Darllen Hunaniaethau - Reading Identities

Working with Secondary school Welsh teachers to co-produce educational resources to discuss identities in literary texts in the classroom.

This project is based on previous research led by the School of Welsh to investigate the pedagogy of interpreting literature in the context of diversity and inclusion, and to develop links with Secondary Welsh teachers and external partners including WJEC and Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. A literary review and an annotated bibliography were produced and practical workshops were held with teachers on reading identities in literary texts and exploring gender, sexuality and nationality.

Project feedback indicated that teachers felt more confident to address these topic as a result of attending the workshops. The main recommendation identified by teachers was the need to develop educational materials that could be used in the classroom.

Alongside partners and Welsh secondary school teachers, a series of resources and lesson plans were developed. Teachers were introduced to a range of critical interpretation methods to ‘read identities’ in Welsh literature. The project positively influenced participants’ confidence, knowledge and willingness to include more diversity in the syllabus.

Subject to receipt of further funding, the resources will inform the development of a national toolkit with emphasis placed on considering diverse identities and opening up meaningful discussions about identities.

Project outputs also have the potential to influence curricular decisions and syllabuses for proposed changes to GCSE Welsh Language and Welsh Literature qualifications (from 2025 onwards).