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The CILT Cymru stall at the Urdd Eisteddfod in
Carmarthen was a hive of activity this year, with a host of children
and adults taking part in language games and quizzes. It was a delight
to see so many young people who had obviously been participating
in our Key Stage 2 pilot project confidently displaying their language
skills. In one particular activity many were surprised to see the
similarities between words in Welsh, English, French, German and
Spanish, and the game brought home to them how learning a third
language can build on the knowledge and skills that they already
possess. Being a bilingual nation provides us with a platform that
does not exist elsewhere in the UK, and our experience at the Urdd
proved to us, if proof were needed, that the earlier we start with
the learning of both MFL and Welsh, the better for all concerned.
We also received visits from a few ‘celebs’, with Gethin
Jones of Blue Peter speaking of the value of languages for him,
and ‘volunteering’ to feature on the CILT Cymru website!
Diolch yn fawr Gethin!
Winners of our daily ‘languages quiz’ were delighted
to receive a £10 book token, with the most conscientious scouring
the wall displays for answers to the trickier questions!
All in all it was well worth attending Europe’s biggest youth
festival, and we look forward to visiting Denbigh in 2008.
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