How are Welsh Language Classes Structured in the UK?

"I'm always very proud of Wales and being Welsh." -John Prescott

Near England and part of the United Kingdom, Wales is another world of its own. A territory of beautiful natural scenery, many historical sites such as stunning castles, and a charming language known as Welsh.

So, are you thinking about learning Welsh, or having to take it at school? It's worth stating that learning a minority language may sometimes feel like a somewhat fruitless task, especially for young people who are constantly being reminded of the terrible job market and employability. How's that? Well, the British economy is very dependent on international links so some fear that the lack of focus on modern languages in Wales is endangering the job prospects of young Welsh people as well as the British economy as a whole.

Also, if you are a student studying the compulsory Welsh short course GCSE, you may be having doubts about the qualification and wish that you were focusing on learning a more widely spoken language like French or Spanish instead. Rest assured, that you're not alone in this mindset. Indeed, there has been discussion that the teaching of modern foreign languages such as French should be made compulsory in primary schools in Wales.

However, let's stop all this negativity and focus on the fact that learning Welsh is not completely pointless if you're not living in Wales. It's worth pointing out that Superprof has various online tutors that will be able to help you get to grips with what can be a challenging subject. The professional instructors on the Superprof site can teach in-person or virtually, which means you can learn Welsh in the comfort of your own home!

So, without further delay, let’s lift the lid on the Welsh language and take a look at its place in the National Curriculum. In today's article, we'll review whether or not the Welsh language is relevant in today's society, and answer the question, should Welsh be taught in all British schools? And, consider some helpful suggestions to become better at speaking Welsh.

What Should Be Our Goal When Learning a New Language?

When people start learning a new language they usually ask themselves a few questions that help them to identify motive, goals, budget, learning style, and timeframe:

• Why do I want to learn a new language? 
• How much time do I have available? 
• With whom can I practice my new language?
• How quickly will I achieve my goals?
• What resources will I use?
• What's my budget?
• What are my learning goals?
• What's my preferred learning method?

The previously mentioned questions should assist in guiding you towards your new language. Most individuals pick a new language for social or economic reasons. Social motives may include learning a foreign tongue because a person immigrated to another land or because their partner speaks a language that is different from theirs. Economic reasons involve learning a new language for work or improving business opportunities abroad.

Therefore, based on the social and economic motives we've just highlighted, learning languages isn’t purely about being able to communicate with the highest majority of the population possible and neither is it all about employability.

While concerns about the economy and the UK job market are valid, learning a language is first and foremost about communication, understanding and appreciation of different cultures; that should be the primary goal!

Is the Welsh Language Relevant in Today’s Society?

Needless to say, compared to the English language, which is becoming most people's lingua franca, the Welsh language and culture are somewhat underrepresented in Britain and are often not taken seriously. Therefore, it’s extremely important for British people living in Wales to have the opportunity to learn about the Welsh language and culture.

It's sad to say but the compulsory teaching of Welsh is arguably the only reason that the Welsh language has not died out completely.

Additionally, becoming proficient in the Welsh language seems to bode well for the academic careers of Welsh students. For instance, a study conducted in 2013 showed that "up to 40% of those who can read, write or speak Welsh have a degree-level qualification, compared to an overall average of 33% for Wales." That's curious news!

Additionally, learning Welsh as a second language still teaches primary school students important language skills which equip them to learn other modern languages such as French, Spanish, or German, later in their academic careers. So, the focus on learning the Welsh language does not necessarily disadvantage students. Being able to speak both Welsh and English increases a student’s chances of having a successful career in Wales, which benefits the Welsh economy. Also, bilingualism is something that should be encouraged and worked on.

The bottom line is that, if living in Wales, the Welsh language is still very much relevant today!

Should Welsh be Taught in all British Schools?

Since the National Curriculum is always something that is debated, it comes as no surprise that the idea of teaching Welsh in British schools comes up. A few education officials at exam boards believe that the National Education System should be more focused on teaching Welsh not only within Wales but across all primary schools in Britain.

Indeed, recently an article was published on the Guardian website arguing that the fact that English schools do not teach Welsh exemplifies England’s dominance over Wales; ouch! The article points out that Welsh is an important part of British culture and history and; therefore, should be valued and respected enough to be included in the UK curriculum. This will increase appreciation of the Welsh language and prevent it from dying out.

Whether or not young British people are learning the language comes down to what you could call a ‘postcode lottery, considering the amount of Welsh people living in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland

So, as you can see, there are mixed opinions concerning Welsh. Personally, I think that learning Welsh is culturally enriching for young people and important in terms of respecting the place of Wales within the United Kingdom. Either way, the amount of debate about the role of Welsh subjects within the British curriculum shows that change is definitely on the horizon.

All in all, Welsh is still a relevant language and giving students the option to learn it at a GCSE or A-Level stage should be encouraged. But, isn't Welsh difficult to grasp? Let's consider the following subheading to see how students are learning Welsh successfully.

How Can I Successfully Learn Welsh?

Though it's spoken by over 750,000 people and is "apparently" closely related to the English language, Welsh is not the easiest language to pick up and master. So, do students with no regular exposure to the language learn Welsh? Let's take a look at the following list that features a few suggestions that new Welsh students can put into practice:

• Focus on the Vowels and Consonants: unlike English, in Welsh, there are seven vowels. Prioritise your attention to the phonetics of the vowels and also consonants. For instance, there are 13 diphthongs that students of Welsh should start learning from the beginning. This will provide you with a base for reading, speaking, and listening.
• Learn a Few Greetings at the Start: don't try to get bogged down in the beginning by memorising too much vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure. Truthfully, if you can master a few greetings that you know how to say and answer back, that's wonderful since it can motivate you to continue learning the language instead of getting discouraged.
• Practice, Practice, Practice: as you probably know, becoming fluent in a foreign language isn't something that happens overnight. It takes time and practice, practice, practice. Therefore, try your best to immerse yourself in the language and speak Welsh as much as possible. If you can't travel to Wales, try your best to regularly speak with Welsh natives on language exchange platforms.

If you do your best to put into practice the three previously mentioned pieces of advice, you'll be golden!

In conclusion, the Welsh language is something special and certain measures should be taken to preserve it and keep it alive. Whether you learn Welsh at school or with a private tutor, you're embarking on a very rewarding learning path.