The value of studying Medicine and Dentistry through the medium of Welsh:
If you attend a Welsh school it is easy enough to remember to speak Welsh as everyone there speaks the language, but when you go to university there are not as many Welsh speakers. At the moment there are significant worker shortages in the fields of medicine and dentistry, especially individuals who can speak Welsh, so this offers us as the next generation a good opportunity to use our language to our advantage.
When thinking about going to university many thoughts and worries will run through your mind, and one of them is having to make new friends and participate in huge classes and lectures. So by doing however much is possible of your course through the medium of Welsh, the lectures will be smaller, and you will be able to form friendships with classmates who are just as enthusiastic as you are about the Welsh language.
Studying through the medium of Welsh opens many career doors as a large number of employers are searching for Welsh speaking employees. Providing medical services through the medium of Welsh can be a comfort to many people, especially older people and young children. This is because conditions such as dementia etc. can have a big impact on people's mental health, and sometimes receiving a service in your mother tongue can be a comfort during what can otherwise be a very worrying time. Similarly, young children are not completely comfortable with second languages and yet going to the dentist or hospital can be scary, and so being able to explain the whole process through their first language offers them a little comfort and makes them more likely to trust you.
So, if you are currently studying subjects through the medium of Welsh at school and are thinking of going to university to study medicine or dentistry, it is a good idea to consider doing whatever you can through the medium of Welsh. Many different opportunities can arise from making this decision, which will be very valuable for your future and also in terms of keeping the Welsh language alive!