Hays Scribblers workshop, Swansea University.
Year 7-9 students were encouraged to get creative with the Welsh Language at Swansea University, as part of the Hays Festival Scribblers Cymraeg 2022.
Students, from ten Welsh medium secondary schools across South Wales, were encouraged to creatively explore storytelling by attending an in-person workshop led by Welsh author, presenter and actress Anni Llyn, and renown poet and presenters Aneirin Karadog and Ifor ap Glyn.
They also took part in a science-fiction themed writing workshop led by Swansea University writers, Professor Tudur Hallam and Dr Miriam Jones, where they were supported to use their imagination and extend their vocabulary in order to create their own time capsules and diaries to be read by others in the future.
Dr Miriam Jones explained:
“It was lovely to welcome pupils from across South Wales to Swansea University’s Singleton Campus to introduce them to ‘Dyddiaduron o’r Dyfodol’ (Diaries for the Future).
“Tudur and I introduced a series of techniques for participants to write their own science fictional diaries, with the help of a few sneaky items from a personalized time capsule!
“Not only did we, as part of the Scribblers Cymraeg tour with Aneirin Karadog, Anni Llyn and Ifor ap Glyn, prove that creative writing is a lot of fun, but we also encouraged self-expression and important creative thinking and literacy skills.”
Professor Sian Rees, Head of the School of Culture and Communication, Swansea University added:
“The Hay Scribbler’s Cymraeg event at Swansea University was a wonderful opportunity to engage with several hundred secondary school children on campus through the medium of Welsh, and to see the excitement, enthusiasm and creativity unleashed by celebrating and exploring the literary arts.”
Hays Scribblers Cymraeg events are supported by the Welsh Government, as part of their goal to reach one million Welsh speakers living in Wales by 2050.
The free workshops allow students the opportunity to creatively engage in reading, writing, story telling and conversation, whilst enjoying their first experience of university.
Schools taking part in the November workshop included: Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw, Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg, Ysgol Gyfun Maes y Gwendraeth, Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera, Ysgol Llanhari, Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr, St John Lloyd, Ysgol Bro Pedr, Ysgol Penrhyn Dewis and Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bryn Tawe.
Workshop participants concluded:
“I learnt lots of new and interesting ways to write in Cymraeg, as well as learning from people I admire.
“I learnt that it is good to use unexpected adjectives in my writing and that I can use my imagination and creativity to write anything.”
Hays Scribblers Tour hope to be back at Swansea University soon, with two further workshops in the planning for 2023. Find out more.