Departmental News
For we have seen his star in the east
and have come to worship him
In the company of the President and his wife, Dr and Mrs R. Brinley Jones, a traditional Welsh plygain service was held in the College Chapel under the auspices of the Welsh Department on Monday, 10 December. The plygain is a shorter version of the Evening Prayer, and following the first parts, the traditional Welsh carols were sung in the old, unaccompanied fashion by individuals and parties from near and far.
The Chapel was full to capacity with a warm and merry atmosphere, and the dazzling light signifying the advent of the Light of the World. The service was conducted by the Chaplain, the Canon Matthew Hill. It was wonderful to see the Department’s staff and students enjoying taking part in a Welsh tradition with its popularity growing once more.
‘This style of singing is interesting and very important to those who wish to root themselves in the Welsh culture, and who wants to become part of the Welsh community.’
Merry Christmas and the season’s best wishes from the Welsh Department’s staff!
Free Credits available - for a limited period only
The Welsh Department of the University is offering students, for a limited period only, the opportunity of undertaking 40 free Level 1 credits on-line. These serve as distance-learning taster courses and can be completed at the student's own pace. For a list of the modules available, please visit the following web page
If you wish to proceed with registration a Registration Form can be found at
http://www.e-addysg.com/english/register.php
Please print, complete and send this form to Linda M Jones, Departmental Administrator, University of Wales Lampeter, Lampeter, Ceredigion. SA48 7ED
As soon as the form has been processed, you will be issued with a user name and password that will provide access to all relevant course material.
Launch of Interreg IIIa Programme - 11 October 2006
Staff from The Department of Welsh, University of Wales, Lampeter recently travelled to Dublin to the launch of an innovative new Interreg IIIa programme. The project, known as Fiontar Téarmaà Unedig, is being run in partnership with Dublin City University and primarily involves developing advanced technology language applications. The aim is to provide a range of linguistic tools (e.g. an electronic grammar) as well as on-line courses to support those who require authoritative Welsh language resources.
A new resource called www.focal.ie was officially launched by Seán Ó Neachtain MEP. This on-line portal points to two innovative resources developed by the project, an Irish-English terminology website, and a comprehensive on-line Welsh-English, English-Welsh dictionary www.geiriadur.net This electronic dictionary is an invaluable tool for translators, those working through the medium of Welsh, and students of all ages. The dictionary contains ordinary everyday vocabulary as well as specific terminology such as medical, financial and I.T. vocabulary. Currently there are over 250,000 individual searches a month recorded on the dictionary and this number growing rapidly.
For further information please contact the Department of Welsh on 01570 424754 or visit our web-site www.e-addysg.com
E-Learning Blossoms in Lampeter and Takes Root in Nottingham - 18 July 2006
Terence Cox, 74, a retired telecommunications engineer from Nottingham, has become the first student to graduate with an e-learning degree in Welsh Studies from the University of Wales Lampeter - and this is despite living all his life in England .
Terence graduated with a IIa degree in Welsh Studies after studying the innovative e-learning course from his home in Nottingham over four years. Terence's graduation on 7 July 2006 proved to be a double celebration for Mr. Cox and his wife who celebrated 55 years of marriage on the same day.
Mr. Cox studied language, history and literature modules as part of his BA Welsh Studies, which he undertook as a part-time, distance learning student. Before starting his degree, Terence had no knowledge of the Welsh language and could not speak a word of Welsh. However, his interest in the language was ignited when his son married a Welsh-speaker and he can now happily converse in Welsh and has a keen interest in Welsh history and culture. As a result of his enthusiasm, a Welsh class has been formed and is meeting on a regular basis in the Nottingham area.
This success in studying over the Internet is even more remarkable given that Terence is 74 years of age and received no elementary education. His success proves that the e-learning courses are readily accessible to all, regardless of age or previous education.
In response to his success, Mr. Cox said:
"I enjoyed studying the various aspects of Welsh language, literature and history covered by the degree course and it has left me wanting to take my studies further. I intend registering for the challenging distance-learning MA degree in Celtic Studies which is being offered on-line by the Department of Welsh".
The Department of Welsh is extremely proud of its pioneering distance and e-learning degree schemes that have been running at Lampeter since 1999. There are currently more than 2000 students from 33 countries worldwide undertaking language, history and literature modules online, with a high percentage working towards completing a degree either in Welsh or Welsh Studies.
As the University is currently celebrating 250 years since the birth of Thomas Burgess, founder of the St David's College in Lampeter, students are currently being offered 40 free on-line Level 1 credits.
Details of the online BA Welsh Studies degree may be found at: www.e-addysg.com
You may also contact Linda Jones, Administrator in the Department of Welsh on 01570 424754 or via e-mail linda.jones@lamp.ac.uk .
Future Lampeter Student Wins Welsh Learners' Medal at the Urdd National Eisteddfod - 8 June 2006
Lauren Matthews from Caldicot Comprenhensive School in Monmouthshire was awarded the most prestigious prize for learners of the Welsh language at the Urdd National Eisteddfod in Ruthin, Denbighshire. Lauren was honoured in a special ceremony held in the main pavilion at the Eisteddfod and her work was highly praised by Professor Gwyn Thomas who remarked that Lauren had given an excellent interview in which she had discussed quite complex philosophical topics such as the work of Kant. Her written work was highly original and she chose to focus on Tryweryn as her topic. The valley of Tryweryn, along with the village of Capel Celyn, was flooded in the early 1960s to make a reservoir to supply water to Liverpool .
Earlier in the year Lauren won a scholarship to study Welsh at the University of Wales , Lampeter and she will begin her course in September 2006. Dr Jane Cartwright, Head of the Department of Welsh, at the University of Wales , Lampeter said "We are delighted that Lauren will be joining us in September. She has an obvious flair for the subject and a keen interest in Welsh history and literature. Congratulations to Lauren on winning such an important award."
Earlier news stories may still be viewed in our News Archive
