Information for students about learning Welsh and language improvement

The Department of Welsh and Celtic Studies offers two modules for beginners:

• WE11220 - Beginning Modern Welsh 1
• WE11320 - Beginning Welsh ii

You may have the option of following these modules as part of your degree scheme although you are studying in a different department.  You will need to discuss this with your department at registration.

You can join one of the National Centre for Learning Welsh classes which are run locally by the Learn Welsh Ceredigion Powys Camarthenshire team who are based within the university.  There are classes during the day and in the evening and you can choose between an intensive course of two hours twice a week, or a more leisurely course with one two hour lesson a week. The courses are free to those between 16 and 25 years old and there are discounted fees for students. Classes are available for speakers at every level from beginners to fluent speakers.  Contact learnwelsh@aber.ac.uk or 0800 876 6975 for more information.

You can go down the more informal route of learning Welsh by joining UMCA (Undeb Myfyrwyr Cymraeg Aberystwyth - Aberystwyth's Welsh Students' Union) Welsh classes, which are free.  The classes are taught by student volunteers.  It is a great way to meet other students who speak Welsh or are learning Welsh.  Classes are available at several levels. Contact umca@aber.ac.uk for more information.

Perhaps you studied through the medium of Welsh or followed a Second Language Welsh course at school, but you have lost confidence or are worried that you have forgotten what you learnt. There are several options available. 

Second language Welsh modules

The Department of Welsh and Celtic Studies offer a number of modules for second language students that develop their written and oral skills in Welsh, such as: 

• CY11620 - Trafod y Byd Cyfoes trwy'r Gymraeg
• CY11700 - Ysgrifennu Cymraeg Graenus

You may be able to follow these modules on your degree scheme although you are studying in a different department. You will need to discuss this with your department at registration.

First language Welsh modules

The Department of Welsh and Celtic Studies offer a number of language improvement modules to first language students, such as:

• CY11400/20 - Cymraeg Llyfr a Chymraeg Llafar
• CY20100/20 - Gloywi Iaith

It may be an option for you to follow these modules on your degree scheme although you are studying in a different department.  You will need to discuss this with your department at registration.

Welsh Refresher Classes

You can join one of the National Centre for Learning Welsh language improvement classes that are run locally by the Learn Welsh Ceredigion Powys Camarthenshire team who are based within the university.  Classes are available during the day and in the evening. Contact learnwelsh@aber.ac.uk or 0800 876 6975 for more information.

The Language Skills Certificate has been developed to allow students studying in Wales to gain a certificate that serves as evidence of their language skills and their ability to work through the medium of Welsh.  To prepare students for the certificate, a Language Skills Tutor offers free group language improvement sessions to Aberystwyth University students in the following areas: 

• Common language mistakes
• Translanguaging
• Giving oral presentations
• Writing

The tutor can also provide one to one assistance.  The group sessions and one to one assistance are open to all students, whether they intend to sit the certificate or not. In addition, a series of resources to develop language skills is available on the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol website.  Contact the Welsh Language Skills Tutor for more information on sgiliau@aber.ac.uk.