Welsh: Second Language Revision Course

Around a hundred school pupils together with their teachers recently attended a highly successful revision course hosted by the School of Welsh which aimed to prepare them for their forthcoming AS and A2 exams.

Llun o'r Athro Gwyn Thomas a Mrs Mair Price Pupils from secondary schools throughout north and mid Wales attended including representatives from Holyhead, Eirias (Colwyn Bay), John Bright (Llandudno) and Llanfyllin. During the day they enjoyed a series of presentations on various aspects of their syllabuses. Dr Jerry Hunter from the School of Welsh discussed poems by contemporary poets such as Grahame Davies and Myrddin ap Dafydd while Dr Angharad Price dealt with a selection of short stories by Mihangel Morgan and Professor Gerwyn Wiliams discussed the film Hedd Wyn. Professor Gwyn Thomas, National Poet of Wales, was invited to discuss his own poems on the syllabus, prominent actress Maureen Rhys discussed Saunders Lewis’s stage play, Siwan, and the highly-experienced teacher Mair Price discussed aspects of practical Welsh. As it happened, both Maureen and Mair are Bangor ex-students – indeed, Maureen is a Fellow of Bangor University – and both attended Professor Gwyn Thomas’s classes!

Llun o Ifor ap Glyn During the lunch break, Chief Poet Ifor ap Glyn – also one of the poets on the A2 syllabus – entertained the pupils and discussed the popular television series Popeth yn Gymraeg (‘Everything in Welsh’) which he presented and produced for S4C.

Also busy throughout the day were Peer Guides from among present School of Welsh students namely Gwennan Evans (previously of Lampeter High School), Lowri Evans (previously of Dyffryn Teifi Secondary School, Newcastle Emlyn), Glyn Jones (previously of Glan Clwyd Secondary School), Siân Pritchard (previously of Rhyl High School), Laura Reynolds (previously of Elfed High School, Buckley) and Gwenno Rowlands (previously of Glantaf High School, Cardiff).

Maureen Rhys yn darllen Siwan According to Professor Gerwyn Wiliams, Head of Welsh at Bangor:

“We had an excellent day! Not only did the sun shine throughout the day, we had very positive feedback from the pupils and their teachers. We are very fortunate in being able to draw on the rich and extensive experience of speakers such as Professor Gwyn Thomas, Maureen Rhys and Mair Price. As a School, we are indebted to Sioned Medi Jones – Bangor’s School Liaison Officer – for organising the event and to our own Peer Guides for all their help.

Disgyblion yn cymryd rhan yn y Cwrs Adolygu Cymraeg “This is the first time for us to host a Supervision Course specifically for Welsh: Second Language pupils – our courses for Welsh: First Language pupils are long-established – but we are very encouraged by this event and will certainly be holding similar events in the future.”

More information regarding provision for Learners and Second-Language Welsh students within the School of Welsh at Bangor University may be found on other pages on the School’s website.

More information regarding Popeth yn Gymraeg may be found below:

http://www.s4c.co.uk/popethyngymraeg/c_index.shtml