17th January 2008
The Big Welsh Challenge online course has meant that a dad from Caerleon can now give his son valuable help with his Welsh homework. Ian has just moved back to Wales after 23 years in England but when his 11 year old son, Dylan, found a place at the local comprehensive school he found he was struggling to keep up in Welsh lessons.
Ian was concerned that Dylan was at a huge disadvantage as his classmates had been learning Welsh since primary school. He did his best to offer support, but found the homework hard to understand. "I was at a complete loss," says Ian. "I asked his teacher if she could recommend a book for a complete beginner like me but she couldn't suggest anything."
But it was while he was browsing the internet looking for resources that Ian stumbled upon the Big Welsh Challenge online course. "It's brilliant," he says. "It's the best language education site I've ever used. I particularly like the use of a mini soap opera as the focus for learning. I find myself keen to move onto the next scene just to discover what's going to happen! The video tutor is also an excellent idea."
Ian is now looking forward to the new units which are being added in the next few weeks. And he says he's planning to introduce Dylan to the course - in the hope that it will enable him too to improve his language skills.