Geiriau Bach Recruiting for Geiriau Bach

We currently have groups in Aberystwyth, Haverfordwest, Carmarthen, Merthyr, Pontypridd, Llandudno, Conway, Cardiff, Swansea and. Caerphilly.

We are thrilled to announce that we have secured additional funding from the Welsh Assembly Government to offer new groups in South East Wales and North East Wales. The School of Early Childhood is currently recruiting in these areas for the Certificate of Higher Education in Welsh and Bilingual Practice in the Early Years (Level 4).

The programme is designed to meet the expectations of the Foundation Phase 3 – 7 years that all children have experiences of the Welsh language and bilingualism. It also supports staff working with children under 3 by updating skills in Early Years Education while enabling them to develop their Welsh language ability through introducing appropriate activities which can be used directly with children.

It originally started as the Geiriau Bach project which proved to be very successful and popular with students, and has two main aims:

  • to provide early years staff with little or no Welsh with the Welsh language skills useful for working with young children;
  • to enhance good practice in early years provision

If would like further details, please contact: Eileen Merriman, Programme Coordinator e.merriman@trinitysaintdavid.ac.uk Tel: 01267 676602 or Helen John, Administrator h.john@trinitysaintdavid.ac.ukTel: 01267 676603

Welcome to Geiriau Bach

The agenda for early years’ education in Wales is changing. There is an emphasis on play and on enabling young children to learn Welsh alongside English.

Trinity Saint David, Carmarthen is responding to the challenge by offering this learning programme to help early years’ workers in Wales prepare for these changes and develop new skills.

Who is the course for?

Geiriau Bach is designed for early years’ workers who either speak no Welsh at all or lack confidence in using the little they have.

What does the course offer?

Geiriau Bach is based on 6 new learning modules offering students an opportunity to acquire basic Welsh language skills and learn how to use the language in stimulating play with children. It is firmly rooted in the new Foundation Phase curriculum for children aged 3-7.

What do students learn?

There are 3 language based modules, Blas ar Iaith 1 – 3. Each of these introduces useful words and phrases, songs and activities which students can put into practice in their work with young children from day to day.

In addition, there are 3 supporting modules offering information on:

  • working in a Welsh context – current policy and practice in Wales
  • language and play – the way young children learn through play and exploration
  • language and outdoor play – the value and potential of outdoor play for young children

How is the course delivered and how long does it last?

Geiriau Bach is delivered over 6 terms, studying 1 module per term. Modules are offered on a weekly basis.

Classes and workshops are set up locally and students are supported by local tutors.

Geiriau Bach aims to be flexible, to fit in with work and family arrangements.

Is there a qualification at the end?

Students completing the course and successfully submitting assessments for each of the modules will be awarded a Certificate of Higher Education in Welsh and Bilingual Practice.

Will assessment be difficult and take up a lot of time?

Assessments are rooted in everyday work and enable students to produce useful materials and resources which they can use in their workplace and develop valuable skills such as how to present information to colleagues and parents in a professional style.

So, students will need to put in additional hours each week to prepare assessment tasks. But each item produced or skill learnt will be useful and valuable to current and/or future careers.

Do I have to be a good linguist?

Not at all. The Welsh taught starts at a very basic level and assumes no previous knowledge.

Building on your knowledge as you go along, there are opportunities to practise, repeat and revise.

The emphasis is on learning together in a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere.