University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) is looking forward to celebrating the achievements of this year's Sabbatical Course students by holding a special session on the University's stand at the Urdd Eisteddfod. The event will highlight the positive impact of the course on the careers of teachers and their schools. The development of confident teachers who inspire generations of new speakers is seen through the use of effective and fun teaching methods.
During the event, which will be held on the University's stand between 2 and 3pm on Wednesday, May 28th, a 'Top Tips' leaflet will be launched – full of useful ideas from former students of the course to support teachers who wish to use more Welsh in their daily work.
The session will also provide visitors with the opportunity to meet course tutors, current and former students, to discuss this unique and valuable professional pathway.
Two former students from the Sabbatical Course Rhian Ashton and Sarah Day will lead the session, sharing their personal experiences and advice for learning and teaching Welsh and how to reinforce a positive attitude towards it.
Rhian was trained on the course in 2021-22, and although lockdown had been challenging, she took every opportunity to develop her language confidence. Since then, she has returned to the classroom and now works as a Teacher Development Officer in the Neath Port Talbot area, leading on the ‘Cymraeg Campus’ initiatives and the ‘Siarter Iaith a Chynefin’.
Sarah, who attended the course in 2022-23, will also contribute to the session by sharing a wealth of practical ideas to support the ‘Siarter Iaith’ and develop a sense of pride amongst the children towards the Welsh language. Sarah said:
“We are celebrating St David's Day with a big Eisteddfod, holding a Welsh Language Week and performing poetry. I've set up a number of activities to encourage children to use their Welsh beyond the classroom, such as our Welsh shop and playground games. It is also important that the Welsh language extends to the children's homes. Doing the Sabbatical Course allowed me to accomplish all of these things and more with confidence.”
A new cohort of students have started the online Higher Level Sabbatical Course and the Intermediate Sabbatical Course since Easter, while the crew who completed their studies before Easter are looking forward to graduating in July.
Under Welsh Government sponsorship, the Sabbatical Course continues to transform teachers' experiences across Wales, offering skills, confidence and inspiration to learn and teach through Welsh.
Jeni Price, Programme Manager for Sabbatical Courses at UWTSD, said:
“Celebrating the successes of practitioners from the National Sabbatical Scheme, that’s funded by the Welsh Government, is vital to us as a provider. It's an opportunity for us to share how the scheme ensures that teachers with few Welsh skills, can return to their schools as skilled language teachers and contribute strategically to the development of Welsh across the school in line with the requirements of the Welsh Language and Education Bill. As we prepare for the implementation of that new Bill, we are delighted at UWTSD to celebrate the contributions of the teachers who will be pivotal to achieving its objectives.
We are very grateful to the two teachers who will be speaking at the event and very proud of what they have achieved since returning to their schools.”
Note to Editor;
The session will be held on Wednesday, 28th of May at 2pm at the Urdd Eisteddfod, University of Wales Trinity Saint David stand.