Phyl Brake

Lecturer
1. BA (University of Wales: University of Wales Trinity St David [formerly St David’s University College, Lampeter]) (1977)
2. MA (University of Wales) (1980)
3. Assessor NVQ (National Vocational Qualifications) in Welsh (B32 a B33) (1994)
Photograph of Phyl Brake.

Contact

Email: pjb@aber.ac.uk
Office: Room 3.27, P5, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3UX
Phone: +44 1970 622680
Fax: +44 1970 622258

Responsibilities

  1. Coordinate the University’s Welsh for Adults general programme in Ceredigion
  2. Lead on the Welsh for Adults curriculum in Mid Wales
  3. Develop the Centre’s provision at Proficiency (Level 4 in the CQFW)
  4. Lead and develop the Centre’s E-learning strategy
  5. Undertake research projects relevant to Welsh for Adults and lead the Centre’s research programme
  6. School Disability Coordinator for part-time students

Research

Over the years I have written many course books for Welsh learners at every level – from courses for complete beginners to proficiency courses for fluent Welsh speakers, but linguistics, and especially socio‑linguistics, is my main interest. Amongst my current research projects are:

  1. a socio-linguistic study of the spoken language errors made by experienced adult Welsh learners
  2. an investigation into the relation between the achievement of Welsh learners and the use of the language by them outside class

Biography

After graduating from St David’s University College, Lampeter (which is now part of University of Wales Trinity St David), in 1977, I studied the spoken language of native Welsh speakers of Pencarreg Parish in Carmarthenshire, for which I received an MA (University of Wales) in 1980. In the meantime, I worked as a research assistant for the Board of Celtic Studies, studying the spoken language of Welsh speaking inhabitants of the Rhondda Valleys.

In 1980, I joined the Welsh Teaching Department of the University of Wales, under the late Chris Rees (who is perhaps best known for developing the ulpan method of teaching Welsh), as a tutor-organiser of intensive and advanced Welsh for adults classes in south Ceredigion, west and north Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. The post was located at The University of Wales, Lampeter, and I worked closely with the old Department of Extra-mural Studies at Aberystwyth University. The nature of my work has changed over the years, and now, amongst other things I am responsible for the research programme of the Mid Wales Welsh for Adults Centre

External Examining:

I work as an external examiner for the WJEC (Welsh for Adults) at every level, according to demand.

Quality Assurance Experience:

  1. I contribute to the School’s Learning and Teaching Committee and that of the Mid Wales Welsh for Adults Centre.
  2. Before, and as the Centre was established, I was responsible for drawing up all the Welsh for Adults quality assurance documentation required by Aberystwyth University and by funding and QA bodies, including student and tutor handbooks, self assessment reports and quality development plans.
  3. I still contribute to the QA documentation produced by the Centre as well as producing student and tutor handbooks.
  4. I have led the Centre during internal and external inspections.

Collaborative Work:

 

  1. I am collaborating with the WJEC on my latest research project, ‘A study of spoken language errors of experienced Welsh learners’.
  2. I am a member of the Welsh for Adults Research Working Group that decides national research strategy in the field of study together with setting out research priorities.
  3. I contribute to formulating policies and development of the Centre through my membership of key committees such as the Management Committee, the Learning and Teaching Committee, the Marketing Team and the E-learning Working Group.
  4. I am a member of the SELL Learning and Teaching Committee
  5. I am a member of the WJEC Welsh for Adults Examination Panel on the following levels: (i) Intermediate and Advanced and (ii) Proficiency. The main work of this panel is to develop curriculum and draw up examinations

Staff Links

Twitter:   phylbrake

Skype:    phylip.brake

Additional Interests

I am one of the directors of the Nant Gwrtheyrn Trust, which oversees the Nant Gwrtheyrn National Language and Heritage Centre. Nant Gwrtheyrn was an abandoned village in the 1970s following the closure of the quarries. Work started on resurrecting ‘Y Nant’ and turning it into a national language centre in the late 1970s. With the help of the Government of Wales, recent developments have included the complete renovation of the village and the establishment of unique residential centre for Welsh learners of every standard from every corner of Wales and beyond.

Staff Publications

Brake P. (1998) Cymraeg Graenus, Llandysul: Gwasg Gomer.

Brake P. (2000) Meithrin sgiliau ysgrifennu, in Jones C. gol. (2001) Cyflwyno’r Gymraeg – Llawlyfr i Diwtoriaid, Llandysul: Gwasg Gomer, 101-21.

Brake, P. (1994) Sut ramadegau?, in Barn, 380, 58-9.

Brake, P. (1994) Welsh in Three Months, Hugo.

Brake, P. (1995) Cwympo rhwng dwy stôl, in Barn, 387, 44-5.

Brake, P. (1997) Welsh in Three Months, Hugo. (2nd edition)

Brake, P. (2005) An Introduction to Welsh, Lincom Europa.

Brake, P. (2009) Review of The Syntax of Welsh by Robert D. Borsley, Maggie Tallerman & David Willis, London: Routledge (388 pp.), Y Tiwtor, 6(4), April 2009, available from http://www.ytiwtor.org/rhifyn6/newyddion/newyddion12.htm.

Brake, P. (2010) Review of The Celtic Languages by Martin J. Ball & Nicole Müller (eds), London: Routledge (785 pp.), Y Tiwtor, 13(4), available from http://www.ytiwtor.org/rhifyn13/Adolygiad%20o%20%27The%20Celtic%20Languages%27.pdf.

Brake, P. (2010) Report on the Annual Seminar on Welsh Syntax, 5-6 July 2010, Y Tiwtor, 13(2), available from http://www.ytiwtor.org/rhifyn13/newyddion/seminar_cystrawen.html.

Brake, P. (2011) Review of Celtic from the West, in Cambria, 12(3), 57-9.

Brake, P. (2011) Review of Tense and Aspect in Informal Welsh by Bob Morris Jones (2010) Berlin: de Gruyter Mouton (389 pp.), Y Tiwtor, 16(4), available from http://www.ytiwtor.org/rhifyn16/adolygiad/adolygiad.html

Brake, P. (2011) Amrywio ieithyddol ymhlith siaradwyr Cymraeg Treorci ar ddiwedd y saithdegau, Gwerddon, 7(22), available from http://www.gwerddon.org/.

Brake, P. (2012) Adnabod gwallau iaith llafar dysgwyr Cymraeg profiadol, available from http://www.ybont.org/.

Brake, P. (2013) Astudiaeth gychwynnol o wallau iaith llafar ymgeiswyr arholiadau Defnyddio’r Gymraeg CBAC (Intermediate and Advanced Levels), available from http://www.gwerddon.org/. (in press)

Thomas, M., Brake, P., Cann, R., Evans, A., Hagen, G., Jephcote, M., G., Morgan, D., Neil, P., Pester, S., Taylor, C. & Woods, M. (2009) Partnerships in rural education: identification of research themes, Welsh Journal of Education, 14(2), 144-9