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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Welsh language in primary schools

63 replies

PeachesMcLean · 19/03/2008 21:24

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.

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Original poster

PeachesMcLean · 19/03/2008 21:59

Another useful Welsh phrase to add to my sadly limited collection. Could come in jolly useful in my house...

we're in Cardiff by the way.

OP posts:

Ludaloo · 19/03/2008 21:59

what's dim yma?

Original poster

PeachesMcLean · 19/03/2008 22:01

Well he meant it as "not here" but it was a bit cobbled together.

OP posts:

moondog · 19/03/2008 22:01

Not here

Ludaloo · 19/03/2008 22:02

Ahhhh....

Cluckinnora · 19/03/2008 22:02

That's interesting Moondog.

My friend who has sent her DS to Welsh Medium school say he refuses to speak welsh to any family members. As they are trying to learn welsh to help him it annoys the hell out of her.

Not sure the info will thrill her but at least she will know he's not doing it just to get a rise out of her .

Ludaloo · 19/03/2008 22:03

well I should ask his teacher...maybe they will do more welsh next term or something??

pointedegg · 19/03/2008 22:03

To what extent does it depend on having teachers in teh school able to teach Welsh?

Cluckinnora · 19/03/2008 22:04

The register is usually called in welsh.
Yma - Here
Dim Yma - not here.
Barod? - Ready?

Ludaloo · 19/03/2008 22:05

it is very annoying...especially as I know she is really good at it! She makes me gobsmacked when I hear her have a conversation with a welsh speaker...I have no idea how she has learned all that!! I am super !

moondog · 19/03/2008 22:05

Cluck, it's great that they want to help him but of course the child will squirm.It's natural! I am 40 and my English mother is doing a Welsh degree and now speak great welsh but I can't speak it with her!

Your friends should ensure that Weslh speakers around them speak Welsh to their child (and them)

Ludaloo · 19/03/2008 22:08

I'm looking to do a PGCE, and to become a teacher in Wales you don't need to be able to know any welsh at all, as all courses are taught in english (some colleges/uni's have courses taught in welsh too)
To actually teach, whether you teach in a welsh meduim school or an english medium school, basic welsh is essential.

Ludaloo · 19/03/2008 22:09

moondog..is welsh your first language?

moondog · 19/03/2008 22:10

I was brought up bilingually (Welsh/English) but in Zambia and Papua New Guinea so we only had my father to speak Welsh with until we were nearly adult!

Calistergg · 19/03/2008 22:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Cluckinnora · 19/03/2008 22:11

I think at the moment he only has Welsh spoken to him at school (he's 3 and started back in Dec) so the family are trying to put a bit of their limited welsh into everyday convo, but he's like Ludaloos lo "no welsh - it's for school".

At least I can tell her your Linguistic fact now. (and sound v knowledgeable)

Ludaloo · 19/03/2008 22:12

whoa! was that confusing? is English taught as a first language in Zambia?

Original poster

PeachesMcLean · 19/03/2008 22:13

The teacher's ability must make a difference though. DS's previous teacher was really enthusiastic about teaching welsh, it clearly rubbed off. the current teacher I don't think speaks welsh at all, must have just learned enough to get her the job. But they don't do anything profound at year 2, do they?

OP posts:

moondog · 19/03/2008 22:15

Probably was in 60s. I had most of my schooling in PNG though.

Yes, a good enthusiastic teacher who makes the languiage come alive is key.

Ludaloo · 19/03/2008 22:18

hmmm...I am going to have to learn welsh pretty well to be able to teach in it well [gulp]

moondog · 19/03/2008 22:19

You will learn quite a lot quite painlessly as he does.
Get involved in school too,make friends with a Welsh speaker or two.Join a fun convo. class (my mother does great things like go on walks/conversation classes held with fluent speakers and learnrs, so they are exercising and learning.

Ludaloo · 19/03/2008 22:26

Well it is funny, because I understand more than I can speak IYSWIM...I can genearlly get the jist of converstaions, even if I can't reply in welsh.

I have also picked up a lot of phrases and things from my kids/friends etc.

Now I am actually doing a course, I am beginning to learn how to spell all the words I know too. It is soooo confusing though!

I have just started learning how to say "wyt ti mynd....."
and we say it as " wit te mind" yet for years I have heard people say it as "oyt te mind" and just saying hello is bad enough...

we have learned to say
"sut dych chi?" but you hear it pronounced as "shoo dick key" "sit dick key" "shuddy tee" its very confusing!!

moondog · 19/03/2008 22:28

Yes, I hear so may learners complain it is nothing on paper like it is heard!
The good thing is (as you may have noticed) that oncve you get the pronunication sorted, written Welsh is much easier to read than English.

Ludaloo · 19/03/2008 22:29

yeh, you are dead right...its very phonetic isn't it.

moondog · 19/03/2008 22:30

Yes,unlike English which is a bitch to learn to read as a foreigner.

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