Use of the Welsh language in Patagonia, Argentina is significantly on the rise, according to a new report by the British Council Wales.
The 2014 Annual Monitoring Report of the Welsh Language Project, run by the British Council Wales in Patagonia, highlights the growing popularity of the language in the region, showing a 19% increase in the number of people taking Welsh language courses and a 54% increase in the number of adult learners.
As well as a record number of learners, 2014 saw the highest number of Welsh classes in the history of the project with 90 classes in all, up from 83 in 2013 and 79 in 2012.
The surge in popularity of the Welsh language coincides with the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Welsh in Patagonia, with a four-day festival organised by the Celtic Patagonia Cultural Association, which will be held from 26 February to 1 March.
The Welsh Language Project has been promoting and developing the language in the Chubut region of Patagonia, Argentina since 1997. Every year, three language development officers from Wales spend March to December teaching in Patagonia to develop the language in the Welsh speaking communities through teaching and social activities.
The project also includes a network of Patagonian Welsh language tutors in the region, as well as a permanent teaching co-ordinator, responsible for the quality of teaching in Patagonia. The tutors visit Wales and attend Welsh language courses and participate in school observation visits, to help the project maintain teaching standards and ensure up-to-date methodologies are used.
Gareth Kiff, academic monitor for the project and author of the report, said: “The increase in the numbers of people of all ages learning Welsh during the last three years is a testament to the hard work of all involved in the project in Patagonia and Wales. Numbers are growing in all age categories and by 2016 we should reach a situation where there are three bilingual primary schools.
“The work of the project is to ensure that local people have ownership of such initiatives and ensure that there is a long term future for the Welsh language in Patagonia. This is happening and considering the small amounts of money available to us the project is an example of cost effectiveness in a time of economic hardship.”
Jenny Scott, director of British Council Wales said: “This year sees the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Welsh settlers in Patagonia and the report clearly shows how the Welsh Language Project is helping the language thrive in the region. We hope the year of celebrations will encourage more people in Welsh Patagonia and here in Wales to learn the language.”
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