International students take up the Welsh challenge

International students at Swansea University have taken up the challenge of learning Welsh, through a 10-week course run by the South-West Wales Welsh for Adults Centre in the Department of Adult and Continuing Education (DACE).

In what is believed to be the first University-run course of its kind, 27 students from as far and wide as Brunei, China, India, Iran, and Zambia began the course on January 27, to learn the language and to learn more about Wales and its culture.

Many of the students already speak two or three languages fluently, and it is hoped by the end of the course, many of the students will also have mastered the basics of conversational Welsh – from simple greetings such as “bore da” (good morning) to being able to describe the weather and hold a basic conversation.

The students who have enlisted for the Welsh course are not all linguists. They come from a diverse academic background, studying a range of subjects from computer science and biochemistry, to maths and engineering.

The weekly two-hour classes cover areas such as Welsh pronunciation, personal details, possessions, interests, the weather, time, family, and describing people.

There will also be an away-day and possibly over Easter they will be offered the chance to attend a residential course to be completely immersed in Welsh and Welsh culture.

Zixi Wu, aged 21, from China, who is studying for a BSc in Accounting and Finance, said: “The first idea that came to my mind was that the Welsh class might help me to learn more about the Wales, especially its culture. To learn a totally different language is also interesting and a challenge for me.

“I have already learned some basic Welsh phrases and I have found that I can recognise some signs in the street. I am also making a lot of new Welsh friends.”

Mabrouk Zanain, aged 42, from Libya, who is studying for a PhD in Chemical Engineering, said: “As l am a PhD student, I am going to be in Swansea for some time to complete my studies. I would like to learn some basic Welsh phrases to help me speak to people here, as well as having an interest in understanding this language.”

Siân Impey, Swansea University’s Internationalisation Development Manager, added: “We have been surprised at the extent of the interest in the Welsh language. It seems that the many international students that choose to study in Swansea from all corners of the world genuinely want to learn about Wales and its culture.

“These students will already speak other languages and so they are not deterred in the least by the Welsh language. It shows that Welsh identity can be a positive marketing tool to attract international students. It can be turned into a unique selling point which adds a different dimension to an international student’s experience in Wales.”

Around 2,800 students who come from outside the UK are currently studying at Swansea University. The course aims to increase the integration of international students on campus with home students.

Home and international students also have the opportunity to learn Mandarin Chinese and take part in a study programme in China over the summer.

The South-West Wales Welsh for Adults Centre in the Department of Adult and Continuing Education (DACE) is a joint initiative run by Swansea University and funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and is the regional centre of excellence for teaching Welsh to adults.