FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are the advantages for my child of being bilingual?
There are many advantages. For example:

Research shows that children who understand more than one language are able to think more flexibly and creatively.

There are definite economic advantages later on when your child is looking for a job, as more jobs in Wales today ask for bilingual skills than ever before.

It can help to build a bridge between generations, if grandparents and family members speak Welsh.

A bilingual person can communicate with a wider variety of people than a person who can speak only one language.

It provides the opportunity to experience two different cultures, two worlds of experience. It can help people to feel a sense of belonging to Wales.

In Welsh-speaking areas, it gives people the opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of community life.

But I can't speak Welsh
There are lots of ways in which you can introduce the language to your child from a very young age, even if you don't speak the language yourself.

If you have a Welsh-speaking partner, other family members or friends, you can encourage them always to speak Welsh with your child. Certainly mamgu and tadcu, or taid and nain, can be a powerful influence! And of course, by speaking Welsh with them, your children will establish a close relationship in a language which belongs to your family.

Other sources of help
You can introduce some non-school based Welsh language activities into your home. For example:

Watch Welsh-language TV programmes with your child. Many popular children's programmes and drama series on S4C have English subtitles.

Get hold of some of the excellent children's books, videos and cassettes which are now available - contact your local Welsh bookshop for advice, or ask at your local library.

How do we support the Welsh language at home if only one partner can speak it?
This is a fairly common situation, not only in Wales in the case of English and Welsh, but also in many other countries all over the world where two or more languages are spoken. The first step is deciding that you want your child to be bilingual. It's then important that the parent who can speak Welsh continues to use the language as much as possible in the home so that the child becomes familiar with hearing both languages.

Will I feel left out when they're speaking Welsh?
There's no need for the non-Welsh speaking partner to feel left out because your children will love explaining and translating for you what's been said in Welsh! This is one of the main skills a bilingual person has, i.e. the ability to transfer ideas and information from one language to another with ease. Your child will be able to do this from a very early age and you will be delighted and proud when this happens.

Do children mix up the two languages?
Yes, in the early stages they probably will, but this is nothing to worry about. Hearing the sounds of both languages from a very early age is very advantageous to children. They will very soon be able to separate and tell the difference between the two and will speak to you in the language you speak to them.

How can I help my child at school if I can't speak Welsh?
There are lots of ways you can reinforce what your child is learning at school. You can take an active interest in every aspect of your child's life. There's no reason why you shouldn't carry on reading to your child and discussing all his/her activities in whichever language is most comfortable for you. It can be very beneficial for your child to discuss with you in English what he/she is learning in Welsh. You might also like to consider learning Welsh yourself.

Why should we bother speaking Welsh at home if our child can learn Welsh at school?
The home has a vital role to play in introducing language to children. It is in the home that the child learns all the richness of language - this is the most natural place to learn language. The sooner the child hears a language and begins to use it in everyday conversations with parents or other relatives the better. Therefore if you have the opportunity to use Welsh naturally in your home, this is the best place for your child to start learning the language, just as it's the best place for your child to start learning any skill.

If you want your child to be proud of being able to speak Welsh it's important that you have a positive attitude towards the language and that you show this to your child. Children often demonstrate the same attitude towards things as their parents. If you show that you enjoy hearing Welsh spoken, then your child will probably enjoy speaking it!

Is Welsh a difficult language to learn?
No! In a supportive atmosphere, any child can learn to speak Welsh easily, just as children can learn any language, no matter how complicated that language may be.

I like to read with my child. How can parents do this if they don't speak Welsh?
There's no reason why you shouldn't read to your children in English, and encourage them to read English as well. You can ask your local library for advice when choosing books.

Will learning two languages affect my child's English?
Research shows that being able to speak and use two languages improves a child's ability to use and learn language in general. Children can learn about something in one language and talk about it in another, which often helps them to understand the subject more easily.

Recent results have also shown that children receiving bilingual education tend to do better right across the curriculum - including in English!

Wouldn't it be better for my child to learn a more 'useful' language like French, German or Spanish?
With the increase in the use of Welsh currently happening in every aspect of public life in Wales, and the increase in the job opportunities where bilingual skills are required, the ability to speak Welsh is becoming more and more useful when seeking jobs. People who can work bilingually are needed everywhere in Wales, not just in the Welsh-speaking areas.

"But Welsh culture belongs to the past!"
It's true that the Welsh language has a long and rich history. But it's also a lively contemporary language with an eye very firmly on the future. The language is being used by members of the National Assembly in Cardiff. We now have a digital TV channel which broadcasts in Welsh for 12 hours a day. There are Welsh-language websites and CD-Roms. Welsh is a strong language, which has survived over the centuries and the revitalisation that we have seen during the second half of the 20th century ensures that it will continue to develop and remain a language that everyone in Wales can be proud of.


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