Foo Seng Thean arrived in Swansea with his family to start a new life in 2015. Despite being a confident English speaker, he soon became frustrated at being unable to converse in the native language of his adopted home and was determined to learn Welsh.

“There is an old saying ‘To prosper in a new place you must embrace its traditions and way of life’,” said Foo Seng. “So that’s exactly what I am doing, learning Welsh with my sons, helping them with their homework and writing Welsh comments in a daily journal. Now, when they need inspiration, they come to me. “It’s fun – singing together, sharing our learning, establishing a Welsh day at home. My niece from Singapore even calls me her Welsh uncle!” His journey began soon after arriving in Wales, while working for the Chinese in Wales Association’s Multi-Cultural Hub, he was accepted onto the Welsh in the Workplace course organised by Swansea University’s Learn Welsh Swansea Bay Area.

But Foo Seng didn’t stop with just learning the language. He wanted to immerse himself fully into Welsh culture which has led to him joining the Learners Choir who performed at the 2024 National Eisteddfod.

“My Welsh pronunciation surprised the members,” said Foo Seng. “I have been blown away by the beauty of the language.” Foo Seng is using his experience to inspire other ethnic minority communities to welcome the Welsh language into their daily lives. He has been interviewed by S4C’s
Heno programme and now promotes the use of Welsh in communications, social media posts and official events from the Chinese in Wales Association.
Foo Seng’s tutor, Emyr Jones encouraged him to sing with the Learners Choir, he said, “He seized the opportunity to learn Welsh and was keen and enthusiastic from the very start, not just in classes but also in supplementing his learning outside the classroom through the Duolingo app. He’ll sit the Foundation Exam in 2026.” Foo Seng believes his Welsh language journey has only just begun and added: “I am not fluent yet – but I am on
the way!”