Spoken Cornish: Giving and Receiving Information and Instructions — WJEC-CBAC Vocationally-Related Qualification ESOL & Literacy Revision

    This element focuses on developing the practical spoken Cornish skills needed to understand and convey straightforward information and instructions in ever

    Topic Synopsis

    This element focuses on developing the practical spoken Cornish skills needed to understand and convey straightforward information and instructions in everyday social or work-related situations. Learners practise active listening to grasp key details from spoken Cornish, and they learn to articulate clear, concise instructions using appropriate vocabulary and polite forms relevant to Entry 3 contexts.

    Key Concepts & Core Principles

    Exam Tips & Revision Strategies

    Common Misconceptions & Mistakes to Avoid

    Examiner Marking Points

    Spoken Cornish: Giving and Receiving Information and Instructions

    WJEC-CBAC
    vocational

    This element focuses on developing the practical spoken Cornish skills needed to understand and convey straightforward information and instructions in everyday social or work-related situations. Learners practise active listening to grasp key details from spoken Cornish, and they learn to articulate clear, concise instructions using appropriate vocabulary and polite forms relevant to Entry 3 contexts.

    6
    Learning Outcomes
    4
    Assessment Guidance
    4
    Key Skills
    5
    Key Terms
    5
    Assessment Criteria

    Assessment criteria

    WJEC Entry Level Award in Spoken Cornish: Giving and Receiving Information and Instructions (Entry 3)

    Topic Overview

    This unit, "Giving and Receiving Information and Instructions (Entry 3)" within the WJEC Entry Level Award in Spoken Cornish, is designed to build your practical communication skills in everyday scenarios. You will learn how to understand and respond to simple questions, ask for directions, and give clear, concise instructions to others in Cornish. This moves you beyond basic greetings and introductions, enabling you to engage in more functional and independent conversations, which is a crucial step towards fluency.

    Mastery of these skills is vital for anyone wishing to use Cornish practically, whether navigating a Cornish-speaking environment or interacting with other speakers. It demonstrates your ability to apply your language knowledge in real-world contexts, fostering confidence and independence. This unit forms a foundational pillar for further progression in the language, as effective information exchange and instruction-giving are fundamental components of any successful communication.

    By the end of this unit, you will be able to confidently ask for and provide essential information, such as locations or simple procedures, and understand basic commands. This not only enhances your spoken Cornish proficiency but also deepens your connection to the language and culture, allowing for more meaningful interactions and a greater sense of achievement in your language learning journey.

    Key Concepts

    Core ideas you must understand for this topic

    • →Understanding and using imperative verbs for giving commands and instructions (e.g., 'Mos!' - Go!, 'Treyl!' - Turn!).
    • →Vocabulary for directions and locations, including prepositions of place (e.g., 'a-gleth' - to the left, 'a-dhyghow' - to the right, 'war-rag' - straight on, 'ogas dhe' - near to).
    • →Formulating and responding to simple 'wh-' questions to elicit or provide information (e.g., 'Ple'ma...?' - Where is...?, 'Pyth yw...?' - What is...? , 'Fatell allav vy mos dhe...?' - How can I get to...? ).
    • →Using appropriate polite phrases when asking for and giving information or instructions (e.g., 'mar pleg' - please, 'meur ras' - thank you).
    • →Comprehending and conveying basic spatial relationships and sequences of actions in a clear and logical manner.

    Learning Objectives

    What you need to know and understand

    • Identify the main points in a short spoken Cornish instruction delivered at a slow pace.
    • Respond appropriately to simple spoken Cornish requests for basic information.
    • Use a range of basic Cornish verbs in the imperative mood to give clear instructions.
    • Apply politeness markers such as 'mar pleg' when giving spoken directions in Cornish.
    • Seek clarification in Cornish when an instruction is not understood.
    • Produce a short sequence of spoken instructions for a familiar workplace or social task.

    Assessment Criteria

    Key criteria assessors look for in your portfolio

    • Award credit for accurate identification of at least two key facts from a short spoken Cornish passage.
    • Accept responses in Cornish or English, provided meaning is correct and complete.
    • For giving instructions, look for correct use of at least two different imperative verb forms (e.g., 'gwrewgh', 'degevewgh').
    • Give credit for demonstrating appropriate clarification questions such as 'Praga?' or 'A allsewgh hwi dasleverel henna?'.
    • Assess whether the instruction sequence follows a logical order and is achievable by a peer.

    Assessment Guidance

    Guidance for achieving higher grades

    • 💡Practise listening to short Cornish audio clips daily, focusing on picking out numbers, times and action words.
    • 💡Learn a set of 10–15 high-frequency instruction verbs (e.g., 'ygowgh', 'gwrewgh', 'kewsel') and their mutations by heart.
    • 💡In the speaking assessment, if unsure, ask for repetition in Cornish rather than remaining silent – this demonstrates communication strategy skills.
    • 💡Role-play common social and work scenarios with a partner, alternating between giving and receiving instructions to build confidence.
    • 💡**Listen actively for keywords:** In listening tasks, focus intently on identifying key verbs (e.g., 'mos' - go, 'treyl' - turn), prepositions (e.g., 'dhe' - to, 'yn' - in), and direction words. Don't try to understand every single word; instead, pick out the crucial information needed to complete the task.
    • 💡**Practise giving clear, step-by-step instructions:** When asked to give instructions, plan your response logically. Use simple, direct sentences and imagine guiding someone through a physical process or route. Clarity, conciseness, and correct use of imperative verbs are more important than complex vocabulary.
    • 💡**Don't be afraid to ask for repetition or clarification:** If you don't understand a question or instruction, it's perfectly acceptable and encouraged to use phrases like "A all'ta y leverel arta, mar pleg?" (Can you say it again, please?) or "Nyns esa'n kler dhymm" (I didn't understand that clearly). This demonstrates your engagement and ensures you can respond accurately, rather than guessing.

    Common Mistakes

    Common errors to avoid in your coursework

    • Confusing the imperative (yn striv) with the infinitive form when giving instructions.
    • Omitting soft mutation after certain imperative particles (e.g., 'Gwell' instead of 'Gwrewgh' for 'do').
    • Using filler words from English (e.g., 'um') instead of Cornish equivalents like 'del hevel'.
    • Forgetting to adjust register when addressing an unfamiliar person or superior.
    • **Confusing similar-sounding direction words:** Students often mix up words like 'kledh' (left) and 'dyghow' (right), or 'war-rag' (forward) and 'war-lergh' (backward). Correction: Practice these words frequently with physical actions or visual aids like flashcards. Create a strong association between the word and the direction.
    • **Omitting politeness markers:** Forgetting to use 'mar pleg' (please) or 'meur ras' (thank you) when making requests or receiving help can make your speech sound abrupt or impolite. Correction: Make a conscious effort to always include polite phrases. It's a simple habit that significantly improves your communication and demonstrates respect.
    • **Giving overly complex or unclear instructions:** Students sometimes try to convey too much information at once, or use vague terms, making it difficult for the listener to follow. Correction: Break down instructions into simple, sequential steps using clear, concise language. Imagine you are guiding someone physically, step-by-step.

    Revision Plan

    How to revise this topic in 1–2 weeks

    1. 1**Week 1: Vocabulary & Imperatives Focus:** Dedicate the first few days to mastering key vocabulary for directions, locations (e.g., 'street', 'shop', 'park'), and common imperative verbs. Create flashcards, use a vocabulary app, and practice saying the words aloud. Focus on associating words with their meanings and actions.
    2. 2**Week 1: Listening & Following Practice:** Find or create simple maps (e.g., of a town, a house). Have a friend give you directions in Cornish to follow on the map, or listen to audio clips of directions. Practice drawing routes based on spoken instructions, ensuring you correctly identify landmarks and turns.
    3. 3**Week 2: Giving Instructions Practice:** Practice giving directions to a friend using a map, or instruct them on how to perform a simple task (e.g., making a cup of tea, drawing a shape) using only Cornish. Record yourself and listen back to identify areas for improvement in clarity, pronunciation, and the sequencing of your instructions.
    4. 4**Week 2: Information Exchange Role-Plays:** Engage in role-play scenarios where you ask for information (e.g., "Where is the nearest post office?") and respond to questions about locations or simple facts. Focus on using polite language, appropriate question words, and providing clear, concise answers.
    5. 5**Week 2: Self-Assessment & Review:** Review all your notes, vocabulary, and practice exercises. Identify any persistent errors or challenging areas. Revisit these specific points, perhaps by creating a 'challenge list'. Test yourself using practice questions or by explaining concepts to someone else, which helps solidify your understanding.

    Exam Question Types

    How this topic typically appears in the exam

    • 📋**Listening Comprehension - Following Directions:** You might hear a set of instructions in Cornish and need to mark a route on a map, draw something based on instructions, or identify a specific location. Advice: Listen carefully for key direction words, landmarks, and prepositions. Don't try to understand every single word; focus on the crucial pieces of information.
    • 📋**Role-Play - Asking for/Giving Information:** You will be given a scenario, such as asking for directions to a specific place, explaining how to get somewhere, or asking for details about an event. Advice: Plan your key phrases beforehand, use polite language, and be prepared to ask for clarification or repetition if you don't fully understand the prompt.
    • 📋**Responding to Simple Questions:** The examiner might ask you direct questions like "Ple'ma an lyverva?" (Where is the library?) or "Fatell allav vy mos dhe'n gwerthji?" (How can I get to the shop?). Advice: Provide a concise and direct answer, using appropriate vocabulary for locations and directions. Ensure your response directly addresses the question asked.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions students ask about this topic

    Before You Start

    Prior knowledge that will help with this topic

    • •**WJEC Entry Level Award in Spoken Cornish: Greetings and Introductions (Entry 1/2):** A solid grasp of basic greetings, self-introductions, and asking/answering simple personal questions is essential for building conversational confidence.
    • •**Basic vocabulary and numbers:** Familiarity with common nouns, adjectives, and numbers up to at least 20 will be very helpful for describing locations, quantities, and general information.
    • •**Simple sentence structure:** An understanding of how to form basic positive and negative sentences in Cornish will provide the grammatical foundation necessary for constructing and understanding instructions and information.

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    • Active listening for key information
    • Using imperative forms in Cornish
    • Vocabulary for common tasks
    • Clarification strategies
    • Politeness and register

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