Page 36 - Sixth Form Options Booklet

WELSH

CYMRAEG

Why study Cymraeg?
The Welsh Government has set a target to have a million Cymraeg speakers by 2050. Welsh medium education will not
reach this target on their own. Students from English medium schools are part of this target – as are their parents
and families.

“Welsh Highly Desirable”
A quick glance online will quickly remove any doubts you may have about the importance of Welsh in today’s jobs’
market. Careers ranging from medicine, dentistry, journalism, teaching, the Civil Service, Government and business can
all require knowledge of Cymraeg – not just because the status of Welsh has changed within the legal framework of the
country. Employers over the last decade have increasingly stressed the importance of ‘soft skills’ – those skills which
were once largely overlooked in favour of academic brilliance. With a higher proportion of young people entering higher
education, employers can afford to look for not only academic excellence but for additional skills such as the ability
to speak Cymraeg. Take, for example, the General Practitioner who sees a number of patients every day who speak
Cymraeg as a first language and who find it difficult to express the subtle nuances of pain in their second language, the
primary school teacher who has to use a large percentage of Cymraeg in their lessons; or a personal trainer who can
offer their services in both English and Cymraeg. A candidate for a job who speaks Cymraeg is in a far better position
than one who does not. Welsh is a good choice for anyone who wants to be in a good position when the job advert says:
“Welsh Highly Desirable.”

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