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Discovering Wales and Welsh

Discovering Wales and Welsh is a 100-hour online course for anyone interested in learning about Wales and acquiring basic language skills in Welsh. The course is divided into five themes, each consisting of two units which devote approximately equal amounts of time to key aspects of Welsh culture and learning Welsh.  You will work with a variety of materials including audio and video and will have access to a dedicated website, forum and learning advisers. The course has no formal assessment but you will be able to test your knowledge by completing two quizzes.

Standalone study only

You will not be awarded credits for studying this course. It is available for standalone study only and cannot be counted towards an OU qualification.

Short course

Short course code
LG001
Credits
This is a non-credit bearing course.
Study method
Distance Learning
Short course cost
See Registration
Entry requirements
See Entry requirements
Course details Entry requirements Registration Study materials

What you will study

The five themes of the course are: People, Culture, Place, Language and Nation. 

Each theme consists of two units. The first will teach you the basics of the Welsh language, while the second will provide you with key knowledge about Wales as a nation today. Throughout the course you can study the language units independently from the units that focus on discovering Wales or you can alternate between the two.

  • Under People, you will explore who the Welsh are, through the lives of some key figures such as Owain Glyndwr and Dylan Thomas and in the language unit you will learn how to greet others and introduce yourself. 
  • Under Culture, you will look at how Wales has been shaped by some significant cultural factors such as the chapel and the media. In the language unit, you will learn how to order food and drink and talk about what you like doing in your leisure time. 
  • Place will focus on exploring the geographical features and resources that Wales offers and how these have had an impact on what Wales is today. The language unit will teach you how to say where you live, and you will learn how to ask for and understand directions. 
  • Language will give you the opportunity to explore the origins of the Welsh language as well as its current status. In the language unit, you will learn how to talk about what you did last in the past.  
  • Under Nation, you will look at how politics play a role in defining the nation and its people and what being Welsh means for the Welsh today.  In the language unit, you will continue to talk about the past, and learn how to say, for example, where you went on holiday and what you did.
This course does not count towards any formal qualification, but you will be able to test your knowledge via two quizzes at the end of the course. Once completed, you will be able to download a Statement of participation.
 
The course will be delivered entirely online via a dedicated website containing:
  •  interactive activities and all your study resources including video and audio clips
  •  a course forum where you can interact with other students and a Learning Adviser

Learner support

Expert, confidential learner support is available when you need it from a learning adviser, who will respond to you directly. Other support is available via the course forum, library, StudentHome website and computing helpdesk.

Course length

This course will require around 100 hours to complete.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.


    Entry requirements

    There are no entry requirements to this course. You can begin at any time during the life of the course and study at your own pace. The course will be open to you for a time period of between six and 18 months depending on your course registration date and you will be advised of the specific time limitations upon enrolment. 

    If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact us.

    Course length

    This course will require around 100 hours to complete.

    Register

    Start End England fee Register
    At anytime Flexible - see Entry requirements for more detail £199.00 Register

    Ways to pay

    Credit/Debit Card – We accept American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Visa Electron.

    Sponsorship – If this course is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could ask your employer to sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees. Your sponsor just needs to complete a simple form to confirm how much they will be paying and we will invoice them.

    The fee information provided here is valid for short courses starting in the 2020/21 academic year. Fees for short courses starting in the 2021/22 academic year or later may increase in line with the University’s strategic approach to fees.

    What's included

    A dedicated website with online activities and audio-visual resources is included in this course. You will also have access to an online forum where you can communicate with fellow-students and Learning Advisers. Please note there is no tuition on this course and all study is self-directed.

    Computing requirements

    A computing device with a browser and broadband internet access is required for this module. Any modern browser will be suitable for most computer activities. Functionality may be limited on mobile devices.

    Any additional software will be provided, or is generally freely available. However, some activities may have more specific requirements. For this reason, you will need to be able to install and run additional software on a device that meets the requirements below.

    A desktop or laptop computer with either an up-to-date version of Windows or macOS.

    The screen of the device must have a resolution of at least 1024 pixels horizontally and 768 pixels vertically.

    To join in the spoken conversation in our online rooms we recommend a headset (headphones or earphones with an integrated microphone).

    Our Skills for OU study website has further information including computing skills for study, computer security, acquiring a computer and Microsoft software offers for students.

    If you have a disability

    The course is delivered online and makes use of a variety of online resources. If you use specialist hardware or software to assist you in using a computer or the internet you are advised to contact us about support which can be given to meet your needs. If you are a new learner with the OU, make sure that you look at our website.