Your Languages journey starts here...

Cymraeg / Welsh

In line with the New Curriculum guidance, the Welsh Department has been working alongside the Area of Learning on new schemes of work, enabling us to unite in our approach of introducing the 4 purposes to our year 7 pupils. Currently, we are working on the following aspects during year 7 -  

• How do human beings cope in unfamiliar environments? 
• Is creative writing a lost art? 
• To what extent is our national identity linked to our food? 
• How do human beings communicate in order to entertain? 

Welsh grammar, language rules and reading lessons are delivered throughout the year.  We also incorporate key skills and basic skills into our schemes of work.  Our aim is to secure a strong foundation for every pupil in Welsh, and develop their enjoyment when using the language.

The extra curricular activities through the medium of Welsh are important to develop pupils’ confidence to speak the language.  Year 7 will have the opportunity to join these activities, e.g, A visit to an Urdd camp, the Urdd and the Eisteddfod, football and rugby trips to the Millennium Stadium.

How you can help

Encourage your child to:

• Read a Welsh book or magazine regularly.
• Complete the weekly homework.
• Join the extra curricular activities.
• Use a Welsh dictionary.
• When possible, using appropriate Welsh websites to improve their knowledge and understanding of the Welsh language.

French / le français

French lessons at Ysgol Bro Gwaun will teach you how to speak and write in French and how to understand what other people are saying.

Working together, with the English and Welsh departments, in French lesson you will cover 3 units each year, starting with considering how human beings cope in unfamiliar environments.  This deals with language that helps you to introduce yourself and understand information or questions that other people have for you.  Being able to have this kind of conversation is a great step in speaking a new language and developing your communication skills. 

The remaining 2 units include considering our other key questions, which focus on the local and surrounding area, as well as learning how to talk about and understand key forms of entertainment such as French music and pop groups.

You will have the opportunity to take part in many different activities and strategies to help you learn French so that you can communicate fluently, with a great accent.  We learn a number of French songs during the year – songs which will help you to memorise vocabulary and the phrases we cover in lessons.   You will also get into the habit of “self-quizzing” which will help you to learn your work regularly and thoroughly, and this is often done online.

During the year you will get the opportunity to have a French speaking pen-friend and during the first few weeks of term, you will also have the chance to order French magazines. These magazines have been prepared specifically for French learners and contain interesting and colourful material in simple French.

Throughout the year, you will be able to use the school’s ICT suites to further your development in French, for example by using French activity websites or by creating FlipGrid oracy activities on the iPads and developing French speaking avatars.

We look forward to welcoming you to French @ YBG!