In our #BabyStepsIntoWelsh podcast series, Nia Parry has been talking with families about their anxieties, questions and experiences of Welsh-medium education. You can listen to and follow the series here: https://www.podfollow.com/babysteps
In the second chapter, Nia chatted and chortled with the comedian Mike Bubbins and his wife Kelly, who is a Deputy Head in an English-medium school in Cardiff. The two were raised in south Wales; Kelly in Swansea and Mike in Barry, but neither of them speak Welsh.
Kelly mentioned how she was jealous of her college friends as they could speak Welsh, and she decided that her children would be educated through the medium of Welsh.
“I wasn’t so sure about Welsh-medium education. I worried that I wouldn’t be able to help the children with their homework. As a former teacher, this was important to me.” – Mike Bubbins
We heard how Mike, like other parents in the series, worried about their ability to help the children with their work. He worried that as neither he nor Kelly could speak Welsh, they would be placing their children at a disadvantage.
“The Cylch Meithrin was brilliant, and a great way to experiment with Welsh-medium education. The staff were so good, so supportive of us and couldn’t do enough to help us, and other parents who didn’t speak Welsh.” – Mike Bubbins
Mike and Kelly spoke to Nia about the importance of the Cylch Meithrin as a means of developing a network of other parents who were able to help them. We heard also how they noticed that the children were quickly learning the language, and could switch from one language to another as a result of their time in the Cylch Meithrin.
“Tafwyl, the Urdd, the Eisteddfod…we’d never ever have experienced all these amazing Welsh cultural events and opportunities if our kids didn’t attend a Welsh school. The cultural aspect is an eye opener and I’m so glad our family have been exposed to it as a result of Welsh medium education” – Kelly Bubbins.
Kelly told Nia how valuable the cultural elements and experiences the children access through Welsh-medium education are to them and the children. She explained that it gave another perspective on Wales, which is astounding considering they were raised here.
“I hate to admit that Kelly was right, but I can honestly say that sending our kids to Cylch and Welsh medium schools is the best things we’ve ever done. Our son has just appeared on the Welsh version of Mastermind for kids, that proves that they haven’t lagged behind despite the fact that we don’t speak Welsh. Do it!” – Mike Bubbins.
Nia was delighted to hear how Mike and Kelly’s children have grown and flourished due to the decision to give them Welsh-medium education, and how happy their parents are to have made the decision. The crowning moment of the chapter was Nia’s astonishment at Mike’s recitation of the Lord’s prayer in Welsh, which is, according to him, the only thing he learned in Welsh during his time at school – but it has stayed with him to this day!
You can listen to the full conversation here: https://www.podfollow.com/babysteps. Remember to share with other families who are trying to decide which path they want their children’s education to follow.