Why study Cymraeg/ Spanish at Aberystwyth University?

The Spanish component of this degree will enable you discover and learn exciting topics such as Spanish and Latin American literature and cinema, Cuba and the Cuban Revolution and Brazilian Portuguese. In the Department of Modern Languages, you will be taught in small groups and a substantial amount of our workshops is delivered in Spanish; The choice of modules on the Spanish component of this degree have been specifically designed to equip you with the tools to reflect intellectually on past and contemporary society, politics, artistic movements, film and literature in the Hispanic world. During your third year, you will spend your time in Spain or a Spanish speaking country studying or working. The third year abroad will help you to develop your linguistic competencies further to fluency level.

The Welsh (Cymraeg) component of this degree will allow you to excel and develop your written and spoken Welsh, to study a comprehensive range of literature from all periods, and to deepen your understanding of the language and how it continues to evolve in a global environment. In addition to discovering the wealth of Welsh literature and poetry, the Department of Welsh and Celtic Studies offers you the chance to learn an additional Celtic language which include Breton, Irish or Scottish Gaelic, you can learn these languages alongside Welsh. The Department also leads the sector in areas such as translation and Welsh in the professional workplace, all of which you can choose to study during your degree.

Studying Cymraeg and Spanish will equip you with the skills and qualities that employers are seeking. Language graduates are highly employable and are in demand. The degree in Cymraeg and Spanish from Aberystwyth University will ensure a prosperous and successful future. 

Our Staff

All of the lecturers in the Department of Modern Languages are qualified to PhD level and are research active specialists in their chosen field. We also employ highly qualified and experienced language tutors, and native-speakers, who will ensure that your learning is of the highest possible quality and who will provide you with constant support through your years of study.

All academic staff in the Department of Welsh and Celtic Studies are research active scholars and experts in their chosen fields of study, including the study of languages and literatures as well as creative writing.

What opportunities are there for graduates in Cymraeg and Spanish?

In a competitive world, where expectations from the open market are swiftly increasing, to study the third most spoken language in the world will put you in an advantageous position. In addition, Spanish students will study Brazilian-Portuguese to enhance their employment opportunities. Your third year will be spent abroad either studying at a partner university or working. A recent Erasmus Impact survey showed that 64% of employers considered international experience important for recruitment and that studying or working abroad will increase your chances of finding employment by up to 41% compared to students who do not study or work abroad.

Graduates from the Department of Modern Languages have pursued careers in:

• translation and interpretation
• broadcasting
• education;
• marketing
• human resources
• website development
• international banking
• the Civil Service.

What will I learn?

The breakdown below will provide you with an illustration of what you may study during the four-year degree scheme.

Spanish:

During your four years, you will have four weekly hours of language work, which includes:

Oral

Written

Aural

Translation

In addition, you will be provided with all the tools necessary to continue your learning outside the classroom. The department has a wide selection of materials available through the interactive student learning system (BlackBoard) through which students can access up-to-date learning resources wherever they are at any time. A wide range of expertise is available within our Department and this is reflected in the module choices that we have on offer.

On this course you can choose to study:

• Spanish Literature
• Spanish Film
• Latin American Film
• Cuba and the Cuban Revolution
• Brazilian-Portuguese
• Spanish for Business
• Contemporary Spain.

Welsh/Cymraeg:

First Language - In the first year you will have the opportunity to discover which area of Welsh interests you the most. You will learn about a variety of literary periods and other aspects of the subject so that you can design your own unique combination of modules in your second and third year. Click on the Modules page to see our full range.

Second Language - In the first year you will be taught separately from the first language students. This will allow you to build confidence and improve your language skills with the support of staff and fellow students. You will study the following modules in your first year:

Cymraeg Ysgrifenedig 1 a 2 (Written Welsh 1 and 2) - A language module that allows you to develop writing skills and an understanding of grammatical rules. Trafod y Byd Cyfoes 1 a 2 (Discussing the Modern World) - Speaking is the objective of this module. You'll have the opportunity to develop your oral skills and expand your vocabulary. Llenyddiaeth o 1900 hyd Heddiw (Literature from 1900 to the present) - A literature module that introduces the prose and poetry of this century. Braslun o Hanes ein Llên (An outline of the History of our Literature) - A literature module that gives a taste of the main elements of the history of Welsh literature.

In your second year you will take other language modules to further develop your confidence and you will also be able to choose from a wide variety of modules that are on offer by the Department. By the time you get to your last year, you will have reached the same standard as the first language students and you will graduate with the same qualification.