Programme Specifications

Datganiad Meincnodi’r Gymraeg a gyhoeddwyd gan yr Asiantaeth Sicrhau Ansawdd Addysg Uwch.

September 2023

• To give students the opportunity to study the Welsh language and its literature at an advanced academic level, and in so doing, to give them the means to understand, to analyse, and to appreciate the language as a central strand of the history of the thought, imagination and expression of the Welsh people.

• To instil in students the ability to recognise the innate characteristics of the Welsh language, and to allow them to express themselves in the language confidently, fluently and correctly, both orally and in writing.

• To encourage students to think for themselves, to nurture critical opinion and a historical approach, and, where appropriate, to foster their literary talents.

• To encourage in students an enthusiasm for the subject.

• To provide an exciting and satisfying learning and teaching experience.

• To foster transferable skills which will be relevant to the personal development of students, and which will be advantageous when they are eventually employed.

• To prepare students to respond to the demands of employers in careers where their qualification in the Welsh language is recognised, and where they are expected to use the language consistently on a high level.

• To lay a foundation for further study within the subject itself and within cognate areas.

The above aims are consistent with the QAA’s Welsh Benchmarking Statement.

Intended learning outcomes - the programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, skills, qualities and other attributes in the following areas:

• A1       A thorough knowledge of the characteristics of the Welsh language.

• A2       To know how to describe and to analyse language, using the appropriate technical vocabulary.

• A3       A general awareness of the development of the Welsh language over time and of the main periods in the history of the language.

• A4       A knowledge of Welsh literature, both past and present.

• A5       A knowledge of Welsh literary history, and the historical, social and intellectual factors which have influenced the language over time.

• A6       To know how to treat works of literature critically, using technical vocabulary where appropriate.

• A7       To recognise different literary modes and genres, and their characteristics.

• A8       An awareness of the various ways of studying literature, including a perception of the relevance of critical concepts.

• A9       A knowledge, where relevant, of the links between Welsh literature and the literature of other languages, and of the place of Welsh literary texts within international cultural patterns.

• A10     An awareness of the function of language and literature in fostering, maintaining and developing Welsh national identity.

• A11     An awareness of the language’s present social situation, and of the means used to restore and promote the language.

• A12     Familiarity with the standard reference sources relating to Welsh language and literature, in both printed and electronic format.

The above elements are consistent with the QAA’s Welsh Benchmarking Statement. 

Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated:

 Lectures; supervised reading; seminars; tutorials; language classes; text reading classes; workshops; preparation and writing of essays; extended essays or projects; giving presentations and discussing other students’ presentations; fieldwork.

Assessment:

Written examinations; oral tests; coursework (mainly essays); project work; language tests; extended essays; folio work (including creative writing, language exercises).

• B1        Practical language skills, including possession of sufficient language resources to discuss complex topics in a polished fashion, both orally and in writing.

• B2        The ability to analyse language and its use in different situations.

• B3        The ability to assemble and convey information concerning literary texts, and to treat them critically, both orally and in writing.

• B4        The ability to respond appropriately to the use of language and imagination in literature.

• B5        The ability to appreciate literature in its historical, social and intellectual context.

• B6        The ability to recognise literary conventions and to appreciate their use and function in relation to specific literary genres.

• B7        To prepare bibliographies and refer to sources in a standard and consistent manner.

The above elements are consistent with the QAA’s Welsh Benchmarking Statement.

Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated:

Lectures; supervised reading; seminars; tutorials; language classes; text reading classes; workshops; preparation and writing of essays; extended essays or projects; giving presentations and discussion of other students’ presentations; fieldwork.

Assessment:

Written examinations; oral tests; coursework (mainly essays); project work; language tests; extended essays; folio work (including creative writing, language exercises).

• D1. Accomplished expression in both written and spoken Welsh.

• D2. The ability to convey coherent and cogent arguments in a convincing manner.

• D3. The ability to think for themselves.

• D4. The ability to respond critically, analysing and summarising the opinions and arguments of others.

• D5. The ability to work independently and to gather information in an orderly and purposeful fashion from various sources, evaluating them critically, selecting significant and valid elements, and to present it to others in a coherent and meaningful manner.

• D6. The ability to understand and develop complex concepts, and to treat them critically and analytically.

• D7. The ability to work in a detailed and thorough way.

• D8. Organisational skills in relation to specific set tasks, including effective time management.

• D9. Basic information technology skills, including word-processing, and the ability to gather information from electronic sources.

• D10. To edit work and present it in a clear, well-wrought form.

• D11. The ability to understand material produced in another language/ languages, and to translate it into Welsh or reproduce it in Welsh.

Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated:

Generally, the transferable/key skills are taught by following the modules studied, i.e. they are fostered in association with the teaching methods of modules. These methods include lectures, supervised reading, seminars, tutorials, preparation and writing of essays and presentations. These skills are assessed by means of formal examinations, language tests, coursework and oral assessment. Measuring students’ ability to express themselves well in Welsh is part of the assessment of all modules.