Close collaboration between Nant Gwrtheyrn and Cardiff University over the last three years has come to fruition with the launch of ‘e – nant’, a package of digital resources for Nant Gwrtheyrn’s Entry level learners. The official launch took place at Nant Gwrtheyrn on Friday the 6th of March. Current learners at Nant Gwrtheyrn attended and there was representation from the University of Cardiff, Welsh for Adults and by members of the management board of the Nant Gwrtheyrn Trust. A special cake was cut to mark the occasion by Dr Carl Clowes, Nant Gwrtheyrn Founder, Mair Saunders, Chief Executive of Nant Gwrtheyrn, Pegi Talfryn, Education manager along with Jennifer Needs.
The package comes as part of University of Cardiff’s Jennifer Needs’ research. Her goal was to create suitable materials to help Entry level students review the work they have learned at Nant Gwrtheyrn to prepare them to sit a WJEC exam. The launch was an opportunity for present learners at the centre to sample what the new resource has to offer.
The research was sponsored by KESS, a pan-Wales higher level skills initiative led by Bangor University on behalf of the Higher Education sector in Wales and part funded by the Welsh Government’s European Social Fund convergence programme for West Wales and the Valleys.
Adrian Price, Executive Director of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan Welsh for Adults Centre and Jennifer’s supervisor said, ‘‘For many years , the Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan Welsh for Adults Centre has been pioneering integrated learning courses, which combines face-to-face teaching with online learning. It has been a great opportunity for the University to work with a small company for the benefit of the rural Welsh language.’’
According to Pegi Talfryn, Education Manager at Nant Gwrtheyrn, “these resources will greatly benefit our learners. Jennifer has created a comprehensive resource that is easy to use. With so many learners use digital resources this will be very welcome.”
Jennifer says, “it is a privilege to have the opportunity to create something unique that will have a positive impact on Nant Gwrtheyrn learners’ journey towards learning the language. I very much hope that future learners at the Nant will feel that the resources are not only effective, but also relevant to them and enjoyable too.”