A publisher has created innovative resources to teach Spanish through the medium of Welsh to primary school children.
Canolfan Peniarth, one of the leading publishers of Welsh and bilingual books and educational resources in Wales, is part of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.
This is the first package of its kind to support primary schools in delivering a foreign language through the medium of Welsh.
The package is based on the book Patagonia from the popular Dewch i Deithio – Let’s Travel – series. The series was originally created to introduce the cultures and languages of different countries and areas to children in an attractive, enchanting and engaging manner.
The resource responds to Curriculum for Wales requirements to introduce foreign languages in primary schools.
The package, which includes digital training and resources, has been created specifically to enable practitioners who do not specialise in foreign language learning to confidently deliver Patagonia Spanish to Welsh-medium primary sector learners.
The package includes an initial training session, complete materials for seven units of work and a script for a Spanish performance that the children could perform at the end of the units.
Eluned Grandis, lecturer in Welsh from the university’s Centre for Welsh Services, and author of the resource pack, said:
“I want children to enjoy learning another language. Doing this will improve their understanding of grammar and their ability to create connections between vocabulary and the structure of different languages. It will also, hopefully, ignite their passion for languages and open the door to other people’s cultures.”
