New App to improve Welsh language skills in sport launched at Pembrey Duathlon event

A new app has been created to support people studying or working in sport to improve their confidence when speaking Welsh.

The app, ‘Sport Through the Welsh Language’, which is in partnership between the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and Coleg Cambria, supports learners and apprentices to use their Welsh language skills in the classroom and in the workplace, whatever their current language skill level.

The interactive app – the first of its kind – includes general vocabulary and phrases and specific themes for use by learners at further education colleges and ultimately by sports professionals.

The app was  launched at a duathlon event held by Colleges Wales today,  Wednesday (May 10) where over 400 young people from further education colleges and staff from seven colleges across Wales took part in the event at Pembrey Country Park in Carmarthenshire. Inspirational speakers including former Ospreys rugby player, Ifan Phillips, who lost his leg in an accident in 2021, launched the app and addressed the crowd ahead of the race.

App meets demand

The vocabulary in the app is presented bilingually on the screen, and in addition to that the user can listen to the pronunciation of the word recorded by sports reporter Nicky John. The app is broken down into various units and provides vocabulary and phrases on specialist topics including conversation, body parts, joints, and first aid.

Kyran Salmon, Level 3 Sport student at Pembrokeshire College, said:

“I use the app as part of my coaching work and find it really useful. There is a good mix of everyday Welsh vocabulary and phrases and also more specialist terminology, so it’ll become even more helpful in the workplace when I start my career.”

Jonathan Kerry, a Sports lecturer at Coleg Cambria who has also been involved in the creation of the app said:

“As a lecturer, I direct students towards the app to increase the use of Welsh within the subject of Sport within the classroom and on location. The app is very useful for those fluent in Welsh but also for those looking to re-grasp or develop their language skills”

The event is part of Colleges Wales Active Wellbeing Strategy which is a project to improve the health and wellbeing of college communities across Wales. The main audience taking part in the duathlon will be learners aged between 16-18 and lecturers from colleges in Wales.

ColegauCymru Sport and Active Wellbeing Project Manager Rob Baynham said,

“ColegauCymru FE Multisport represents a new direction for competitive sport and events in the FE sector. This format provides one of the few opportunities where learners and staff can compete alongside each other, both at a beginner and more competitive level.

We’re pleased to be holding an inclusive event that helps enhance the well-being of current and future generations and offers learners who may not have had many opportunities to benefit from being active.

We’re grateful for the continued support of Welsh Triathlon, Coleg Sir Gâr, AoC Sport, Welsh Cycling, Carmarthenshire County Council and Pembrey Country Park. We are also delighted to welcome for the first time, Disability Wales and Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, as event partners.”

The app can download free of charge from the Coleg Cymraeg Resource Portal.