Writing a CV in Welsh

dobbie82

Hi

I am interested in a job as a classroom assistant, and as it is in a Welsh school, the advertisement and application is entirely in welsh, so presumably I will be required to have my CV written in Welsh.

I can speak welsh well enough to do the job, (quite fluent and speak it with friends etc) but don't want to make myself look like an idiot by using the wrong titles on the CV as dictionaries always give a few translations.

Does anyone have any links to any help? As even as an experience googler I am stumped!

Thank you in advance for any help

BritRael

Don't worry, the last time I went to Wales (around 30 years ago) they actually spoke a little bit of English. They even had electricity and roads if I remember correctly

er...was the advertisement in Welsh? Did it specifically ask for written competance? If not, why not write in English and then impress them with your verbal language skills if you get an interview?

Good luck

Fran

Definitely clear it with a fluent Welsh speaker!

You want to avoid things such as this:



(Welsh says "pedestrians look left")



(Welsh says "I am not in the office at the moment. Please send any work to be translated.")

jdturk

BritRael wrote: »

Don't worry, the last time I went to Wales (around 30 years ago) they actually spoke a little bit of English. They even had electricity and roads if I remember correctly

er...was the advertisement in Welsh? Did it specifically ask for written competance? If not, why not write in English and then impress them with your verbal language skills if you get an interview?

Good luck

The OP quite clearly states the advert was in Welsh so I would say they are astute in thinking that applicants written in Welsh would be preferred

DVardysShadow

dobbie82 wrote: »

... I can speak welsh well enough to do the job, (quite fluent and speak it with friends etc) but don't want to make myself look like an idiot by using the wrong titles on the CV as dictionaries always give a few translations.

I think your way forward is to draft your CV in Welsh and get one of your L1 Welsh speaker friends to give it a good going over.

BritRael

jdturk wrote: »

The OP quite clearly states the advert was in Welsh so I would say they are astute in thinking that applicants written in Welsh would be preferred

True. Missed that
In which case, personally, I'd write it myself. Whats the point in getting somebody else to write it? They might give a written test in the interview which would clearly expose any weakness and look even worse. :cool:

unemployedJCP

Excuse me for saying this... but if you are having problems with writing a CV in Welsh even once consulting a dictionary; could you really be able to do the job?

I don't know any welsh and can't speak any - not really good at other languages neither but surely there are only limited words to use on a CV?

Nouns wouldn't need translating so whatever school/uni etc. you attended and qualifications you got are valid in English; which really just leaves you with writing the personal profile... if you can't manage that with the help of a dictionary (I know what its like looking up foreign words) maybe you aren't good enough for the job?

So if you can speak welsh well, but not write it, is bizarre... normally is the opposite!

DVardysShadow

unemployedJCP wrote: »

Excuse me for saying this... but if you are having problems with writing a CV in Welsh even once consulting a dictionary; could you really be able to do the job?

I don't know any welsh and can't speak any - not really good at other languages neither but surely there are only limited words to use on a CV?

I think it is only when you have lived with a different language that you really begin to appreciate what you can and can't do. Day to day language for a classroom assistant and talking to friends is very different to the language required for a cv and a job application process.

unemployedJCP

There are only a handful of words required for the sections of a CV which can be got from sources (i.e. dictionary, internet) and copied. Talking day-to-day fluent language requires the ability to think of what to say (i.e. not read it), to be able to understand the responses therefore to carry on the conversation and to pronounce the words enough to be understood.

wontfallforit

unemployedJCP wrote: »

There are only a handful of words required for the sections of a CV which can be got from sources (i.e. dictionary, internet) and copied. Talking day-to-day fluent language requires the ability to think of what to say (i.e. not read it), to be able to understand the responses therefore to carry on the conversation and to pronounce the words enough to be understood.

I don't think it's that unusual that the OP can't read/write Welsh as well as they can speak. My former partner was raised overseas, has cultural and ethnic ties to the country in which he was raised, and spoke the national language all of his life, at home. However, he never ever learnt to write his own language properly (despite bilingual road signs, etc.), and has real trouble reading it, too. He is, however, educated to degree standard (in the English language, of course ).

dobbie82

Firstly I would like to thank everybody for taking the time to reply.

Welsh is indeed a strange language, but in this area about 75% of people speak at least some Welsh.

I learnt Welsh mainly by ear, by starting a Welsh school when I was four and picking it up as I went along. I have a GCSE grade C in Welsh language, and also a C in Welsh literature. I also have another 9 grade A*-C GCSE's in a wide range of subjects so feel I would be a good addition to the school. The main duties would be helping children age 11-16 on a one to one basis in a mainstream class and photocopying etc, there is no actual teaching of a class involved.

Like any language, or indeed any subject, you can only know what you know. So as I have not had a conversation about CV's in Welsh, then I do not know the words in Welsh.

A simple thing like "Achievements" doesn't translate. My Records of achievement folder has "cofnod cenedlaethol o gyrhaeddiad" but "gyrhaeddiad" is "attainment" in the curriculum sense. the online dictionary offers "cyflawniad" which I think translates more as "completions" or "fulfilments".

By googling "CV Cymraeg" I found one page and the titles are

CURRICULUM VITAE

MANYLION PERSONOL (personal details)

ADDYSG (Education)

CYMWYSTERAU ACADEMAIDD (Academic qualifications)

PROFIAD GWAITH (Work experience)

SGILIAU PERSONOL (Personal Skills)

SGILIAU YCHWANEGOL (Additional skills)

CYFRIFOLDEBAU (Responsibilities)

DIDDORDEBAU A GWEITHGAREDDAU (Interests and activities)

CANOLWYR (Referees) - though literally translates as "man in the middle" lol

the full page is here
http://www.growcareers.me.uk/cv_welsh.htm

So that will help me on the way. but I would still appreciate any further feedback that you have.