The hashtag #DespiteBeingTaughtInWelsh is trending on Twitter thanks to a determined, often humourous campaign by Welsh-speakers to show the many achievements in life, business, sport and media of people who have been educated through the medium of Welsh (rather than English) in Wales. The many tweets highlight the ability to operate successfully in English (as well as in Welsh), but especially the success of the try scorers for Wales in their victory over Scotland in the recent rugby tournament. All three scorers went to Welsh-medium schools.
The cause of the tongue-in-cheek storm is an article in the Western Mail (Wales's biggest selling paper) which stated: "She [Lucy] goes to see Wales rugby star Jamie Roberts who, despite being taught in Welsh until he was 18, is now a qualified doctor and currently studying at Queens' College, Cambridge."
Welsh-speakers were not happy with the use of the DESPITE which implied that learning in Welsh until 18 was disadvantageous to studying medicine and at Cambridge University......
There is a long and unfortunate tradition by English-speakers of mocking the Welsh for their abilities, so no wonder the Welsh reacted in the twittersphere.
The Western Mail quickly edited the text online and apologised profusely for the unintended slight......
To read the full BBC with example tweets report click here.
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