About the Project

A young person leaves school after years in Wales' education system. Within months, they are speaking mostly English with friends, at work, and in everyday life. Their confidence in using Welsh has declined, and their identity as a Welsh speaker has begun to fade. Why do some young people continue using Welsh after school, while others do not?

From Learners to Speakers ('O Ddysgwyr i Siaradwyr') is an ESRC-funded doctoral research project exploring this critical transition from education into adult life. Through a mixed-methods study of young people across Wales, the project examines how social networks, work and study pathways, language attitudes, and identity shape the use of Welsh beyond the classroom. 

The research seeks to understand why some young people become lifelong Welsh speakers while others move towards predominantly English-speaking lives. These insights are vital if Wales's investment in Welsh-medium education is to translate into a confident, thriving Welsh-speaking generation. 

Approach

What happens to young people's relationship with Welsh as young people leave the structured environment of compulsory education? This is a mixed-methods project, with in-depth interviews informing the development of a quantitative measure, aiming to identify trends in Welsh language decline after school.

🗣️ Phase 1 (Study 1) – Listening to lived experiences: In-depth interviews with a number of 16-to-22-year-olds to reveal stories of language maintenance and decline, uncovering the key factors that influence Welsh maintenance/decline in the school-to-adult transition.

📋 Phase 2 (Study 2) – Scaling insights into measurement: Drawing from interview themes, we develop and pilot a comprehensive instrument to capture the breadth of post-school language experiences across Wales.

📊 Phase 3 (Study 3) – Mapping the landscape: Large-scale quantitative analysis reveals patterns of Welsh language retention, providing evidence to inform educational policy and community initiatives.

This research will provide the first systematic evidence base for supporting Welsh language vitality beyond formal education.

Resources & Publications

Here are some materials that have been developed throughout the project:

⬇️ Downloads – Posters, summaries, and other materials created during the project. Ideal for conferences, outreach, or anyone curious about the research at a glance. 

📝 Blog Posts – Reflections, updates, and behind-the-scenes thoughts from the project. Written in an accessible style to share ideas, progress, and personal perspectives. 

Get Involved

Are you a student, teacher, policymaker, or researcher interested in this topic?

Contact me via my institutional e-mail address here: 973256@swansea.ac.uk.

Follow project updates here: 

Daniel Strogen | LinkedIn 

Daniel Strogen (@DanielStrogen) / X 

Daniel Strogen - Blog 

I welcome collaboration, questions, and feedback.