New A-level study resources launched

Professor Sioned Davies, Head of the School of Welsh, Cardiff University, and Dr Dylan Foster Evans have been meeting teachers from north, south and west Wales to present new digital resources.

Earlier this year, Professor Davies and Dr Foster Evans were commissioned by the WJEC to create new and bespoke resources for the Welsh (first language) A-Level curriculum. These resources have been created to support class based teaching, extend Year 13 pupils understanding of the texts they are studying and stimulate debate.

Professor Davies is a renowned expert on the Mabinogion and published a new English translation of the tales with Oxford University Press in 2007. The resource she has developed concentrates on the tale of Branwen, daughter of Llŷr. The tale’s background, oral and performance context and key themes and characters are discussed; also included are notes and comments on specific words and concepts in the text.

The resource on Dafydd ap Gwilym was prepared by Dr Foster Evans, an expert on Welsh poetry from the middle ages, with the support of Dr Llŷr Gwyn Lewis. Included is an introduction and annotated edition of three poems to support learning.

Professor Davies and Dr Foster Evans have been travelling around Wales presenting the resources to teachers in a series of workshops. The first workshop was held in Llandudno on Friday 11 November, the second on Wednesday 16 November in Carmarthen and the third on Monday 21 November at Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg in Pontypridd.

Alongside the workshops for teachers, the School of Welsh held Masterclasses for pupils from Year 12 and 13 giving them the opportunity to hear more about the resources and work directly with Professor Davies, Dr Dylan Foster Evans and other staff from the School. These events were free with the first held on Friday 4 November at Ysgol David Hughes, Menai Bridge and the second at the School of Welsh in Cardiff on Wednesday 23 November.

The resources are available to view on the WJEC website (Welsh only) – Branwen, daughter of Llŷr / Dafydd ap Gwilym.

For more information about the School’s Masterclasses, please contact Cadi Rhys Thomas.