Part 2 – Describing Welsh Language Ability and Schedule 1 – Types of Welsh Language User and Common Reference Levels
Section 5 - Types of Welsh language user and common reference levels
26.This section and Schedule 1 establish a standard method for describing Welsh language ability, which is intended to be relevant to all contexts.
27.Section 5(1) introduces Schedule 1, which includes a Table. The Table makes provision:
describing three types of Welsh language user,
specifying levels (referred to as “
describing the general characteristics of those levels.
28.The three types of Welsh language user are “basic Welsh language user”, “independent Welsh language user”, and “proficient Welsh language user”. The Table in Schedule 1 describes their ability in Welsh based on six levels (A1-C2). They are grouped as follows:
basic user (A1 and A2),
independent user (B1 and B2), and
proficient user (C1 and C2).
29.The Table in Schedule 1 has been reproduced (in relation to the Welsh language) from the document Council of Europe (2020), Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment – Companion volume, Council of Europe Publishing, Strasbourg, available at www.coe.int/lang-cefr (ISBN 978-92-871-8621-8). The English language version is published with permission from the Council of Europe, and the Welsh language version by arrangement with the Council of Europe, under the sole responsibility of Senedd Cymru.
30.In accordance with section 5(2) and (3), the Welsh Ministers have the power, by regulations, to amend the Table in Schedule 1. However, they may not use this power unless it is necessary to respond to any change made to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Section 6 - Code to describe Welsh language ability
31.This section places a duty on the Welsh Ministers to produce a Code that will explain how to use the common reference levels in the Table in Schedule 1, and describe the characteristics of those levels in more detail. The Code will assist with using the standard method established to describe the ability of Welsh language users in relation to section 5 and the Table in Schedule 1.
32.Section 6(2) sets out what the Welsh Ministers are required to include in the Code, but under section 6(3) it can also include anything else related to describing Welsh language ability. Therefore, the Code is not limited to only explaining the contents of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Section 7 - Publishing and reviewing the Code
33.This section makes provision for publishing, reviewing and amending the Code. See also section 52 for specific provision in relation to the duty to publish. In addition, the Welsh Ministers are required to consult before publishing the Code or revised Code.
