In January 2016 The Welsh Government’s Welsh in Education Resources Branch and Splinter Design launched two FREE Welsh second language apps to promote and encourage learners to engage with the Welsh language.
The games, designed for teachers and pupils of primary and secondary schools, include curricular related topics and are accompanied by lesson notes.
The games are based on Welsh legends. Guto Nyth Brân (KS1/2) celebrates the legendary 18th century athlete from the Pontypridd area and Dreigiau Dinas Emrys (KS3/4)1 depicts Gwrtheyrn, the 5th century king of the Celtic Britons, and two mischief-making dragons.
Featuring fun gameplay and whimsical characters which are beautifully voiced by professional actor Llŷr Ifans2, the app encourages children to engage with the Welsh language. Primary learning is brought to life with the help of a giant talking hare who helps you with your spelling! Secondary learning is driven by the need to spell words within a time limit and avoiding the collapse of the wall.
The games are developed in association with: The Welsh Government, Welsh language specialists, designers and developers at Splinter Design3 and Red Ninja and the pupils and teachers of various schools from across Wales.
The apps feature: easy, medium and hard levels to suit varying learning abilities and North and South Welsh content which has been written and evaluated by KS1-KS4 teachers at every stage of the apps’ development.
The apps have been developed to the highest educational and design standards, being rigorously tested and evaluated by panels of language and learning specialists, as well as tested and appraised by pupils of all ages from North and South Wales.
Chris Beer, Splinter’s Managing Director said:
“Incentivised learning, cool characters, repetitious vocabulary lists and fun gameplay have blended together really well. At testing the teams and schools were pleased with the balance of enjoyable gameplay and learning.”
The apps are part funded by the Welsh Government as part of its Welsh and bilingual teaching and learning resources commissioning programme.
If you have any enquiries please contact Rachael Boden or Chris Beer at Splinter Design on Tel: 0151 709 9066 or email: Rachael.boden@splinter.co.uk or chris.beer@splinter.co.uk