Uncle's reaction to education discussion

[Krankopi]

Family gathering in Southern England over Xmas with extended family and we drove over from West Wales where we've lived for past 18 months. I'm chit chatting to aunt and catching her up on our lives and tell her about plans for DS education.

Our DS turns 3 next year and we're opting to send him to a Welsh-speaking pre-school from September and then if all goes well to Welsh speaking primary school.

The school is very good, recent investment and a few neighbours whose kids go there really rave about it. I studied French at uni and have very open attitude to other language so think it would be great opportunity for DS to be bilingual From young age.

If there were any unforeseen issues and it doesn't work out then there are English speaking primaries and secondaries in area also.

Uncle overheard the conversation and chimed in 'but you're not Welsh!' and 'it's a dead language'. I attempted to explain benefits of bilingualism, fact our area has quite a lot of Welsh speakers and DS will grow up there etc but fell on deaf ears and he really went for it at that point.

He seemed properly offended by the whole thing as if we were somehow betraying our roots (we're English and DS also born in England). It was completely ridiculous. He then proceeded to insult the Welsh, their language before aunt told him to cool it and convo moved on.

His opinion about DS education is irrelevant but thinking back to his reaction has really angered me. It wasn't just that he didn't agree, his blood seemed to really boil. He is a bit of a little Englander type who voted for Brexit so I shouldn't be surprised but I can't understand how someone could take such offense to going to Welsh school in Wales.

The more I think about it, the more I want to say something to him to put him in his place. I find his attitude disgraceful and I'm so close to writing or calling to give him piece of my mind. AIBU? Should I just forget the whole thing?

Maybe making my point another way will work better, like writing next years Xmas card in Welsh.

@Ace56 , even if you are in an area where English is used a lot, knowing some Welsh will help.

@leftoverss , presumably you don't live in the UK. It's an official language in Wales.

@underneaththeash , I was in a shop and a couple with two young children came in. They'd been in the UK for less than a year. The elder child was translating for the parents and spoke English fluently. The parents did not speak any English beyond saying 'Thank you'.
Children learn very quickly.

I took a DC aged 3 to a theme park. DC found a child of the same age and they were jabbering away. DC spoke no English at that age.

Great decision, op.

and I speak 3 languages to various degrees and not a single member of my family can speak anything other than English.

Primary School is hardly a measure of anything when it comes to education.

i also know of kids who moved to Spain and not only picked up the language in less than 6m, they won the Spanish prize in the school.

My colleague's little one is now fluent in her adopted country language and neither of her parents speak the lingo to any kind of extent to be able to help.

Speaking any language makes a difference to your brain power, if nothing else, it distinguishes you from others. Nobody ever regrets learning a language, or a musical instrument, even if they never use the skill, they have it.

The only issue I can see, is that you wouldn’t be able to help him with Welsh language school work

It’s honestly not that difficult if you know the subject matter. By the time they have homework they can translate it.

As a parent, you can only look at the facts and the facts are that bilingual kids tend to perform better in education and, from what you've said, this school is the best in your area.

It's a no brainer.

I have no idea why people assume being in a Welsh speaking school means the kids will only be able to learn/work in Welsh 🤔

As far as DU goes, I do think your best bet is to rise above it. Nothing you say will change his opinion.

I'd start learning Welsh myself and be sure to speak it around him, just to raise his BP.

I have no idea why people assume being in a Welsh speaking school means the kids will only be able to learn/work in Welsh 🤔
Do people assume that?
I know people who went to Welsh medium primary and secondary schools and went to universities outside Wales. They have degrees and work in fields like pharma, medicine, engineering, architecture, nursing etc
Some work in Wales, some abroad, some in the UK or Ireland.

I also know people who went to Welsh medium primary and secondary schools and went to universities in Wales. Some work in Wales either mainly with Welsh-speakers or a mix.