Picture caption: Grisel Roberts from Patagonia
Three scholarships, worth £ 2,000 each, are available to learners from Patagonia to study Welsh in Wales this summer.
The scholarships are funded by the National Centre for Learning Welsh and will enable three people from Patagonia to spend a month studying at either Cardiff University or Aberystwyth University, two of the Centre’s providers.
Applicants for the scholarships must be at least at Intermediate level and have already shown a commitment to learning the language. The scholarships are administered by the British Council.
Following a stay in Wales to improve their language skills, learners will be expected to actively use the language on their return home, contributing to the life of the Welsh community in Patagonia, whether activities or classes.
One who has benefited in the past from a scholarship like this is Grisel Roberts from Esquel, near the Andes. Grisel, who has Welsh roots, attended an intensive course for a month with Cardiff University in the summer of 2016.
Grisel said:
"I have benefited enormously from the course, and I'm extremely grateful. The course was great, and the teachers were patient and passionate about the language. In the group, I met a lot of very friendly people and I'd always use Welsh to communicate. "
In encouraging others to apply for the scholarship, she added:
"The scholarship helped me to become a better teacher and allowed me to travel and to learn more about Welsh culture, so that I can promote Welsh culture in Patagonia and strengthen the ties between Wales and Argentina. I continue to study hard because I'm looking forward to sitting the Advanced level exam this year! "
Efa Gruffudd Jones, Chief Executive of the National Centre for Learning Welsh, said:
"We're very excited to offer this scholarship to three people from Patagonia who want to come to Wales to learn and improve their Welsh. We're proud of the unique relationship between Wales and Argentina, and we’re delighted to offer assistance to ensure the language remains part of community life in Patagonia. "
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For more information contact Hawys Roberts.
