Latest news with #Welsh-speakers
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Young people using 'limited' Welsh on social media
Young people's attitudes towards the Welsh language are "encouraging" but English is by far the main language used by teenagers on social media, a report has found. A large majority of Welsh children communicate mainly through English on social media even when speaking to other Welsh-speakers, according to the report set to be released at the Urdd Eisteddfod on Friday. The survey of around 1600 youngsters found "limited" use of Welsh by children outside of school, but added it was more likely to be spoken in activities such as sports. Responding to the report, Welsh Language Commissioner Efa Gruffudd Jones said it highlighted "significant challenges... [but] also identifies opportunities". Concerns some Welsh-language nurseries could close Teacher inspires Welsh learning in school with 23 languages Plan to halt Welsh decline in language's heartlands Cai Saunders attends English medium secondary school Treorchy Comprehensive in Rhondda Cynon Taf. He and his friends, who are studying Welsh, have a group chat where they practice before lessons and exams, the 16-year-old said, speaking from this year's Eisteddfod yr Urdd. "Sometimes we share things on Instagram or Facebook to show friends and family, but my friends who study A-level have set up a group chat so that we can talk in Welsh." Cerys, from Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed, near Newport, speaks Welsh with her family. She said a lot of her friends went to English schools and used English outside of school because their family and parents "don't speak Welsh". "If there are more places where they are able to speak Welsh, I think more would speak Welsh," she said. Mathew Franklin from Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni on Anglesey said he usually mixed Welsh and English when talking with friends at school. He said he liked to speak Welsh, adding: "I don't get a lot of time to speak [Welsh] with my friends." Cari Lovelock from Anglesey said she thought it was "important" that the younger generation use the Welsh language when socialising. "We are the next generation who are going to promote the language and keep it alive so that we get things like the Eisteddfod and I think that is an important thing," she said. Hari ap Llwyd Dafydd from Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni, in Caerphilly county, said he speaks English with his friends because that is the home language for many of them. Although he speaks Welsh at home, he said: "We don't see any entertainment in Welsh, they're all in English, so it's not easy to speak Welsh with friends." 1,600 children and young people - most of them between the ages of 11 and 16 - took part in the research for the report to the Welsh Language Commissioner. Among the main findings of the report was that the general use of Welsh by children and young people outside of school was "limited". But children are more likely to use the language in sporting activities, especially with coaches and leaders, it said. Attitudes towards the Welsh language were also generally "positive", especially among those who were fluent and had learnt the language at home. But the report found there was very little use of Welsh on social media, with the majority using English "because it is easier and reaches a wider audience". Around 80 percent of those who responded to the questionnaire said they use English every time or usually to communicate online, even with other Welsh speakers. But fluent speakers were more likely to communicate directly through the language, with half saying they usually text in Welsh, or use both languages equally. According to the Welsh Language Commissioner, the information gathered will help inform the commissioner's future work, as well as others. "Children and young people are vital to the future of the Welsh language. This wide-ranging research offers us an insight into the use of Welsh by young people," said Ms Gruffudd Jones. "There is no doubt that the report highlights significant challenges particularly in the field of social media but it also identifies opportunities, in the area of sport for example, and I will prioritise creating and strengthening strategic partnerships in order to further develop those opportunities." Myfanwy Jones, director of Mentrau Iaith Cymru, a national organisation that supports a network of 22 local Welsh language initiatives, said there was a need to expand the opportunities to use the Welsh language outside of school. "It is clear that there are a large number of respondents who do not use Welsh very often outside of school but are generally supportive of the Welsh language and wish to have more opportunities to use the language," she said. "As part of our remit, we are constantly looking for further opportunities to expand our community activities in order to offer opportunities for young people to use the Welsh language naturally. The report shows that this work is crucial and we will work with the commissioner and other partners to develop it further in the future." Most lessons in English to be phased out in Welsh county Welsh speakers use TikTok to teach the language Number of Welsh-speakers lowest in eight years
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New five-year plan to meet Welsh language target
The Welsh Language Commissioner has unveiled a five-year plan to help achieve a target of one million Welsh language speakers by 2050. Speaking to BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, Efa Gruffudd Jones has said the remainder of her time in post will focus on the use of Welsh in the workplace, in health and social care and among children and young people. The plan, unveiled on Monday, aims to ensure both public and private organisations put Welsh language "at the heart" of their operations. While the commissioner cannot regulate Welsh language in private and voluntary sectors, Ms Gruffudd Jones hopes the plan will work by influence rather than regulation. Most lessons in English to be phased out in Welsh county Number of Welsh-speakers lowest in eight years Ms Gruffudd Jones, who took up the position as Welsh Language Commissioner in January 2023, said while the picture was improving, Welsh speakers want to be able to enjoy more Welsh language services. "We know Welsh speakers appreciate Welsh medium services and very often, especially in health settings, need Welsh medium services," she said. The commissioner said she was working with private and voluntary sectors on a "voluntary basis". "I hope to influence every sector in Wales, but those are the three themes I have set out as I think those three areas are very important for Welsh sectors," she said. Currently making its way through the Senedd, the Welsh Language and Education Bill plans to improve children and young people's Welsh language skills in schools. But Ms Gruffudd Jones said she also recognised the need for a pathway for using Welsh in the workplace once people leave school. Dr Mandy James, bilingual communication officer for TUC Cymru, which brings together trade unions across Wales, said ensuring young people can use Welsh at work after completing their education was essential. "Over the past few years, we've worked closely with our affiliated trade unions and members to promote the clear benefits of developing bilingual workplaces and skills," said Dr James. "These skills are vital for safeguarding and sustaining a bilingual workforce in our communities and for creating new jobs." Sarah McCarty, chief executive of Social Care Wales, welcomed the focus on health and social care. Ms McCarty said: "The ability to receive care and support in your language of choice is something we are passionate about. "There is room for improvement, and I look forward to working with the Welsh Language Commissioner and the social care sector to support the vision outlined in the strategic plan and to improve services for people who use care and support." The plan follows Gwynedd Council's plans to make Welsh the main language of education in all schools in the county in the future. If approved, the council aims to phase out English-medium streams gradually as part of the most significant review of the county's education policy in more than 40 years. Ms Gruffudd Jones said more Welsh medium schools were needed to meet targets of 40% of learners attending Welsh-medium education. At present, the commissioner said current levels were at 23%, and while on an upwards trajectory, movement was very slow.
