Welsh beginners: module 1

What is the course about?

Discover this fascinating Celtic language with our engaging in-person courses! Our friendly and experienced tutors will guide you through interactive lessons designed to build confidence in speaking, reading, and understanding Welsh.

Welsh is one of Wales' official languages. As well as being the medium of education, government and the arts, it's the daily language of hundreds of thousands of people in Wales and beyond (with thriving Welsh speaking communities from central London to Patagonia in Argentina). Immerse yourself in the rich culture of Wales— from the epic sagas of the Mabinogion to the poetry of T.H. Parry-Williams. Discover the world of Welsh music such as Meic Stevens, Calan, and the iconic Super Furry Animals. You'll also gain an insight into the magic of the Eisteddfod, Wales' famous festival of literature, music, and performance, where the Welsh language thrives in poetry, song, and storytelling. Connect with fellow learners and take the first step toward becoming a new Welsh speaker. Dewch i ymuno â ni! (Come and join us!)

The aim of this course is to introduce students to basic oral communication skills in Welsh; to give them the opportunity to practise and improve these skills in a variety of day to day situations; to promote interest in and awareness of the language and its culture today.

We are running a taster in September if you would like to experience learning Welsh. The course code for this online taster is LWT1.

What will we cover?

Topics will include: greetings, sharing personal information (eg where you live, if you work, what your name is), talking about the weather and discussing plans.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

-- greet and address other people (formally and informally)
- give and ask for basic personal information (in the simple present and simple past tenses)
- talk about the weather (using third person verbs)
- use numbers in context
- know the alphabet and sounds of Welsh.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

Stage 1 course - No previous knowledge of Welsh required. For further details of the specific foreign language skills required for this level, please see the languages self-assessment chart, using the link at the top of this page. You can also find the chart at the start of the languages section in our course guide. You will also need to be able to respond to simple instructions and read course documents in English and be at ease with the use of number for daily activities (e.g using money, telling the time, etc).

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

The course is based on the communicative approach:

- active students’ interaction
- emphasis on speaking and listening skills
- pair and group work
- role plays
- use of audio-visual techniques when appropriate
Please note, students are expected to participate in oral classroom activities and complete weekly homework tasks via Google Classroom (with weekly written feedback provided by the tutor).

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

Materials will be provided by the tutor both in sessions and on Google Classroom.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Welsh beginners, module 2 in Term 2.