Hello! My name is Gwenno and I've just finished my first year studying Welsh and History at Cardiff University. The year has flown by, and I feel that I've had the best time of my life doing some study, and socializing too much, and all through the medium of Welsh.
Studying
One of my favourite things about studying here in Wales is the opportunity to do so through the medium of Welsh. The Welsh course is obviously taught entirely in Welsh, but I have also been writing my History essays in Welsh, and have attended Welsh seminars. These seminar groups are smaller, and provide a great opportunity to get to know other people who not only share the same study interests, but also the same background and culture. My Welsh skills are without a doubt much better than my English skills, so it was a huge relief to be able to complete all my work in the language I am most comfortable with.
Socializing
One of the best decisions I made was to live in accommodation for Welsh-speaking students. I love it that, at Senghennydd, everything I do – from having a little gossip round the kitchen table, to taking the bins out weekly – I can do using my first language.
I'm also a member of the Gymdeithas Gymraeg, or the Gymgym, in Cardiff, where I have a great time (and make a fool of myself at times!) during the crawls on Wednesday nights. But, some of the highlights of the year for me was being able to attend the Intercollegiate Dance and Eisteddfod. These are great opportunities to get to know even more people as students from all the Welsh universities gather together in one place to socialize in Welsh. It's definitely worth joining the Gymdeithas Gymraeg at whichever university you attend – believe me, you won't regret doing so!
Another valuable opportunity I have had as a Welsh student is joining the aelwyd (youth forum) choir of Waun Ddyfal, a choir which has been very busy this year competing at the Côr Cymru competition and the Urdd Eisteddfod, not to mention singing in a few concerts at Christmas time and on St David's Day. Whatever your interest – from singing to sports – there are certainly endless Welsh-medium opportunities available to students studying at a Welsh university.
Photos of Gymmgym evenings and choir activities:
