06 Aug 2026

The Welsh language is at the heart of everything we do. Whether it's communicating with customers, supporting communities or celebrating our culture, we're committed to creating opportunities for colleagues to build their confidence and develop their Welsh language skills. 

Earlier this year, colleagues from across the organisation took part in Welsh lessons with Menter Iaith RCT, bringing together learners from different teams to practice the language in a welcoming and supportive environment. We caught up with Corrie from the Social Media team and Ethan from the Concessionary Travel Card team to hear about their experiences. 

Corrie - Building confidence through communication 

For Corrie, joining the course was a practical decision that would help her in her day-to-day role. 

"Being on social media we need to communicate to our customers bilingually. I use Welsh language templates in my role every day, so I felt it was important to develop my skills so I can carry out my role more effectively." 

She also wanted to feel more confident communicating with her Welsh-speaking colleagues, making the course a valuable opportunity to improve both professionally and personally. 

"It's definitely boosted my confidence in having the courage to attempt to speak Welsh with others and reminded me that I do know more than I thought. I've always wished I spoke Welsh, so it was a great step in that direction." 

When asked what she'd say to anyone considering signing up for the next course, Corrie's advice was simple: 

"I'd definitely recommend it. It's ideal for anyone with no, little or basic understanding of the language. It definitely got the spark ignited for me to want to learn more." 

Ethan – Rediscovering a passion for Welsh 

Ethan attended bilingual schools before continuing his learning through Dysgu Cymraeg classes. Like many others, life became busier after university and work, so when the TfW lessons became available, he saw it as the perfect opportunity to reconnect with the language that had always been so important to him. 

"I've always admired people who can speak Welsh fluently. Working for TfW has shown me just how important the Welsh language is when supporting our customers, so I wanted to improve my confidence." 

One of Ethan's favourite phrases from the course might surprise people: 

"Sori. Dw i ddim yn deall. Gawn ni barhau yn Saesneg os gwelwch yn dda?" ("I'm sorry. I don't understand. Can we continue in English, please?") 

"It became a comfort blanket. It gave us the confidence to have a go, knowing that if we got stuck we had a polite way to continue the conversation." 

Not long after the course, Ethan had the opportunity to put his learning into practice when a customer visiting Llys Cadwyn asked if he spoke Welsh. 

"I replied, 'Shwmae. Ethan dw i a tipyn bach. Dw i'n dysgu Cymraeg ond gawn ni barhau yn Saesneg os gwelwch yn dda?' The customer really appreciated that I responded in Welsh first and was happy to continue in English. They even taught me some new words that could help in my role."

"I've learnt never to be afraid to try because you'll always learn something new from other people." 

His message to anyone considering the next course? 

"Go for it! You won't regret it. You'll learn a beautiful language, meet wonderful people and build your confidence. If there are more courses in future, I'd sign up instantly." 

Learning Welsh is about more than learning new words and phrases; it's about celebrating Wales' unique culture and giving more people the confidence to use the language every day. Every conversation helps the language thrive, and we're proud to support colleagues as they continue their Welsh language journey.