Teacher is Eisteddfod Learner of the Year
A TEACHER from Pencoed has been crowned Welsh learner of the year after inspiring her pupils to follow in her footsteps.
Rebecca Morgan, 24, was named the winner of the prestigious award at the second day of the Urdd National Eisteddfod.
A Welsh second-language teacher at Bishop of Llandaff High School, Cardiff, Rebecca is the only bilingual member of her family after deciding to pursue the language in high school and univer- sity.
Now, after gaining a first-class degree in second language Welsh at Swansea University, she hopes to go on to become head of department to inspire a new generation of Welsh speakers.
Rebecca, who comes from Pencoed, said: “Everyone is so proud to be Welsh as a country and everyone is so proud of our heritage but you have to be wiling to speak Welsh to become part of it.
“People think it’s such a complicated language that they are put off it but you just have to take the opportunity.
“If I can do it anyone can. I tell my pupils I was exactly like them, none of my family or friends spoke Welsh so we’re no different.”
Rebecca’s victory follows after a full day of assessed activities including a live interview with BBC Radio Cymru, ukelele les- sons, public speaking and helping in the welcome centre. She fought off competition from three other finalists including 18-year-old Alys Williams from Penylan.
She said: “I can’t believe it, I didn’t expect it all. I was completely shocked.
“It was such a fun day and I met some lovely people, it was completely different from anything I had ever done before.
“The ukelele lesson was really great fun but I just loved in the interviews and meeting so many different people.”