People involved in learning Welsh are being given the chance to influence the future of Welsh for Adults provision in Wales thanks to a Cardiff University project.
A team of researchers based at the School of Welsh has been awarded a grant worth more than £300,000 by the Welsh Assembly Government to conduct research into improving the way in which the Welsh language is taught to adults.
The team, led by Dr Diarmait Mac Giolla Chríost of the School of Welsh, includes Dr Rachel Heath-Davies and Dr Adrian Price from the Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Welsh for Adults Centre (located in the School of Welsh), along with Professor Alison Wray of the Centre for Language and Communication Research at Cardiff University.
Dr Diarmait Mac Giolla Chríost, says: “The research will investigate how individual differences between learners, including their motivation, can be dealt with in class and which methods benefit learners most.”
The two year project aims to further improve the teaching of Welsh for Adults by drawing the attention of tutors and those writing teaching materials, to the very latest international research into language teaching and also by working together to share good practice.
Dr Diarmait Mac Giolla Chríost, says: “In obtaining the views of learners and tutors, we hope our findings have a significant practical impact on future ways of teaching Welsh to adults, ultimately improving their experience and helping the Welsh language to grow.
“This area is extremely important to the Welsh language, and we are keen to get as many people’s views as possible.”
