I’m actually not new to the site, I’ve been learning for a little while and have just completed lesson 25 of level 1 (Southern). So i thought it was about time I said hello and thank you as I’m really enjoying the challenges.
I’m from Casnewydd but currently living in Cwmbran & I have been contemplating attending one of the meetups but haven’t plucked up the courage yet. I do have the benefit of living with my girlfriend who is a first language speaker but other than her i only know 4 other people who are fluent. So I really should get out more to practice.
Obviously growing up in Newport you don’t meet or hear many people speaking Welsh, so i never had an interest whilst in school. But it’s something that has been on my list to do for all of my twenties (29 now ), so I’ve made it my number 1 goal this year!
I’ll be going to my first Eisteddfod this year as it’s in Abergavenny, so hopefully I’ll be confident enough by then to use some of my Welsh
Ayayay @michael … you’ve wait almost a year to finally post something here. Don’t worry … it took me 2 years before I finally put my fist post on here -
Now on a sirious note: Welcome to the forum really and congrats for your progress so far. I’m always happy to hear when someone is doing so well and I have no doubt you’d be ready to go in the Wild and speak Cymraeg by the time of your first Eisteddfod. Well done!
This actually puts you in a very good position indeed! As you say and know, sieze the opportunities to speak Welsh with those people you know and you will become a Welsh speaker.
a chroeso!! You are doing very well and are in exaclly the right position to progress quickly! If your cariad goes with you to meetings, she will help ice-break by not being nervous of using Cymraeg. Keep going and you’ll be Dysgwr y Flwyddyn in a year or two!!
As you have probably discovered, living with a Welsh speaker is a double edged sword when it comes to practice. You have enough Welsh to get away with loads of situations - congratulations on that! - but unless you are reall obsessive, it will wear you out to try and do everything in Welsh with your girlfriend.
But do get out to the practice sessions with Cuckoo and the gang - they will make a huge difference to how happy you are in using your Welsh, and also in widening the context of your language. Having friends that you know in Welsh brings the language into the real world somehow, and will make you more able to use more Welsh at home.
We (Cat and I and the girls) will be at the Abegavenny Eisteddfod, so I’ll look forward to seeing you there. No doubt we’ll have an unofficial SSiW get-together or two as well, so keep visitng the forum.
Thanks! I’ll keep an eye out for when you’re meeting up next and come along. Although I’ll warn you up front, my speaking isn’t too bad but I still struggle understanding Welsh at full pace. No matter how much I watch S4C
Very true as she doesn’t always reply in the way I’m expecting, so I often get told different ways of saying things & it can be a lot to take in. Plus I don’t really help myself because I’m constantly asking why, like “Why can you say it like that” or “Why should I use this way instead of that way”. I think I drive my girlfriend up the wall sometimes!!
I’m trying to recruit more people in work, so I can speak to them day in day out! I’ve got 2 so far but they’re only on lesson 3 and I have this feeling they don’t really want to go the distance.
Michael you will be very welcome,remember we all had to start somewhere.look on the forum before the second Saturday in the month for details.
Hwyl Dave
), so I’ve made it my number 1 goal this year!
Don’t worry … it took me 2 years before I finally put my fist post on here - 
