Teachers and Lecturers' Language Skills Acknowledged

The efforts of teachers and lecturers in developing their Welsh language skills were recognised in a ceremony held at Canolfan Bedwyr, Bangor University recently.

Educational practitioners from the primary, secondary and further education sectors were presented with certificates by University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jerry Hunter, for successfully completing the National Sabbatical Scheme.

The Sabbatical Scheme is a language course sponsored by the Welsh Government and initially developed at Canolfan Bedwyr, Bangor University’s centre for Welsh language excellence. The course supports one of the core objectives of the government’s Welsh-medium education strategy, namely to increase the number of teachers, trainers and lecturers who are able to teach through the medium of Welsh.

Professor Jerry Hunter said: “As someone who has learnt Welsh myself and responsible for the Welsh language portfolio at Bangor University, I believe it is of great importance that the University can provide opportunities such as these to teachers and lecturers, both fluent learners and first language speakers alike, to develop their Welsh language skills in the context of their work as educators.”

Dr Llion Jones, Director of Canolfan Bedwyr said: “The opportunity to acknowledge the success of individuals who are now using their Welsh language skills on a daily basis in schools and colleges across North Wales was a very uplifting experience. Canolfan Bedwyr is immensely proud of its contribution towards the realisation of one of the government’s key Welsh education strategy objectives”.

Publication date: 8 July 2015