Welsh medium apprenticeships assist hold the language ‘alive’ says language ambassador

A younger award-winning apprentice has pressured the significance of Welsh medium apprenticeships that assist hold the language and the traditions of Wales “alive.”

Welsh speaker Ifan Wyn Phillips from Crymych in Pembrokeshire is working in the direction of an Apprenticeship in Electrical Set up by means of EAL, delivered bilingually by Pembrokeshire Faculty, having accomplished his Basis Apprenticeship in 2021.

His ardour for selling bilingual apprenticeships has led to his appointment for a 3rd 12 months as an Apprenticeship Ambassador by Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and the Nationwide Coaching Federation of Wales (NTfW).

The 21-year-old can also be a Welsh language ambassador for Pembrokeshire Faculty.

He received the William Salesbury Additional Schooling and Apprenticeship Award at Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol’s Annual Awards in 2021.

The award recognises the contribution of a learner or apprentice to Welsh language life and tradition inside an extra schooling faculty or apprenticeship supplier.

Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol leads the event of Welsh medium and bilingual schooling and coaching within the post-compulsory sector in Wales and the NTfW represents work-based studying suppliers throughout Wales.

Ifan’s ambassadorial function has included speaking to secondary college youngsters at Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli about his job and the advantages of apprenticeships.

He additionally takes half in Instagram Takeovers organised by Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and the NTfW through the annual Apprenticeship Week in Wales.

Essential

“I get pleasure from serving to to advertise Welsh medium and bilingual apprenticeships and it was good to obtain the award from Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol for the work I do,” he mentioned.

“I feel it’s crucial to promote and promote the language to get as many individuals as potential to be taught by means of the medium of Welsh or bilingually.

“It retains the language and traditions alive and helps the Welsh Authorities to achieve its goal of reaching a million Welsh audio system by 2050.”

Ifan is the third era to hitch the household enterprise, D. E. Phillips and Sons Ltd, electrical contractors, which was established by his grandfather in Pembrokeshire. He works on residential, industrial and agricultural properties.

He selected to observe the apprenticeship pathway into the household enterprise as college didn’t attraction to him. “I want to work with my palms and the apprenticeship is a chance to work, be taught and receives a commission,” he defined.

Pembrokeshire Faculty helps Ifan and fellow Welsh talking learners to proceed their studying of their first language.

A Welsh talking member of employees assists in evaluations and gives alternatives for learners to talk Welsh.

Janice Morgan, the faculty’s Welsh language improvement officer, has taken on an additional function as bilingual help tutor, funded by Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

“Ifan continues to be a implausible Welsh language ambassador for the faculty and grabs each alternative which is mirrored within the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol award that he received,” mentioned Janice. “His confidence has grown since he grew to become a Welsh Language Ambassador.”

Confidence

Lisa Mytton, the NTfW’s strategic director, mentioned: “Many workplaces have gotten extra bilingual, so finishing an apprenticeship bilingually or in Welsh can improve a person’s confidence to work in each languages and their employability.

“Our Apprenticeship Ambassadors are glorious function fashions for apprenticeships, highlighting the advantages of studying and dealing bilingually within the office.”

Elin Williams, from the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, mentioned: “That is the third 12 months operating that we have now appointed ambassadors for the apprenticeship sector, and we expect this can be a very important software in displaying people who it’s potential to proceed together with your bilingual studying by means of the apprenticeship route.

“With the Welsh Authorities’s goal to achieve a million Welsh audio system by 2050, it has by no means been extra necessary to develop your bilingual abilities and improve your employability prospects.”

The Apprenticeship Programme in Wales is funded by the Welsh Authorities with help from the European Social Fund.