The Work Welsh programme goes from strength to strength at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai.

During Wythnos Dathlu Dysgu Cymraeg (Celebrate Learning Welsh Week) we are delighted to announce the success of the Welsh Work FE programme among Grŵp Llandrillo Menai's staff.

The programme aims to develop the Welsh language skills of staff in Further Education colleges. The aim is to work with a minimum of 210 further education lecturers across Wales with each completing 120 hours of Welsh lessons. The programme is funded by the Welsh Government with the support of ColegauCymru.

56 members of staff have enrolled on the programme this year, including administrative staff, business support staff, lecturers, assessors, managers and senior managers, varying from complete beginners to confident learners.

This follows the huge success of the programme last year when 11 members of staff successfully completed their WJEC examinations.

Siân Pritchard, Work Welsh Professional Welsh Language Tutor said:

"I am very proud of our Work Welsh participants. They have worked extremely hard to improve and develop their Welsh language skills. It's a pleasure to support them and see them develop confidence in speaking Welsh – keep it up everybody!"

During the academic year the programme will offer lessons for two hours each week as well as social events and informal sessions.

Salah Berdouk, Assistant Principal of Computing & Creative Industries, Construction and Engineering at Coleg Llandrillo, who is currently following the Work Welsh course, said:

"I have started to learn Welsh not only to help me with my work but also because I am very interested in learning the language of the country that has been my home for some years now. Being able to start chatting in Welsh at work has helped me to fit in and has also challenged me intellectually."

Valerie Johnson from Grŵp Llandrillo Menai's Learner Services department said:

"I have been learning Welsh with the college since moving to Wales in 2017. As a complete beginner this has been very challenging but also very enjoyable. We have a lovely group and an excellent, patient and knowledgeable teacher. This has really helped me in my work and having passed an exam earlier this year it's also been worth it."