A new app has been launched to help people learn Welsh. Golingo's app, which is free and available on iOS and Android, allows users to explore a virtual town which includes various locations such as restaurants, pubs, and shops.
The aim of the app is to allow users to travel from one place to another in an immersive 3D world while learning how to use Welsh in different scenarios as well as how to carry conversations with "non-player characters". Users can practise how to use words and phrases in different contexts, such as how to order a pint at a pub, as well as how to practise pronunciation. The app already offers courses in German, French, Spanish, and Italian with the virtual world based on an actual town in France.
On its website Golingo wrote: "One of the really special things about golingo is that every conversation has a context, just like real life. You learn best this way. And you learn things that you can use every day.
Read more: Welsh Government publishes ambitious plans to boost Welsh language provision in schools
"We’ve been building an immersive, 3D world, built using world-class gaming tech. It’s like a safe simulation for you to practice in. We modelled it on one of our favourite places and one of the prettiest village in the Haute Savoie, the village of Samoens."
It comes after the Welsh Government published its ambitious plans to boost Welsh language provisions in schools this week. As the government aims to reach one million Welsh speakers by 2050 their new proposals include include increasing the number of Welsh-medium schools and boosting Welsh language provision in English-medium schools.
A “national plan” created by Welsh ministers will give clear targets to each local authority for improving their Welsh-language provision including national targets for Welsh-medium teacher recruitment. The Welsh Government is asking for views on the proposals through a consultation which is open until June 16 and is committed to introducing a bill in this Senedd term, which you can read more about here.
In response Golingo said on Twitter: "We're proud to be doing our bit for this initiative! golingo is all about speaking confidence in a new language. Our Welsh lead, Nia, has been working hard to build our Welsh curriculum in our virtual language learning town."
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