Bilingual education planning; language allocation

Language use in the classroom: one language or two languages?

Using two languages in the classroom ‘A key consideration is the nature of the linguistic balance between Welsh and English, and the intensity of Welsh- medium input required in order for learners to reach fluency in both Welsh and English over time’ 2.13 Welsh-medium Education Strategy

García, O. (2009). Bilingual Education in the 21 st Century, ‘Bilingual education takes on many different forms, and increasingly, in the complexity of the modern world, includes forms where two or more languages are separated for instruction, but also forms where two or more languages are used together in complex combinations.’

García, O. (2009). Bilingual Education in the 21 st Century, ‘ What makes bilingual education complex is that one has to think not only of pedagogy, approaches, and methodology, but also of how to allocate, arrange, and use the two or more languages in instruction. ’

‘Welsh-medium education between the ages of three or four and approximately seven usually means delivering provision primarily through the medium of Welsh. From seven to eleven years of age (Key Stage 2 of the national curriculum), English-language skills are also developed through appropriate use of the language as a subject and medium.’ Welsh Assembly Government. (2010) Welsh-medium Education Strategy, para. 2.13

‘Derbynnir yn gyffredinol y dylai o leiaf tua 70% o amser y cwricwlwm fod drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg er mwyn i ddysgwyr feistroli’r iaith yn ddigon cadarn i’w galluogi i’w defnyddio mewn amrywiaeth eang o gyd- destunau yn hyderus ac yn rhugl. Mae Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru yn derbyn yr egwyddor ganolog hon ar gyfer ysgolion cyfrwng Cymraeg ar lefel gynradd ac uwchradd.’ Strategaeth Addysg Cyfrwng Cymraeg, para. 2.13

Language allocation in the primary school. In the following video a primary school head-teacher explains that language planning across the school is vitally important in order to implement effective bilingual education policy and practice.

Language allocation: primary school

Foundation Phase 3-7 years old n=17 schools

KS year old n=17 school

Language allocation: secondary school