Welsh language in primary schools

[PeachesMcLean]

Could someone explain the rules please?

I thought some element of Welsh was compulsory even in English language schools (we are in Wales)

DS (Year 2) says he hasn't done any since joining his new school in September. He used to love it at his previous school (in year 1).

Am feeling a bit miffed about this.

Hmmm...Welsh is compulary in all schools throughout wales (I know this because I want to teach...and don't speak welsh...and live in wales....so need to learn otherwise I won't be able to teach!)

They should be doing welsh - it is compulsory. There should be lots of incidental welsh as well as formal lessons.

Where are you again Peachy?
(nice to hear he liked it. Tell him Da Iawn from moondog)

"Welsh is taught in all schools in Wales and there is a Welsh language media and government legislation to support the development of the language. About twenty per cent of the population uses Welsh and the number is increasing."

From our local county council website...

My children go to a school where Welsh is the first language...English is not in the curriculumn until the age of 7.

Maybe your DS's year is focussing on the introduction of English...rather thatn welsh...?

DD is yr1 and doesn't do any welsh lessons as such but welsh is spoken during the day and they sing welsh songs. She did more formal welsh learning in reception when they were doing colours and foods etc.

AFAIK it is compulsory. Also live in Wales.

The local schools here really encourage it so it seems a bit odd that your DS hasn't done any.

Phonetic Welsh song for your pleasure

Too Ri Oo Ra Butternee Butternee Butternee
Too Ri Oo Ra Butternee
My nans a right old trout!

Diolch!

Can you translate Moondog??

I have one in Derbyn (reception) and one in Year 1...both are taught the welsh alphabet, welsh numbers, welsh letter forming etc...no english at all....infact once out of reception they will be told off for using english!

Buck

I know that one...kind of!

Toodaloo a banternee, banternee banternee
Toodaloo a banternee mine amswer dwaid hwyl fawr!

(no idea on the spelling!)

they sing it at the end of Ysgol Feithrin...bless!

Hywl fawr frinddiau, hwyl fawr frinddiau

well I was nearly there!

But what does it actually mean??

I know that one too BuckBuckMcFate

amser....something about time?

um..well the start of the song is..

Hwyl fawr frinddiau...which means goodbye friends...
The toodaloo a banternee bit...I have no idea!

Bant a ni is 'out we go'
Mae'n amser dweud hwyl fawr is 'Its time to say goodbye'

Lol lol lol
I really didn't think youy were serious until i looked closely.
(You must be in the south,they don't say 'bant' oop North.)

Mine amser dwaid hwyl fawr is ..its time to say goodbye??

"Good bye Friends
Good bye Friends
etc
Its time to say goodbye."

I think?

DS sings that in nursery

anyway, back on topic. My niece is in a bilingual school but in the english stream. She was strongly encouraged to go in the welsh stream but my brother and SIL chose the english stream as they don't speak welsh. Despite this, she speaks lots of welsh and loves it.

Ahhhh that's the one moon dog! I recognise it now!

We are mid wales, and I am learning welsh, from a south wales course book

I think children have no problems at all with being bilingual. My problem is that my 6 year old who is pretty much fluent in welsh, will only speak welsh to welsh speakers...and only english to english speakers....she won't speak welsh at home at all

That's common.
I (am a SALT) do a lot of work in mother & baby groups (amongst other stuff) and always remindnon Welsh speaking people to encourage Welsh speakers to use it with their children (which they often don't because they want to include the parent/s).

If they don't an English medium relatinoship is established and even when those children become fluent Welsh speakers, it is nigh impossible for them to reestablish a Welsh medium relationship with those people.

It's a linguistic fact that it is practically impossible to learn to speak comfortably with someone in a differnet language to the one you started your relationship in.

What's the welsh for "bolleaux, I've just spilt red wine on the carpet".

Oh well. Red carpet. hope it's ok!

Anyway, DH is sure DS is doing Welsh based on one "dim yma" (not even sure that's good grammar) last weekend. I'm not so sure as DS says he hasn't done any since his last year. Only thing to do is ask the teacher I guess.

Glad to hear it's compulsory, would hate to think he wasn't doing any at all.

'Ceilliau, dwi newydd bwrw gwin coch dros y carped!'

Ahhhh...its quite common then...

If I learnt to speak welsh well enough, I would hope we could chat in welsh. I try now, but she says "stop with the welsh now mummy!"
I ask her what certain words mean, and although I know she knows them, she shrugs at me mostly!