One of the biggest challanges that faces Welsh Learners is speaking to fluent Welsh speakers.
For some reason first language Welsh speakers find it difficult to support Welsh learners. It’s a bit of a mystery why Welsh speakers turn to English so eaily, or feel the need to correct learners, or speak so correctly that one would think that person had swallowed a dictionary!
These are only a few of the problems that were identified whilst researching into the challenges of integrating learners into Welsh communities. The result of the research was a Pilot Project called ‘Cymarfer’. The project consists of a series of videos and a digital pack funded by The National Centre for Learning Welsh including the do’s and don’t’s on how to speak to Welsh learners in a supportive manner. One of the best things about this project is that the learners themselves contributed towards writing and acting in the videos with experienced Welsh Tutors and author Mared Lewis and Manon Prysor.
Each video has drawn from real experiences with real learners whilst trying to practice Welsh from day to day.
The second part of the project is trialing ‘Cymarfer’ with Llangefni businesses. This is where the project encourages learners to use Welsh on a daily basis in local businesses. Through work carried out by Menter Iaith Môn, Llangefni businesses have started to sign up to be part of the project. The businesses who have signed up to the project have agreed to speak Welsh with the learners. If the learners speak Welsh in the shop, they recieve a stamp on their ‘Cymarfer’ cards. Once they collect 8 stamps and bring the card to Menter Iaith Môn, in Llangefni Town Hall they are enrolled in a competition to win a place in The Centre for Learnig Welsh’ Summer School.
Angharad Mai Jones Welsh in Business Officer, Menter Iaith Môn said,
“This is a great opportunity for us here in Llangefni to lead the way with businesses suppoeting Welsh learners. There has been a positive response here with most of the businesses happy to take part in the Cymarfer project. It also plaits well with the Welsh in Business project that offers various support for small businesses to use more Welsh”
An official launch for the ‘Cymarfer’ project was held during a Business Breakfast at Llangefni Town Hall, and it was a pleasure to see so many learners present. Non Hughes Human Resources Officer for Isle of Anglesey County Council said,
“We are very glad ro promote the Cymarfer project amongst Welsh learners within Isle of Anglesey County Council. It’s vital that we offer opportunities for learners to use Welsh outside of the classroom, be that in the workplace or socially. It’s nice to see Llangefni businesses comitting to support Welsh learners. Simple things make a world of difference- speaking slowly and being patient. Hopefully the project will encourage more people to shop locally and do that by speaking Welsh. An opportunity to win a place in Learn Cymraeg GO Summer School is a great motivation to go for it!”
If you know of a business in the Llangefni area whom would like to be part of ‘Cymarfer’ get in touch with Ifor Gruffydd Gruffydd (i.gruffydd@bangor.ac.uk) or there are resources available from your local Menrer Iaith (01248 725700 / iaith@mentermon.com).
Cymarfer digital pack available here