Lisa wins award for enriching learner and apprentice experience
Lisa Evans, lecturer in childcare at Aberystwyth campus, won Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol’s Rooting Scheme Award for enriching the learner’s or apprentice’s experience, which she says is a great honour.
This Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol award acknowledges the contribution of a member of staff in the sector to increasing the use of Welsh among learners/apprentices in a variety of less formal settings.
It has been a great honour to win Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol’s Rooting Scheme Award for enriching the learner’s or apprentice’s experience.
I am very proud that my work to increase the use of the Welsh language is recognised in the college and more widely, especially in the field of childcare - which is my main subject - and this year also in the fields of animal care, business and vocational studies.
My journey began after leaving secondary school, studying childcare level three at Coleg Ceredigion’s Aberystwyth campus. I had opportunities to complete every piece of work through the medium of Welsh, received support from tutors through Welsh, and also carried out work experiences in Welsh settings, working with children and young people.
After two years of studying childcare, I moved on to do a BA degree in early years education and childcare: early years practitioner status at Trinity Saint David for three years. Again, I had the opportunity to do all my work through the medium of Welsh. During this time, I also worked in a local nursery in Aberystwyth, looking after children aged up to 12, the after-school club and the holiday club. This was a valuable experience to promote bilingualism, and I stayed to work there for a year after completing my degree, putting theory into practice.
Following that, I decided to complete a PGCE course in order to become a primary school teacher. Once again, all aspects of the course were through the medium of Welsh, and I was placed in a Welsh language school, which was a good experience.
After completing that qualification, I returned to Coleg Ceredigion to teach and assess in my specialist area - level two and three childcare and then I became a level one course tutor, raising awareness of Welsh culture and promoting the use of the Welsh language, by encouraging learners to complete their work through the language or bilingually. During this period, I have also completed a master’s module on how we can increase the Welsh language/bilingualism for the learners and in the classes. Welsh and bilingualism have played a key role in my journey so far, through the opportunities the language has given me to develop professionally and personally. I have also developed my confidence and my own Welsh through this study.
Helen Griffiths, Director of Bilingualism said: “Lisa really loves all things Welsh and her enthusiasm inspires learners across Coleg Ceredigion.
“She keeps Welsh as the language of the class from the very first lesson with each group, so that everyone has the opportunity to use the language naturally from the start.
“And there’s no stopping her outside the classroom either - she visited Barcelona on an international learning exchange programme, through Taith funding, where she organized a Welsh language session for local people, spreading the language beyond Wales.
Following that, I decided to complete a PGCE course in order to become a primary school teacher. Once again, all aspects of the course were through the medium of Welsh, and I was placed in a Welsh language school, which was a good experience.
After completing that qualification, I returned to Coleg Ceredigion to teach and assess in my specialist area - level two and three childcare and then I became a level one course tutor, raising awareness of Welsh culture and promoting the use of the Welsh language, by encouraging learners to complete their work through the language or bilingually. During this period, I have also completed a master’s module on how we can increase the Welsh language/bilingualism for the learners and in the classes. Welsh and bilingualism have played a key role in my journey so far, through the opportunities the language has given me to develop professionally and personally. I have also developed my confidence and my own Welsh through this study.
Helen Griffiths, Director of Bilingualism said: “Lisa really loves all things Welsh and her enthusiasm inspires learners across Coleg Ceredigion.
“She keeps Welsh as the language of the class from the very first lesson with each group, so that everyone has the opportunity to use the language naturally from the start.
“And there’s no stopping her outside the classroom either - she visited Barcelona on an international learning exchange programme, through Taith funding, where she organized a Welsh language session for local people, spreading the language beyond Wales.
“Lisa has also completed an MA Sgiliaith unit, and has brought all the experiences back to the college, boosting everyone’s confidence to use more of their Welsh skills.”
