Being Bilingual

Being bilingual has many benefits; if you can speak two or more languages you may have greater opportunities throughout life. There is research to support the immense benefits!

Across Wales more and more parents are choosing a Welsh-medium education for their children so that they can become bilingual and fluent in Welsh and English. Parents don't need to be able to speak Welsh for their children to attend Welsh-medium education - children are immersed in the Welsh language at school and become fluent quickly.

The Welsh Government has also committed to developing a bilingual Wales through its Welsh-language strategy 'Cymraeg 2050' with a vision for reaching a million speakers by 2050. Merthyr Tydfil Borough Council is committed to our vision: Merthyr Tydfil: #Shwmaeronment – a place where the Welsh language is celebrated.

‘To continue to grow opportunities for Welsh medium education across the County Borough, supporting families and professionals to develop their skills in the use of Welsh so that they are more confident to use the language wherever they are.’

Bilingualism can bring many benefits to your child:

• Learners who understand more than one language can think more creatively and with more flexibility and tend to do better in IQ tests.
• Being bilingual has a positive effect on the brain by keeping it active later in life.
• Being bilingual can reduce the risk of dementia.
• In Wales, being able to speak Welsh fluently is a valuable extra skill which will give your child a head start when looking for work.
• Being bilingual gives access to two different cultures and two worlds of experience.
• From bilingual to multilingual - bilingual people find it easier to learn a third language and show more tolerance towards other cultures.
• Across Wales bilingual children tend to achieve better results - including in English.

See the link below to the animated version of the Being Bilingual booklet.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=6069169053130515

The Learning Journey

Merthyr Tydfil offers Welsh language opportunities to all age groups. It is essential for you as parents to ‘get it right from the start’- this includes during pregnancy as research tells us babies can hear voices and music!

To learn more about the learning journey in Merthyr Tydfil - Welsh Medium Education In Merthyr Tydfil 3-11 years old | Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

MYTH

You have to speak Welsh at home to send your child to a Welsh Medium School.

Fact

The vast majority- over 81%- of children in Welsh Medium education in Merthyr Tydfil do not speak Welsh at come! So coming from a non-Welsh speaking background is absolutely fine and the curriculum is designed with that in mind. Welsh-medium schools do not expect children to speak Welsh when they start, but will help those children to become more proficient in Welsh before the end of their first year.

Shwmaeronment | Facebook