Gwersi Cymraeg am ddim bellach ar gael i bobl 18 – 25 mlwydd oed ac i staff addysgu
Free Welsh lessons now available for 18-25s and teaching staff
Gall pobl ifanc a staff y sector addysg yng Nghymru bellach gael mynediad at wersi Cymraeg am ddim fel rhan o fenter gan Lywodraeth Cymru i gynyddu nifer y siaradwyr Cymraeg. Mae’r ymrwymiad yn rhan o'r Cytundeb Cydweithio â Phlaid Cymru.
Gall pobl rhwng 18 a 25 mlwydd oed gofrestru ar gyrsiau Cymraeg gyda’r Ganolfan Dysgu Cymraeg Genedlaethol, ac ni fydd angen iddynt dalu wrth gofrestru.
Mae gwersi Cymraeg am ddim hefyd ar gael i bob athro, pennaeth a chynorthwyydd addysgu fel rhan o ymdrechion Llywodraeth Cymru i gryfhau’r elfen o ddysgu Cymraeg yn y Cwricwlwm newydd a chynyddu nifer yr ymarferwyr sy’n gallu addysgu drwy gyfrwng yr iaith.
Bellach gall staff y sector addysg gael mynediad at borth ar-lein newydd lle gallant ddod o hyd i gwrs addas gan gynnwys gwersi rhithiol, gwersi wyneb yn wyneb a chyrsiau hunanastudio. Mae’r porth yn cynnwys Dewin Dysgu sy’n helpu i roi dewis o gyrsiau perthnasol.
Mae pobl ifanc 16 i 18 mlwydd oed mewn ysgolion a cholegau Addysg Bellach penodol yn cymryd rhan mewn prosiect peilot dysgu digidol, sy’n cael ei redeg gan y Ganolfan Genedlaethol a SaySomethinginWelsh. Mae mentrau eraill ar gyfer pobl 16 i 18 mlwydd oed yn cynnwys cwrs byr ar-lein gyda Gwobr Dug Caeredin a chynllun peilot magu hyder mewn Cymraeg ym Mhowys gydag e-sgol.
Bydd tystiolaeth a data a gesglir fel rhan o’r prosiectau peilot yn llywio cynllun cenedlaethol ar gyfer pobl 16 i 18 mlwydd oed, o 2023 ymlaen.
Dywedodd Jeremy Miles, Gweinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg:
“Rwy’n falch ein bod yn cynyddu’r cyfleoedd i ddysgu ein hiaith a’i gwneud yn haws i fwy o bobl gael cyfle i ddysgu Cymraeg a defnyddio’r iaith yn eu bywydau bob dydd.
“Mae cynyddu nifer yr addysgwyr sy’n gallu addysgu drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg yn allweddol o ran cyflawni ein nod o gael miliwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg erbyn 2050. Mae hyn yn ei gwneud mor hawdd â phosibl iddynt gael mynediad at gyrsiau Cymraeg am ddim. Mae darparu gwersi am ddim i bobl 18 – 25 mlwydd oed yn golygu y gallant barhau i ddatblygu a gwella eu gallu yn y Gymraeg a’i defnyddio yn eu gwaith ac wrth gymdeithasu.
“Mae’r Gymraeg yn perthyn i ni i gyd. Byddwn yn annog pob aelod o staff addysgu a phobl ifanc sydd am ddysgu Cymraeg am y tro cyntaf neu sydd am wella eu Cymraeg i fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn.”
Dywedodd Cefin Campbell AS, Aelod Dynodedig:
“Dylai pawb yng Nghymru gael y cyfle i ddysgu’r Gymraeg a phrofi manteision diwylliannol a chymdeithasol gwneud hynny.
“Mae cyflwyno gwersi Cymraeg am ddim i bobl ifanc a’r rheini sydd yn y proffesiwn addysgu yn gam arall ymlaen tuag at ei gwneud mor hawdd â phosibl i ddysgu a siarad Cymraeg ac i gyflawni’r targed o gael miliwn a mwy o siaradwyr Cymraeg.”
Nodiadau i olygyddion
The following Welsh learners are available for interview, on request. Please contact rachel.bowyer@gov.wales to arrange.
- Case study
Martina Roberts is from the Czech Republic and speaks Czech, English and some German. She moved to the UK 18 years ago and now lives in Pembroke Dock with her Welsh-speaking husband, Siôn.
Two years ago, Martina completed the Welsh in a Year sabbatical course for teachers, and now uses her Welsh daily in her role as Foundation Phase Teacher and Coordinator at Manorbier Primary School.
Since completing the sabbatical, Martina has signed up to a weekly Learn Welsh class.
Martina has thoroughly enjoyed learning Welsh, and would encourage others to do the same:
‘‘Go for it, don’t worry about making mistakes. Take advantage of every possible opportunity to speak, listen or read in Welsh. What worked for me was making a note of the new words I learnt every day, and reading them before I went to bed.’’
Martina loves using her Welsh in various settings, and is working hard to support staff at Manorbier primary school and develop bilingualism across the school;
‘‘I’m always on the lookout for opportunities to practise speaking Welsh. I now speak Welsh with my husband and his family, with staff and children at the school and within the wider community. The sabbatical course was the very start of my learning journey and I can’t wait to see where Welsh takes me next!’’
- Case study
Jonathan Davies is originally from Loughor near Swansea, but now lives in London. He started learning the language as an adult in 2020 using the Duolingo language app and online lessons with Learn Welsh Swansea Bay Region on behalf of the National Centre for Learning Welsh, and was surprised at how quickly his schoolboy Welsh came back to him.
He is currently following an Advanced level course for experienced learners, having started on an intensive Entry course for beginners in January 2021.
Jonathan says: "I've now reached a level where I'm learning new things that we didn’t do in school. I enjoy it a lot and it doesn't feel like hard work.
“I take every opportunity to use my Welsh and there are many excellent opportunities to do so. I went on various online coffee mornings at the start of lockdown, and I'm part of the 'Siarad' and 'Cyfeillio' schemes which gives me the opportunity to practise talking between lessons.
"I chat with a Welsh speaker in north Wales through the 'Siarad' scheme, which matches Welsh learners and speakers for conversation practise. And then in the 'Cyfeillio' scheme, I chat to a fellow Welsh learner from Clydach who's just starting to learn Welsh - and it's a great chance for us to help each other work things out with the language.”
Both Jonathan's girlfriend and one of his best friends speak Welsh, which is one of the reasons why he started learning the language.
Jonathan explains, "I’d wanted to learn a new language and I’d tried learning German many times but with no luck!
"Then I was sitting in the pub one evening with my best friend and girlfriend, who were chatting away in Welsh, and I wanted to be able to join in the conversation and understand what they were saying. So, I made a New Year's resolution to learn Welsh and I haven't looked back since."
Two years later, Jonathan can chat easily in Welsh and encourages other young people who want to learn the language to go for it.
He adds, "Being able to speak Welsh is really cool. I now feel I have a stronger connection with Welsh society and culture. I also know a lot more about my culture than I ever did before!”