UWTSD student’s Welsh language journey inspires him to become a teacher

For Calum Fairbairn, learning Welsh has been much more than learning a second language. It has helped him build confidence, connect with his heritage and shape his ambitions for the future.

Calum, from Carrog in Denbighshire, grew up in a non-Welsh-speaking family and attended an English-medium school. He is now studying Primary Education with SAC at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), with the aim of working in Welsh-medium education.

His journey with the Welsh language began at primary school, where he was taught by fluent Welsh-speaking teachers.

“They all spoke Welsh fluently, so I heard Welsh almost every day,” says Calum. “Even though I grew up in a family without Welsh at all, it was a huge part of my childhood.”

As he grew older, Calum began to learn more about the history of the Welsh language and his own Welsh heritage. Living in a strong Welsh-speaking community in and around Carrog also helped to inspire him to become more confident in using the language.

His relationship with Welsh became particularly important during his secondary school years. While he found school difficult at times, he says his Welsh lessons were something he genuinely enjoyed, helped by inspirational teachers in the Welsh department.

“During my Welsh lessons, I could recognise little things I had learnt by hearing people in the village speaking Welsh,” he says. “It made learning the language feel easier.”

By the age of 15 or 16, something clicked for Calum. He became more confident speaking Welsh and was able to have genuine conversations with his first-language Welsh-speaking friends.

One of his most memorable moments came while preparing for his GCSE Welsh oral examination.

“I was working with my friend practising for the exam and realised that I understood every word and that I could answer clearly and confidently,” he says. “It was a big confidence boost during a difficult time.”

For Calum, building confidence has been one of the biggest challenges of learning Welsh. He describes himself as an introvert, so speaking to other people in a second language could be challenging at times.

However, having Welsh-speaking friends made a huge difference.

“I think being able to communicate bilingually gives you a kind of confidence. Like everything, it becomes easier with time,” he says. “It can be difficult, but the best thing to do is just to try and not overthink it.”

That growing confidence has also brought unexpected opportunities and interests. Calum says learning Welsh has given him a passion for subjects including history and literature that he may not otherwise have discovered, while also helping him become more open to new experiences and opportunities.

It was this growing connection with the language that helped influence his decision to come to UWTSD.

“I chose UWTSD because I felt at home here straight away,” he says. “It has a similar feeling to towns like Llangollen and Rhuthun near where I grew up.”

Calum chose to study Primary Education with SAC because he wants to study through the medium of Welsh and ultimately work in Welsh-medium schools.

However, that decision also represented a significant challenge. Having never previously received his own education through the medium of Welsh, studying his university course in Welsh was a major step.

He says the support he received from lecturers and academic staff, both at Open Days and since starting his course, has helped him become increasingly comfortable using Welsh in his studies.

There has also been a major change in how often he gets to use the language.

“In the past, I couldn’t use Welsh outside school,” he says. “Now I can use Welsh every day in the classroom and outside with friends in my flat.”

Calum also took part in UWTSD’s Penwythnos y Glas, an opportunity for students to meet others through the medium of Welsh. He describes it as a fantastic experience and says it showed him that Welsh-language activities are for people of all levels of ability.

“It was lovely to be in a proud Welsh-language environment and have fun at the same time,” he says. “Penwythnos y Glas and the Welsh-language community here aren’t just for first-language or fluent Welsh speakers. They’re a great opportunity for everyone, whatever their ability, to have fun through Welsh.”

For Calum, learning Welsh has ultimately been about bringing people together.

He believes that anyone who understands Welsh but feels nervous about speaking it should simply take the first step.

“There are around 600,000 Welsh speakers, so you’re not on your own,” he says. “Languages should bring people together and allow you to connect with others. I think speaking Welsh with other people can help you feel less self-conscious and nervous over time.”

And on Shwmae Su’mae Day, his message for anyone considering learning Welsh is simple.

“The journey of learning Welsh is an incredibly fun journey,” he says. “I strongly believe that learning Welsh can improve your life in many different ways. It allows you to make friends and meet new people, and it’s also a wonderful way of protecting the culture and history of our country by learning our native language.”

For Calum, that journey continues at UWTSD where a language he first encountered through his primary school teachers has now become an important part of his university life and his ambition to become a teacher.

Further Information

Arwel Lloyd

Principal PR and Communications Officer    
Corporate Communications and PR    
Email:  arwel.lloyd@uwtsd.ac.uk    
Phone: 07384 467076