On Thursday, 29th June, Coleg Sir Gâr welcomed over 80 pupils from St John Lloyd Catholic Comprehensive, Ysgol Coedcae and Ysgol Bryngwyn School for an engaging Languages Day during which talks by Routes into Languages Cymru and interactive language and cultural workshops for German and Italian enthused young and talented linguists in years 9 and 10. 

The German and Italian language activities coordinated by Christiane Günther and Giovanna Donzelli, respectively, have supported the participants in identifying the similarities between English, Welsh and several foreign languages. The effects of a plurilingual environment on the development of English and Welsh literacy skills is particularly topical at a time of radical change to the new GCSEs which will be first taught from September 2025. Moreover, the merging of English/Welsh Language and Literature into one qualification is seen as potentially damaging to our pupils’ literacy skills. 

Nevertheless, literacy in the L1 can be supported by the study of foreign languages. Recent studies on second language acquisition in young learners, for example, suggest that Italian as L2 has a facilitative effect on first language literacy (reading accuracy and phonological processing). This may be due to the transparent grapheme-phoneme correspondence in Italian, which helps learners to develop noticing skills. Therefore, encouraging learners to transfer what they have acquired about how languages work in one language to the learning and use of other languages can support interdisciplinarity in the curriculum and ultimately strengthen first language literacy.  

Finally, the German and Italian workshops, and Coleg Sir Gâr Languages Day, have underlined the message that languages are a key part of a broad and balanced curriculum. The future of Wales as a haven for all cultures and communities will be determined by our young people’s ability to develop a global mindset.

Speaking foreign languages, developing awareness and understanding of other cultures, will enable our young people to become accomplished, socially aware, global citizens of tomorrow, and place them at the forefront of Wales' economic growth and stronger international trade.

~ Dr Giovanna Donzelli