Welsh language skills are desirable

[starsie]

Hello.
I was born in Wales but sadly I do not speak Welsh. I really wish I could. I love Wales and I love living here.
However, I am a teacher looking to change career. I have been a supply for 3 years now and I love working with children so I am looking into careers which are still working with children but outside of teaching.
I have the aim of going into more interventions/support work roles.

However, living in Wales, a lot of job posts which I think "Wow I could do that!" or "That sounds really interesting" say "welsh language skills are desirable but open to welsh and english speakers". This puts me off as I wonder whether they actually want a welsh speaker.
I have basic skills such as what is taught in schools but I couldn't have a fluent conversation with someone. I have also taken courses with Dysgu Cymraeg online which has improved my skills a bit.

Anyway - to the point - should I still apply for these jobs or am I wasting my time?

No you aren’t wasting your time!! I’m sure the skills you have will get looked in favourably and you could always say you are willing to learn more.

Apply and make your willingness to develop your language skills a key part of your application? They may be able to offer you some support. And think about joining an Wlpan course - with the majority of courses online during Covid it should be easy to find one that suits, and there are funding streams to help support learners. learnwelsh.cymru/learning/find-a-course/

You should always apply. I have carried out recruitment for posts with that line in (as customer base has a lot of Welsh first language speakers!) and often employ non fluent speakers. Last recruitment had five posts, 15 interviewees, four spoke intermediate to fluent welsh, only one got one of the posts.

For me personally, its about a willingness to learn, to have a few key phrases, such as being able to answer phone billingually and the good old ‘dwi’n dysgu cymraeg’, which goes a long way with welsh speaking customers. Apply!! :D

Definitely apply. I am not as qualified as you but can speak Welsh. They wouldn't want me I'm sure!

Desirable is not essential. Oh and say you're learning. As pp mentioned, it goes a long way. We can coach you with a few phrases to start you off!

Good luck

Is it an English or Welsh medium school? If a role is open to you, then definitely apply! I’m sure the role wouldn’t be open to both if they weren’t happy to consider both.

I think op is trying to get away from schools though?

Sorry misread, if not in a school then first question irrelevant! Do apply!

You should apply- they are desirable but not essential. A willingness to learn is always looked upon favourably. I always have loads of respect for anyone who tries to learn as it is a really difficult language for adults to learn.

Thank you all! You have given me the motivation to apply!
Supply teaching is picking up and i have had quite a bit of work but whilst times are slower than usual with Covid, I can use this time going over my Welsh skills.
Dysgu Cymraeg had a great course on speaking Welsh over the phone so I will go over this again - I did it at the start of lockdown but as time has gone on, there's no harm going over.
I will also look into that other website;

It's not a job within a school - it's a job supporting children who have experienced adverse childhood experiences so is all about trauma care, however it can involve visiting schools.

I would apply. Where I work that's a standard desirable skill. In a department of 200 we have 2 fluent Welsh speakers. We are in HE so we have a range of nationalities but the department is 50% Welsh natives.

I would not let that hold you back. Having a positive and constructive attitude towards Welsh, and showing interest to have taken a course should count for a lot.

In Ireland we'd have a small number of clients (people, schools, organisations) that use Irish language. We'd have a few fluent speakers (thanks to younger staff and Gaelscoil!) to have a basic conversation, build a relationship, then most are happy to switch to English for more detailed legal discussion

It's not a job within a school - it's a job supporting children who have experienced adverse childhood experiences so is all about trauma care, however it can involve visiting schools.

If you’ve read Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, and Complex PTSD by Pete Walker, both seminal works for this area, and say you're learning Welsh, you’ll smash it.

All public sector jobs in Wales have that stipulation...it shouldn't put you off applying! I've been involved in recruitment selection within the NHS. Wasn't really a factor. We wanted the correct skills...if an applicant could siarad Cymraeg it was a bonus but didn't put others at a disadvantage.

I'm first language Welsh. It's brill that you're learning! If it's Welsh is desirable, I think a willingness to learn would be enough for an interview panel.
SaysomethinginWelsh.com is a brilliant, brilliant community.

And THANK YOU for learning, especially with the work you're doing. I have experience of being on the receiving end of trauma care, and I progressed far better when I was able to do it in my mother tongue. My English is as good as my Welsh, but somehow it does make a massive difference to be able to speak in the language in which I think when it comes to stuff like this.

@RantAndDec - Body Keeps the Score explains why that is the case.

Some jobs will just want courtesy level Welsh - ability to greet visitors bilingually and do a bilingual telephone greeting for example, rather than the ability to hold an extended conversation or write in Welsh.