Using Welsh at college and at home
My name is Erin Stephens, and I am studying Level 3 Health and Care at Bridgend College.
I chose Health and Care as I am looking for a route towards Nursing or Care in the Community or working with young children, and the course offers me this. The course is taught through the medium of English which has been very different for me as I have attended a Welsh-medium school since I was three years old.
I still wanted to use Welsh as it is important to maintain my Welsh language skills. So, when I began this course, I was grateful for how supportive the members of staff from the college's Welsh language department were to me. They always find ways for us to use Welsh in class and try to encourage Welsh speakers to use Welsh in our work and assignments, and provide bilingual slides. Bilingual slides are available in every lesson which is a great help.
I have attended activities at the college that promote Welsh, such as Shwmae Day, Santes Dwynwen and St David's Day. I also volunteer at open evenings and open days and am happy to speak Welsh with parents and prospective pupils. I am grateful for this as it has given me the opportunity to maintain and practice my Welsh. Whilst studying Health and Care I have learnt how important it is to communicate in Welsh, not only to open doors for me, but it helps individuals who need assistance in Health and Care settings. It is important that they are heard in their own language and have the option of speaking Welsh every time.
It is also important to understand and know how to help people feel more comfortable and confident when they need help. So hopefully in the future I will be able to help people in the community and use my Welsh language skills. I really hope that I can go to University and do part of my studies in Welsh. The Welsh language is important to me.
I am now looking forward to competing at the Urdd Eisteddfod in the next few weeks. I am a member of a Welsh language choir which gives me opportunities to socialise in Welsh and compete. I had the privilege of going to Bala with the Urdd on a Merched mewn Miwsig (Women Making Music) course, so there are plenty of opportunities to continue using Welsh.