Pathways to the Welsh language for international migrants
Pathways to the Welsh language for international migrants (Llwybrau at y Gymraeg) will raise awareness of Welsh and bilingual education to adult and child migrants in Wales. The aim is to improve access to the provision. This project contributes to a new, unique, inclusive and Welsh-language approach to language education and integration.
This project consists of two strands.
Strand 1 focuses on knowledge exchange activities to develop the Welsh language provision for adult migrants in the adult education sector. This pathway will strengthen and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and training between ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) and Dysgu Cymraeg, The National Centre for Learning Welsh, to improve WSOL (Welsh for Speakers of Other Languages) provision. It aims to address linguistic inequalities that exist in migrants' access to Wales' two main languages. The aim is to move towards language provision that supports migrant multilingualism and empowers migrants to establish new ways of participating and belonging in Wales.
Strand 2 focuses on knowledge exchange activities to develop migrant family awareness of and access to Welsh medium and bilingual statutory education in Wales. This pathway will continue and strengthen the new Welsh and Bilingual Education for All/Welsh and Bilingual Education for All (AGDB/WBEA) network. The network was established by Swansea University/IAITH during 2021-2022 with a Learned Society Wales small grant, with the aim of working towards addressing the challenges for migrant families in accessing Welsh medium and bilingual education. Breaking down barriers to Welsh-medium/bilingual education for migrants will also increase the multilingual and multicultural awareness of these schools in welcoming migrants from diverse backgroung
Refugees and Welsh-medium education: Pathways to Welsh for families
During the 2023 Llŷn and Eifionydd Eisteddfod, IAITH held a panel session to discuss what is currently being done and what more needs to be done to support refugee families to access Welsh language education for their children. The session was held as part of the ‘Pathways to Welsh for international migrants’ project.
Panel members:
Joseph Gnagbo, Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg
Kaveh Karimi, The Red Cross
Ceren Roberts, Urdd Gobaith Cymru
Erica Williams, Wales Strategic Migration Partnership
Rhys Glyn, Cyngor Gwynedd
Nesta Davies, Cyngor Sir Ynys Môn
Eira Owen, Cyngor Sir Ynys Môn
Gwennan Higham, Swansea University
The discussion was led by Kathryn Jones, IAITH.
You can now watch the session in its entirety as well as a news item broadcast by Newyddion S4C.
