What is the state of Welsh speakers in North Wales?

[RATTER15]

I seem to remember on my last visit to North Wales (Many moons ago) that many people were speaking in Welsh.

Is this just the older generation or are people still speaking in Welsh as their first language?

Are the Welsh children being brought up to speak English or Welsh as their first language?

[roxie_09]

I'm sure they speak welsh as their first language. Parts of west and mid Wales do too x

[wyddfa]

Welsh remains the first language for many people . I am proud to say that English is my second language and was unable to speak it until I started school . Welsh is now taught to every pupil and rightly so if you are living in that country.

[NOX]

Used to live near Bala a few years ago and kids are taught Welsh as their first language and the majority of people speak Welsh too on a daily basis which is great, nice to see the language recovering so well.

[beejaybee]

I live in South Wales & Welsh is my first language. You do hear Welsh spoken quite a lot around here, but not as much as it was as there are a lot of non Welsh speakers moved into the area. In saying that a lot of these do send their children to Welsh schools.

[RATTER15]

wyddfa, and rightly so, its good to be proud :)

>>Welsh is now taught to every pupil and rightly so if you are living in that country.<<

I agree.

So children are actually taught in Welsh at school, and taught English as a second language?

[NOX]

Yes that's exactly the case Ratter.

[RATTER15]

ok, thanks all for your informative answers :)

[mike11111]

Some schools teach through the medium of Welsh but I believe the majority teach via English, but this may vary from area to area.

[wyddfa]

Under the National Curriculum , Welsh is compulsory ( at different levels ie beginners thru to fluent speakers ) . If you have Welsh speaking parents then the children are naturally brought up in a Welsh speaking household. There are primary and secondary schools which teach through the medium of Welsh. Others are taught through the English language.

[RATTER15]

So how difficult will this be for me to get work in a Care Home in North or Mid Wales being English ?(Half Welsh actually) I know that Welsh Care Homes employ foreign staff as I know of a few Filipino girls that work in Wales. Would there be a language barrier with the elderly?

[FredPuli43]

It's better than that. There are schools in England that teach Welsh or in Welsh. My brother and sister- in- law live in Herefordshire. They are both Welsh, but not 'native ' Welsh speakers, though his grandparents were. They learned Welsh. Their children were brought up to speak Welsh as their primary language and sent to a local school where Welsh was spoken. This had the curious result for me that the three- year -old, on seeing a house spider, immediately said to me "Spider! Spider!" , in Welsh. Getting no response, she said it in English.

Welsh has had a great revival.

[RATTER15]

Fred, I work 6 days a week and on the seventh day I slog preparing our house for sale and business plans for moving.So having time to learn another language is impossible at the moment.

[pdust]

*Is this just the older generation or are people still speaking in Welsh as their first language? *

in t'olden days im not sure if they were all taught english, my sons nana didnt learn english until she came to england when she was in her early 20's, she is in her mid 80's now though.....

[rowanwitch]

I wanted to work in Wales as the original plan was to move to Redman rather than the other way round... Unfortunately the local NHS trusts had Fluency in Welsh as an essential on the job specs.. some even going so far as to state currently learning ' as inadequate'. I looked at some local government posts but they were the same. Private sector is probably ok though.

[horseshoes]

Rowanwitch is spot on!