National Sabbatical Scheme
The Sabbatical Scheme for Welsh language training offers language courses to primary and secondary school teachers, classroom assistants and lecturers.
The aim of the courses, which are funded by Welsh Government, is to increase the number of practitioners who can educate through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. The courses offer opportunities for specialised continuing professional development courses in the field of education.
Courses are offered at various language levels in various locations across Wales. Here in Cardiff University, we offer sabbatical courses at foundation and higher levels, as well as the new groundbreaking course, Welsh in a Year.
The courses are available free of charge, and Welsh Government provides a grant to pay supply costs, as well as travelling expenses.
This course is geared towards classroom assistants with limited knowledge of the Welsh language who are teaching in English medium primary schools. The course aims to create assistants who will be confident to talk to young learners, and develop their confidence when using Welsh at school in a wide range of contexts. It’s an intensive course, taught at the University for five weeks.
Suitable for: Teaching assistants in English medium primary schools.
This course is for primary teachers in the English medium sector. The course aims to develop practitioner skills so they can use Welsh confidently at school in a wide range of contexts. The course focuses on learning relevant patterns, expanding vocabulary, developing language teaching methodologies and developing teaching resources. It’s an intensive course, taught at the University for 11 weeks.
Suitable for: Primary teachers from the English medium sector who have some knowledge of Welsh.
The course aims to increase practitioner skills and confidence in using spoken and written Welsh when teaching through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. The course develops practitioner confidence and accuracy when teaching, assessing and carrying out administrative duties. There is a focus on developing linguistic information which will enable practitioners to develop pupils’ language skills and raise standards in their schools.
This course is designed for fluent Welsh speakers, either first language speakers or fluent learners who wish to increase their confidence when using Welsh in a professional context.
Suitable for: Teachers in Welsh medium primary or secondary schools, or further education lecturers.
This course aims to develop teaching assistants’ Welsh language skills and their confidence in using the language accurately and effectively in school in a variety of contexts. The course develops an understanding of language structure and the ability to model language correctly for pupils. By following this course, assistants will be able to support teachers to develop pupil literacy effectively.
This course is designed for fluent Welsh speakers, either first language speakers or fluent learners who wish to increase their confidence when using Welsh in a professional context.
A 20-day course at the University.
Suitable for: Teaching assistants in Welsh medium primary schools.
This course is a unique opportunity for practitioners to develop their Welsh language skills. Teachers will spend a year with us at the School of Welsh, Cardiff University, developing their Welsh language skills, which will enable them to contribute towards raising standards in their schools.
The course aims to develop practitioner confidence and ability when using Welsh across the curriculum, as well as giving practitioners an opportunity to work strategically in order to develop bilingualism in their schools. Practitioners will have an opportunity to develop their knowledge of language teaching methodologies, and to develop resources and cross-curricular lessons.
During the year, practitioners will spend some time in their schools working on projects which will promote the Welsh language at the School. They will also spend some time at a Welsh medium primary school.
Suitable for: Teachers in English medium primary schools.
Indicative course structure
| Term | Format |
|---|---|
| Autumn | Full-time study in Cardiff University |
| Spring | Four days per week in Cardiff University One day per week at your school |
| Summer | Four days per week in Cardiff University One day per week in your own school Eight days in a Welsh-medium Primary school (after half term) |