New Year, new language? If you want to support your child’s education by learning Welsh, then a new course from Coleg Gwent’s Welsh for Adults Centre starting in the New Year could give your family the benefits of a bilingual education.
Following the success of its Welsh for Family courses in local schools for parents and children, Coleg Gwent’s Welsh for Adults Centre will now also be offering a new intensive course starting on Monday 10 January for twelve weeks 9.30am-3pm at Coleg Gwent’s Pontypool Campus.
The course is intended for families who want to learn to speak Welsh with their children, and provides parents with the language skills they need to support young children who will go on to learn Welsh in school.
Welsh for the Family courses have been enabling local parents to get to grips with the language and get more involved in their children’s education. At Abergavenny School, the centre runs five different Welsh for the Family classes for parents from beginners to the more advanced. Head teacher Ann Bellis says: “At Ysgol Gymraeg Y Fenni, many of our parents are benefiting greatly learning the language and we encourage them to speak with us as well as their children. We are looking forward to 2011 and supporting our parents on their Welsh journey.”
At Raglan Primary School, the success of the adult classes has made a big difference to both parents and pupils learning Welsh. Head teacher Jeremy Piper says: “We have put a huge emphasis on helping parents with opportunities to learn Welsh so that they can work with and support their children. The excellent afternoon adult-learning course gives parents an opportunity to learn more welsh and to have a focus specifically on them; whilst our fantastic family-learning club after school gives parents an opportunity to apply what they have learnt through exciting, fun activities with their children.”
Welsh for the Family Development Officer, Ffion Green, said: “There is great demand for the Welsh for the Family courses, and we’ve been getting great feedback from parents. People really see the benefits within their own families, and the difference bilingual support makes to their children.”
For more information about Welsh for the Family courses please contact Development Officer Ffion Green on 01495 333711 or email [email protected].
