GCSE Welsh as a Second Language Tutors

Why study GCSE Welsh as a second language?

• Welsh is now the oldest surviving living language in Europe
• Welsh was one of the original languages of the Britons
• All signs in Wales are now written in both Welsh and English
• Welsh has legal status with English within Wales
• Welsh has enjoyed a significant revival following the Welsh Language Act of 1993

What is covered in Welsh GCSE?

• Reading in Welsh
• Writing in Welsh
• Understanding of the Welsh language
• Welsh history and culture

Is GCSE Welsh right for me?

Studying GCSE Welsh as a second language will increase your sense of awareness of culture and what is around you. Studying Welsh can help you become attuned to other languages as well. This might mean it is easier for you to learn a third language if you want to. Studies have shown that people with bi-lingual skills are more mentally agile and better at organising information and problem-solving.

This means that learning Welsh will help with other study subject areas too, not just languages. Research has also shown that people with bi-lingual skills earn an average of 8-10% more than people without language skills

What exams and assessments are there?

Currently the main examining board for GCSE Welsh as a second language is WJEC. Typically, the assessment of the subject will be broken down as follows:

• 30% Coursework – Both written and oral
• 10% Group Oral – You will study a video, a collection of pictures, or a statement and will then be asked to discuss these with your partner
• 10% Listening Exam
• 50% Reading and Writing paper. This will be broken down into 25% reading and 25% writing. It will consist of an interview, 2 essay questions, 4 writing passages, 1 reading comprehension and views on current topics

This is an example of a typical assessment programme and is not necessarily a guarantee as to your specific assessment structure.

Further study

After completing your GCSE Welsh as a second language course it would be possible to continue your studies in areas such as:

• A level Welsh
• Diploma of Higher Education in Welsh
• Welsh Honours degree (Bangor university offers a taught BA in Welsh)
• You could also consider wider studying options such as Modern European language courses that include Welsh in their programme

Future career

Having studied GCSE Welsh as a second language opens a significant number of career paths for you:

• Teaching – All children in Welsh schools either speak or learn Welsh. It is going to be a language of the future and good teachers are going to be needed to carry the language forward. There will be strong demand for Welsh teachers but there is also a need for teachers of other subjects in Welsh schools too and they will be looking for Welsh-speaking professionals.
• ourism and Hospitality – Being able to offer a potential employer two languages and a sense of Welsh culture will put you in a strong position to work in these industries. Not just in Wales but all over Europe as well.
• Public Sector Jobs – All public sector organisations in Wales are legally bound to provide services in both English and Welsh. This is a vast area and consists of jobs in the emergency services, hospitals, social services and local government and many other places too.
• Private Sector – Although not legally bound to offer Welsh services, many Welsh companies believe that employing staff who can speak and understand Welsh is good for their public image so having GCSE Welsh as a second language on your CV will open a lot of doors for you in private industry.