Advice on summer schools

Welsh General / Questions
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Dear fellow Welsh learners,

I’m planning to take the plunge this summer and spend the summer months learning Welsh in Wales. Depending on how I progress with the intermediate level before then I will likely look at 2 months of learning. Although I’m focusing on Northern Welsh Bangor Uni only has a 2 week course. Cardiff on the other hand has a two month course. So, I’m thinking either to spend July and August in Cardiff, or perhaps July doing the intermediate in Cardiff and go to Aberystwyth for their month long course in August at the higher level… presuming I don’t go mad in the first month that is!

I’d really like to hear about any experiences people have had of the Cardiff and Aber summer courses?

Diolch yn fawr
Chris

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I’d go for that option - both Cardiff and Aberystwyth are lovely in their different ways, so it’s best of both worlds. As for experiences - the Aberystwyth summer course (twice in a row) was central to my own journey, but that was almost 15 years ago now. I still kind of miss being able to spend August in Aberystwyth, though - and the Cwps is still there, so that’s an added draw…:wink:

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No direct experience of the courses, but I live in Cardiff and study in the Welsh Department at the uni (where the courses are held). You’ll find you have to work a bit harder and be a bit more imaginative to get at Welsh speakers in the wild in Cardiff, but it is possible. I’m a fairly new resident of Cardiff (we’ve been here just over 2 years now), but I love it so of course I’d encourage anyone to come here :slight_smile:

If you do decide to spend some time here, give us a shout out on the forums & we’ll see if we can give some advice about places to go (and stay?) where you can get to use your Welsh. @Karla managed to find an Air B&B with a Welsh-speaking host when she visited, so she might have some helpful advice?

I agree with Aran, though, that some time here and some in Aber would be the best of both worlds. Shame you can’t squeeze Bangor in as well!

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Hi Sarah,

That would be fab, ta

You and Aran inspired me too. Just came up with a new grand master plan:
Bangor Uni summer school 27 June - 8 July
Then spend a week up North jibber jabbering in Welsh, maybe get some volunteering in
Cardiff summer school 2 weeks 17 July - 28 July
Aber summer course 31 July - 25 August

I’m quite settled on that now. Will be interesting to see how the Welsh accent turns out after the different exposure :slight_smile:

Thanks guys

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That sounds like a brilliant plan! I’m glad you’re able to fit Bangor in. It would be such a shame to miss out on the North. :slight_smile:

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From what I found, there seem to be a few Welsh speaking Air B&B hosts in Cardiff, so if you’re thinking of finding your accommodation that way, you should probably be okay. Just message the hosts and ask them. :slight_smile:

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Just bear in mind that there are residential courses and courses where accommodation is provided, but they aren’t necessarily the same thing. Some courses provide trips and evening events as well as day time classes. Others just offer the classes but you can stay in accommodation overnight but there are no associated events.

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Have you looked into Nant Gwrtheyrn’s schedule?

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I think with the Cardiff course you can book into the student accommodation which is vacant (and relativelycheap compared to booking other accommodation for a month or two) in the summer. I think, if memory serves me correctly, that the university try and keep learners on the Welsh course in the same student block to help with their learning outside of course hours.

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I was the only Welsh student, as far as I know, in my block, for the fortnight I was there. Cardiff, that is.

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I had that when I did a summer school at the University of Glamorgan. Most of the Welsh learners were local so there weren’t many staying on site.

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That looks like an excellent plan. I don’t want to put a spanner in the works (!) but have you considered the Eisteddfod as well? Although, of course, you could go for the weekend fairly easily from Aberystwyth, I would have thought (says she … without even having looked to see how straightforward that would be…)

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Train to Shrewsbury, another train to Holyhead. Or bus to Bangor and train to Holyhead. Possible. Not quick. More chances to speak Welsh on public transport though.

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Train to Porthmadog via Mach/Dovey Junction. Bus from there, I would have thought.

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Much as I like Cardiff, I’m wondering would it be better to do the summer course in Aberystwyth? I’m assuming there’d be a lot more Welsh speakers there when you’re outside the classroom. Didn’t there use to be an intensive course at Lampeter as well?

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I have done the Aber course for four years running, and have found it really good. They offer accommodation on the university campus; there are a lot of evening events so you can practice Welsh; and as far as I can remember, they organise a trip to the Eisteddfod each year. And of course the whole town and area is very Welsh speaking, so you can use your Welsh everywhere.

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