NEW LANGUAGE CHARTER FOR CARMARTHENSHIRE SCHOOLS

A new language charter for Carmarthenshire schools is being launched this Friday in Carmarthen.

Codi Caerau Sir Gâr, our new language charter, will be launched at an event at Yr Atom, the new Welsh centre in the town’s King Street.

The aim of the charter is to encourage young people to learn Welsh and to use the language, developing from only speaking Welsh to teachers to using the language around the school, with friends, parents, using Welsh technology such as apps and listening to Welsh music and watching Welsh language programmes.

The Caer in Codi Caerau comes from the Welsh word for Carmarthen, Caerfyrddin. The origin of the word Caer is the Latin castrum which means castle or stronghold.

The event starts at 9am with a welcome and a presentation by poet and author Mererid Hopwood on the development of the Welsh language.

Gwynedd County Council language charter officer Gwenan Ellis Jones will give a presentation with two Gwynedd head teachers.

After coffee, Improving Welsh and Bilingualism Teachers will host workshops on the language charter, DJ Marky G (Marc Griffiths) will speak on the use of radio in schools, and Welsh Children’s Poet Aneirin Karadog will perform Rap Sir Gâr with pupils of Bancffosfelen School.

The launch is being supported by rugby referee Nigel Owens from Mynyddcerrig and BBC One Show presenter Alex Jones from Ammanford.

Nigel said: “Without my Welsh education in school I would not have had all the opportunities to present and perform and I would not have been encouraged to start as a referee at 16 years old.

“I carry the Welsh with me wherever I referee in the world. Before each game I listen to Welsh music. I’m lucky enough to have two languages and Welsh is an important part of who I am.”

Alex said: “Having a bilingual education has been pivotal to me in so many ways. It meant that I had twice as many opportunities, it doubled my capacity to learn other languages, it enhanced my ability to communicate and therefore make friends, and most importantly, it gave me a strong sense of belonging and of our heritage.

“Starting out as a broadcaster in Welsh gave me the vast experience I needed to move forward to my dream job. Without a bilingual education, I’d be in a very different place.”

Carmarthenshire County Council executive board member for education and children’s services Cllr Gareth Jones said: “It is a historic day in Carmarthenshire in launching the new language charter. It is another step forward as we try to restore the position of the Welsh language in the county.”