Welsh and Linguistics (BA)

Throughout the degree, our aim is to support you to become an independent, creative, and critical thinker.

First year teaching provides carefully structured support through lectures and seminar discussions to help you develop key skills and gain confidence. The learning activities will vary from module to module, but may include lectures, seminar discussions, student presentations, and small-group work. For Welsh, there is also an important role to be played by tutorials, workshops and language classes, especially if you’re following the second language route. You’ll also have access to all materials through our electronic learning environment.

Through second and final year, you’ll increasingly learn through guided independent reading and interactive workshops and seminars, discussing new research with internationally recognised academics who are currently working in that area.

In this supportive environment, you’ll develop your abilities to analyse texts, construct arguments, collaboratively work through problems, and present your ideas clearly to others.  

You’re expected to do the reading and other relevant preparation to enable you to take part fully in these activities and are encouraged to explore the resources of the library.

How will I be supported?

Your main sources of support are your module leaders and your Personal Tutor. You’ll be allocated a Personal Tutor in both Welsh and linguistics. Personal Tutors can advise you on academic matters, including study skills, careers, and your academic progress, as well as on pastoral matters. They also act as a first point of contact if you experience any difficulties. You’ll be invited to meet with your Personal Tutor regularly throughout your degree, and they are available for extra meetings as needed. Your module leaders have drop-in sessions during teaching weeks that you can attend if you have any questions about course materials or assessments. The Writing Development Centre (exclusively for students in the School of English, Communication and Philosophy) provides specialist support for academic writing across the programme. You can access online materials, workshops and one-to-one meetings about any aspect of academic writing to support you with your assessments. 

Our Professional Services teams in both Welsh and linguistics provide academic and student support and are there is to help you with information and guidance if you have any queries. In addition, the University offers a range of support services and events to help you plan your career, manage your emotional, mental and physical health, support you with financial issues, and provide assistance for students with disabilities. These services are co-located at the University's Centre for Student Life. Libraries, study spaces and other resource centres will all be available to you.

Feedback:

You’ll regularly receive feedback on your progress. Oral feedback in lectures and seminars will help you assess your understanding of the course material and your critical responses to it. You’ll receive formative comments on essay ideas, and detailed feedback on all marked coursework. You’ll also be able to regularly discuss your overall performance with your Personal Tutors.

How will I be assessed?

Your assessments are designed to cumulatively develop key skills in communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and reflection.

A range of formative and summative assessment methods are used, including essays, examinations, presentations, portfolios, and weekly tasks.

What skills will I practise and develop?

The Learning Outcomes for this programme describe what you’ll achieve by the end of your programme at Cardiff University and identify the knowledge and skills that you’ll develop. They will also help you to understand what is expected of you.

On successful completion of your programme, you’ll be able to:

Knowledge & Understanding:

• Know the structures, registers and varieties of Welsh and use them flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes, as appropriate.  
• Critique the development of the Welsh language and its literature in different historical periods, from a linguistic, literary, and social context as well as an understanding of the attempts to restore and promote the language. 
• Critically analyse aspects of Welsh-language culture, literature, history and society, drawing on a range of materials and approaches. 
• Demonstrate a systematic knowledge and understanding of core areas of English language and linguistics, including phonetics, grammar, semantics, pragmatics, and discourse.
• Demonstrate a systematic knowledge and understanding of how language works in the social world.
• Demonstrate a systematic knowledge and understanding of the interplay of an analysis of linguistic data with critical and theoretical sources.

Intellectual Skills:

• Apply descriptive terminology relevant to English language and linguistic phenomena.
• Analyse various types of linguistic data.
• Construct and explain complex and specialised arguments that support claims in response to the conventions of the genre.
• Evaluate the impact of language use in a given context.
• Critically evaluate texts, data, concepts, and theories relevant to the context of the Welsh language and Welsh literature, using the appropriate vocabulary and terminology. 

Professional Practical Skills:

• Produce a range of material using written and spoken Welsh that is appropriate for the workplace and intended to address a range of audiences.  
• Critically read and evaluate ideas, arguments and empirical research.
• Show critical awareness of different writing conventions and writing tools, and the ability to use and adapt them successfully for different types of assessment.
• Assess and solve problems independently, taking the views of others into account in a systematic and evaluative way. 
• Apply knowledge, understanding and skills in a professional context.

Transferable/Key Skills:

• Effectively use relevant IT software and programmes, including Welsh language software, to present and analyse materials.KS2 Apply practical research skills
• Organise and communicate complex ideas and arguments in different formats suitable to different audiences, using appropriate referencing conventions.   
• Use a range of employability skills, including communication, collaboration, time management and the ability to follow instructions.
• Reflect on and respond to constructive feedback.
• Develop creative, critical, and independent responses to problems or tasks.