Planning and teaching
In order to develop our pupils’ Welsh oracy skills skilfully, a clear language drilling scheme has been embedded and is in place across the school. Together, the school community has agreed on the unconditional elements in terms of syntax and vocabulary that should be introduced and drilled in all classes on a daily basis to ensure clear progression and development as our pupils move through the school. These are displayed in the classrooms, in the corridors and in public places to reinforce what is learned in the classrooms. Teachers are excellent language models and take advantage of every opportunity to correct pupils’ linguistic errors in a sensitive and fun manner.
Learning about the history of Wales, its people, its legends and traditions are at the heart of our curriculum. This develops our children’s sound awareness of their country’s culture and deepens their understanding of their identity.
Experiences
We provide a rich range of extra-curricular experiences for our pupils and we believe fully that these experiences play a key part in the development of their oral skills and have a positive influence on their motivation to use the Welsh language naturally and confidently.
Pupils are given numerous opportunities to use the Welsh language in a variety of contexts and locations both inside and outside the school. Every year, they travel to different parts of Wales and meet people and children at festivals and events across the country. The focal point of the school’s annual calendar is the Cerdd Dant Festival, the Urdd Eisteddfod, Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, the Hay Festival and opportunities to perform and compete at musical, sports and literary events that promote the Welsh language.
Celebrating our Welshness as we travel beyond Wales is also a source of great pride for us and our pupils. As Year 6 pupils travel to Amsterdam, for example, hearing our pupils speaking Welsh so naturally while socialising and having fun gives the school’s staff and local residents great pleasure. They are always keen to teach a little Welsh to anyone who cannot speak it and their pride in achieving that is clear.
We take advantage of every opportunity to work with partnerships, such as Menter Iaith Rhondda Cynon Taf, to promote new learners and boost the confidence of members of the local community who want to speak Welsh. With so many opportunities for pupils to use the Welsh language outside the school, our pupils’ oracy skills develop naturally as they gain confidence by speaking in different formal and informal situations, both socially and publicly.
By providing varied and extensive opportunities such as this, we develop pupils who are confident communicators who have strong Welsh oracy skills by the end of their time at the school.
