Lecturer praises Welsh language course
A lecturer at Coleg Sir Gâr has recently taken part in a Welsh language residential course to improve her skills and confidence.
Tanya Knight, a lecturer on the college’s foundation and fresh start programmes has recently completed a five-day speaking proficiency course at Nant Gwrtheyn, which is aimed at people who already speak Welsh but who need to develop their skills and confidence.
These residential courses complement the work of the college’s team of Welsh language officers who help promote bilingualism and Welsh language activities as part of its learning and teaching environment across the seven campuses of Coleg Sir Gâr and Coleg Ceredigion.
Based at a former and refurbished quarry in the Llyn Peninsula with scenic coastal views, Nant Gwrtheyn is the perfect setting to focus on the language.
Tanya Knight said: “I’ve always considered myself as speaking ‘Wenglish’ so it was nice to spend a week and immerse myself into language and culture.
“You get to spend a lot of time with the group you’re in as it is residential, so we were able to do everything in Welsh, from the classroom to the dinner table, to the art gallery we visited.
“It was really amazing that everyone spoke Welsh in the area, it was lovely and it made me feel proud.”
Tanya has always encouraged a bilingual ethos into her teaching, introducing Welsh scrabble in the libraries and activities for St David’s Day and Santes Dwynwen day.
Tanya Knight added: “I’d definitely recommend the residential course, it’s helped me a lot and enabled me to focus just on using my Welsh with no distractions that you might get at work or at home and the coastal setting is beautiful.”
Helen Griffiths, director of bilingualism and learner support at Coleg Sir Gâr and Coleg Ceredigion added: “As we as a college try to increase our Welsh language provision for our students, it is essential that our staff are confident in using their Welsh.
“Tanya’s Welsh is excellent and therefore a small but extremely important step is to ensure that she is confident in using it and that she increases her use of the language in every aspect of college life.
“The Nant Gwrtheyrn courses are perfect for doing this, moving our staff from being able to speak Welsh to being staff who can speak Welsh and are confident in using it.”
