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Conservative MP Virginia Crosbie passes Welsh language speaking test

30 Jul 2021 1 minute read
Virginia Crosbie

A Conservative MP has passed a Welsh language speaking test with a score of 95%.

Virginia Crosbie, who represents Ynys Mon, and who promised she would learn the language if she was elected, passed the Entry Level Welsh for Adults speaking test.

She told the North Wales Chronicle: “I am really pleased to pass this exam and the certificate will take pride of place in my home here on the island.

“It was quite a juggle attending lessons while doing my job but I felt it was incredibly important that I learn the language many of my constituents speak as their first language.

“I would like to thank the teams at Bangor University and Nant Gwrtheyrn for getting me through the exam and giving such an appreciation of this beautiful and vibrant language.”

She has also said she will continue her Welsh language learning by taking a foundation level course.


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#1Chris
#1Chris
3 years ago

“If you elect me I will learn Welsh” sounds a bit like those Social media thumb whores who say “If I get 10,000 likes I’ll eat a tin of dog food”. Reward me first and then I will do something. But congratulations to her for sticking to her word (a rare trait in a Tory) and to her credit it looks like she took the course seriously. This has also proven that her Tory colleagues who were howling in protest just 2 weeks ago at the thought of learning some entry level phrases are just lazy and entitled oafs. Now… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by #1Chris
hdavies15
hdavies15
3 years ago
Reply to  #1Chris

Give her some credit for getting some language skills. It proves that even thick people can learn Welsh if they try hard ! Big goal now is to get her and others to “think Cymru and Cymraeg” which should lead them to stop following the London centric herd and promote the interests of the constituency.

#1Chris
#1Chris
3 years ago
Reply to  hdavies15

Oh absolutely. Differing political viewpoints aside, all credit to her for taking it seriously.
I know little Welsh. She has probably already sailed past my knowledge. Might embarrass me into trying harder myself

Last edited 3 years ago by #1Chris
hdavies15
hdavies15
3 years ago
Reply to  #1Chris

…and you might embarrass her to try harder at looking after her constituents’ interests instead of promoting the AngloBrit blinkered view of how things should be done.

stuart stanton
stuart stanton
3 years ago

Pathetic self-publicist. I, and many others passed the same ‘test’ after one weekend in Nant Gwytheyrn. Same old Tories – All mouth and no trousers.

arthur owen
3 years ago
Reply to  stuart stanton

Are you a public figure? I am sorry if your fame has passed me by.It is sad that I have to comment so much on this story there is so much poison on this site,and it can only do our language harm.

Davyth Fear
Davyth Fear
3 years ago
Reply to  stuart stanton

And hopefully you’re now fluent and contributing to Welsh language culture. However one thing I have noticed about the Welsh learner community is that the vast majority of them are supportive of each other and don’t denigrate each others efforts. Learning a language is a commitment and to be applauded. I don’t share Virginia’s political beliefs, but I’m not going to be negative about her effort. And by posting here, you’re falling into the same trap of self-publicity for yourself. Perhaps you’d like to explain to us exactly what you have accomplished?

Cai Wogan Jones
Cai Wogan Jones
3 years ago

One may not like her politics or the manner in which she was selected. But this is to be welcomed without equivocation.

arthur owen
3 years ago

Cytuno yn llwyr.

stuart stanton
stuart stanton
3 years ago

No, as said earlier it is just crass self-publicity. So, she’s learned a few Welsh phrases, shouldn’t that be a ‘normal’ thing to do for anyone with a Welsh connection? Banging on about it is cheap and demeaning.

Jen
Jen
3 years ago
Reply to  stuart stanton

Learned a few Wlesh phrases? Welsh is twice as difficult to learn as French, for eg, and having taken the same test and scored 97% I can tell you that learning a few phrases would not hold water. So negative!!

Colin Mann
Colin Mann
3 years ago

da iawn – well done. Maybe an incentive for so many Welsh people who deny any knowledge of yr Iaith Gymraeg?

arthur owen
3 years ago

Given Ynys Mon’s proclivity to return sitting members she wlll soon be a shoe in for Governor General,but if she is fairly ambitious she would quickly promoted.As you see I hold no hope no hope for Labour.

Jim Piggott
Jim Piggott
3 years ago

People fall in love with Gwynedd and Anglesey , wherever they are from. It should be natural to pick up Cymraeg . Our granddaughter and her lovely mother are native to the island, my son works there. He speaks Cymraeg. I never say thanks there, only diolch . And I’m so grateful that children grow up bilingual. I just hope this is this MPs main home…….

#1Chris
#1Chris
3 years ago
Reply to  Jim Piggott

Hadn’t been to the North for decades, until work took me there regularly in 2018. That project is ended now but I plan to get back there as soon as circumstances allow. It really is special

Quornby
Quornby
3 years ago
Reply to  Jim Piggott

Nice thought but her spiritual home is the Tory Westminster whip’s office. You know….. Where they give out the well paid non jobs.

#1Chris
#1Chris
3 years ago

This clone above is not me. It’s Phil or Vaughan probably

Quornby
Quornby
3 years ago
Reply to  #1Chris

Gotcha

#1Chris
#1Chris
3 years ago
Reply to  #1Chris

This joker isn’t me either…

#1Chris
#1Chris
3 years ago
Reply to  #1Chris

Pack it in Vaughan / Phil (probably Phil. Vaughan is too wet) Or you will find turnabout is fair play.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
3 years ago

A wolf trying on sheep’s clothing…

R W
R W
3 years ago

She probably thinks that the people of Ynys Môn are gullible enough to re-elect her because she”s learnt a few basic Welsh phrases. I fear she might be right!!

Jen
Jen
3 years ago
Reply to  R W

Wtf are you on about. You’re saying that the Welsh government hands out passes to people who haven’t mastered that level of language? You’re wrong.

R W
R W
3 years ago
Reply to  Jen

Wtf are you on about!? I didn’t suggest anything about the Welsh Government.

Jack
Jack
3 years ago

Weirdly some people seem really annoyed about this.

This is pretty much the only thing about her that I don’t find annoying!

j humphrys
j humphrys
3 years ago
Reply to  Jack

I must say agree. She said, if elected, she would learn Cymraeg and has begun to.
I thought it an empty promise, but If all conservative-leaning people copy, that would be terrific.

stuart stanton
stuart stanton
3 years ago

As a Bangor post-grad student, well aware of the financial problems there, I trust she paid for the help the ‘teams’ gave her. All regular students paying through the nose at the moment….

Vaughan
Vaughan
3 years ago

The Mynediad level is not a high standard but you have to start somewhere so congratulations to her on keeping her promise to learn the language so far. Also, pob lwc gyda Lefel Sylfaen flwyddyn nesa’.
I remember a certain politician parachuted into Wales many years ago who promised to learn Welsh. It came to nothing as far as I can see.

Wrexhamian
Wrexhamian
3 years ago
Reply to  Vaughan

Dw i’n cytuno. Like many people in this country, I would expect nothing less than a desire to try and integrate with the people of Ynys Mon, but it’s to her credit that she nailed Mynediad in line with her promise.

Last edited 3 years ago by Wrexhamian
Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
3 years ago

Is this the Trearddur Bay Tory fan club on here?

j humphrys
j humphrys
3 years ago
Reply to  Mab Meirion

Yes, and they get bonus points if they begin Hanes also!

Wrexhamian
Wrexhamian
3 years ago
Reply to  Mab Meirion

No way! Applauding her reaching Mynediad level, and hoping she’ll go on to Sylfaen, does not mean satisfaction that a Welsh-speaking constituency has a Tory MP. She’s only a Boris Bounce Babe, anyway, and she won’t be here forever.

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