If you’re supporting your staff in learning Welsh, then a company-wide Ymestyn subscription is an essential addition to the resources you provide for your employees.
To be capable of confidently using Welsh in the workplace, learners need to reach at least a Dysgu Cymraeg Advanced/Uwch level, or B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The CEFR is a six-level language proficiency scale charting the capabilities of learners at each stage, from entry level at A1 to fluency at C2.
A B2 learner will be able to engage in meetings, have technical discussions, write emails and speak with fluency and spontaneity. But the majority of materials currently available online for Welsh learners only serve A1 (Mynediad) and A2 (Sylfaen) learners, with very little available for B1 (Canolradd) learners.
It is impossible, however, to progress from Sylfaen to Uwch without going through Canolradd!
How Ymestyn solves the Canolradd problem
Ymestyn is the only online Welsh learning and practice resource for Canolradd learners. It provides learners with opportunities to go deep into key grammatical points and practice them until they become second nature. It expands students’ vocabulary and helps them learn nuances like noun gender.
Estimates for how many words you need to know to reach B2 vary, but to hold a meaningful conversation requires a lot of words, somewhere around 15,000. That kind of vocabulary acquisition does not happen in class alone, it requires additional study and seeing the same word repeatedly in context.
Ymestyn helps by providing learners with games, quizzes, listening and reading practice in an environment where they control what they learn and when. This means that they can focus on addressing their weaknesses and can revisit a module as often as they need to.
Confidence comes from knowing what you know, and frequent opportunities to self-test give learners the chance to develop a clear understanding of what they really do know and what they need to revise.
Customised learning
Every industry has its specialist vocabulary which will not come up in class, in general interest reading, or on S4C. If you require employees to understand technical terms, I can work with a fluent speaker at your company to develop a module to teach those words.
I have the creativity and tools, you have the specialist expertise, and together we can upskill your employees so that they are happy and confident using Welsh in your workplace.
If you’d like to find out more about group rates or customised modules, please email me, Suw Charman-Anderson.