem with the course itself, she just has a bad teacher

No, you have a child who can't be bothered to make the effort. She's being lazy.

What spacepyramid said.

Bit late now but why did you let her choose a school you couldn’t support her with?

Most subject specific words seem to be exactly the same ( google translate is so helpful). Those words used in physics like force, current, pressure are entirely recognisable in both languages.

She’s decided not to work and not to aspire to much. You need to address that instead of pretending it’s everyone’s fault but yours and hers.

I'd focus on finding a way to motivate her to ask for help in school. If she's going to carry on learning in Welsh, it will become less and less possible for you to help her as the subject matter gets more technical.

Frankly, I struggle to help my daughter with her A-levels even though we do both speak the same language!

In the short term, buy the English language versions of the revision books for the course she's doing. Or even versions in both languages so you and she can look at them side by side.

I’m also amazed that the teacher has offered to give up their free time to give your DD extra help we'll yeah but making a kid miss lunch breaks for this type of help seems like a punishment.

@LoopyLuck the teacher is giving up their lunch break too...

Most subject specific words seem to be exactly the same ( google translate is so helpful). Those words used in physics like force, current, pressure are entirely recognisable in both languages.

Force - Grym
Current - Cerrynt (give you that one)
Pressure - Pwysau (similar but exactly the same)
Electrical circuit - Cylched drydanol
Motion - Cynnig

How are they entirely recognisable as the same words to you Cherry?

Also where is it implied OP's child doesn't aspire to much, not sure where you get that from.

Out of curiosity, what would happen if a child who had been taught in Welsh wanted to continue studying to degree level at a university that doesn’t teach in welsh? (Which is probably all universities including those in wales, right?). If your daughter only knows the Welsh versions of all of the words associated with that subject how would she cope?

That has been reported as a minor issue, but only on science courses, IIRC. I’m sure those likely to be heading for a science degree would be able to source English translations. Doesn’t sound like the OP’s DD is heading that way.

Pre internet your request may have had a point as you might have struggled to find a Welsh/English dictionary for highly technical terms (not even for common ones though), post internet you are just taking the piss. It would have taken you less time than it took you to type this post to find the answers you need online.

Why do you think she has a bad teacher? The teacher is willing to give up her own lunchtimes to help your daughter and you think she's bad? The best teachers in the world can't teach children that don't care and are resistant to learning and putting in the extra effort, which you say your dd is.

It's not up to the school to provide you with translations. They teach in Welsh, if you don't like that, then you should have used a school that doesn't teach in Welsh.

Language teacher here, I also speak Welsh but don't teach Welsh. I do teach French at a Welsh medium school though.

Regarding technical terms, PLEASE don't use Google translate.
The best Welsh translation app is App Geiriaduron. Not perfect but far far superior than Google translate in every way.

Is this a school in a small town in Pembrokeshire beginning with Cr?

Maybe get her a Welsh-speaking physics tutor?

Actually I think yanbu and I'm a teacher. To translate a glossary of key words to give to you or other short and snappy interventions would be easier for me as a teacher than giving up my lunchtimes tbh!

I think also your daughter needs to be proactive and follow up some of the suggestions upthread. I'm far more likely to go the extra mile for students who I can see are making the effort themselves.

Best of luck to her.

but can't translate science and maths words as she's never learned them in English Slightly bemused at this. If you have the ability to help her with her science subjects, then haven't the English words been cropping up as part of ordinary conversation with her? Or do i come from an odd family?

@MereDintofPandiculation how often do you discuss Einstein's theory of relativity as a family, or electrical resistance and conductance?

@MereDintofPandiculation actually to be fair you'd have expected her to learn about conductors and resistors along time ago and I can see how that would come about in every day life

Google ‘termiadur’ - you’ll find translations for terminology there then dd can translate for you. Translating it to explain to English speaking parents often helps with understanding the work.

Out of curiosity, what would happen if a child who had been taught in Welsh wanted to continue studying to degree level at a university that doesn’t teach in welsh? (Which is probably all universities including those in wales, right?). If your daughter only knows the Welsh versions of all of the words associated with that subject how would she cope?

I had Welsh medium education. There are Welsh medium courses available in Welsh universities but it was fairly easy to switch to English. Just a matter of learning the terms. It sounds like OP’s dd isn’t motivated to do that which is a different issue.

By the time you’ve studied A-level you’d probably be familiar with most of the terms as the texts aren’t always available in Welsh so you need to read around the subject in English anyway.

Also where is it implied OP's child doesn't aspire to much, not sure where you get that from.

It's not implied, it's stated quite clearly by the OP when she said:

she won't go at lunchtime because she doesn't care about her science grades (we tried to explain how important they are, she didn't listen)

Seconding StCharlotte. Find your child a welsh speaking tutor. This should solve the problem :)

Don't regret her going to a Welsh school. Being bilingual will serve her well in life. She may not use her Welsh, but it'll make it a lot easier to learn other languages and it's an invaluable skill. I'd be tempted to send DD2 to the welsh school as well, and perhaps try to learn a bit myself to support her.

The best Welsh translation app is App Geiriaduron.

I posted a link, which the OP ignored, to this up thread. I say ignored, no acknowledgement or thanks which would have been appreciated. Clearly the OP can't be bothered to make an effort either.

@MereDintofPandiculation how often do you discuss Einstein's theory of relativity as a family, or electrical resistance and conductance?

A conversation after my mother's funeral revolved around complex numbers and the use of j in engineering rather than i.

At a more recent naming ceremony there was a discussion on the changes tot he A Level maths syllabus.

If Mere comes from an odd family then so do I.

I always thought when it came to GCSE exams, students were given an English and welsh paper so they could choose which language to take the exam in?

You want key words translated? Use a fucking dictionary. Don’t expect the school to provide it for you.

If your daughter doesn’t want to work for good grades, then she won’t get them. It really is that simple.

As for you wanting her to attend an English secondary, but letting her attend her first choice of a welsh language school - you are the parent, it is your choice, not hers. Stop passing the buck.

@MereDintofPandiculation how often do you discuss Einstein's theory of relativity as a family, or electrical resistance and conductance? Science and maths is part of the normal mealtime conversation. I presume a non-scientific family would spend time discussing literature, art, philosophy etc. And would not feel themselves able to help their daughter with science, just as I wouldn't feel particularly qualified to help with non-science subjects.