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Service families Learning Welsh

Welsh Language is compulsory in all schools in Wales, but the amount of Welsh that is taught varies, depending on the type of school you attend.

Research shows that speaking more than one language can boost your skills in many ways.

Advice and useful information

Learn Welsh
Free online courses and live lessons.

Welsh Government: Welsh for Kids
Information about learning and using Welsh.

Welsh Government: Learn Welsh
Information about learning and using Welsh.

Welsh Government: Your guide to Welsh-medium education

Free Welsh language software

Cardiff Mummy Says: 'How to support your child through Welsh-medium education when you don’t speak Welsh yourself' blog

SSCE Cymru school survey (2019).

The most significant challenges to Service children’s education: 17% of primary schools said Learning Welsh and 21% of Secondary schools said Learning Welsh.

I moved to Wales because my Dad was posted in the Army. I thought I would get bullied and I was shy when you meet new people, but I made some friends.

Activities, games and resources

Dinolingo
Language learning for kids.

S4C Cyw
Songs, games and drawings to help younger children play and practise Welsh.

LearnWelsh
For beginners to practise learning Welsh through lessons, games and quick tests on over 100 Welsh topics.

BBC Bitesize: Welsh for learners – Foundation stage

BBC Bitesize: Welsh second language – KS2

Service children learning Welsh films

To help you get started with learning Welsh, here are some Service children from Ysgol y Tywyn Primary School on the Isle of Anglesey, sharing some key words and phrases in Welsh.

Moving to Wales? Here are some useful Welsh phrases

 

Happy Birthday

 

Counting in Welsh

 

Children singing in Welsh

 

Service children’s quotes

"As soon as we get used to a house, you get moved - I’ve been to four schools and moved six times."

Aiden

"I lived in Nepal, then we went to Brunei, then Malaysia."

Ashim

"In my eyes, you have hundreds of friends in different places."

Chloe

"I’m used to moving now and mixing with the children... I’ve done it so many times, it’s just a normal thing now."

Chloe

"It's ok talking over skype and that, but sometimes you just want a hug when Dad is away."

Georgia

"I’ve enjoyed going around to lots of places around the world, it's adventurous and exciting."

Harry

"In my eyes, you have hundreds of friends in different places."

Ieuan

"My mum got a chalk board and it says how many sleeps on it with chalk, every minute it’s getting closer for him coming home."

Mia

"I don’t want him to get promoted... I want him to get promoted but I don’t want to leave."

Oliver

"I might be going to boarding school so that I don’t change schools every few years."

Ryan

"I've been to seven different schools; I’ve not stayed put in one school long enough."

Shana

"He has been away for six months and he is back for two weeks, then he goes away again."

Sianed

"My parents were in the Army. My mum is a like a nurse and my dad went to the war in Afghanistan. I actually didn’t really know what he was doing so I was like, ‘Cool Dad, go there,’ but then I found out and thought, 'Thank God he came back alive.'"

Sanjog

"He signed off last week, so he will be done by the end of this year. He’s done 24 years. I find that better because he will be around a lot. He likes watching us playing rugby, so he will get to see us more."

Lewis

"I’m going to a new place entirely. They don’t know anything about me and that’s a big restart and that’s really good for me."

Piaras

"I moved to Wales because my dad was posted in the Army. I thought I would get bullied and I was shy when you meet new people, but I made some friends."

Dan