Personally I think that this sounds friendlier than ‘Ymarfer siarad yma’ which is sounds more of a commands to be and it would make me feel that I have to be quite good to try speaking.
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I’ve just started level 3 but have got to a bit of a plateau. Just struggling a bit. I’ve read the first Blodwen Jones but struggle to find time to read.
Your last sentence was right on the money. Fluent speakers must be patient with us learners, and in practice I think that their pleasure at encountering someone who’s making an effort to learn Welsh will override any frustration that may feel at the learner’s inevitable plodding and halting use of the language.
Learners - remember that fact when you take the plunge and start your first tentative steps at conversation.
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Yes, why not?
Totally get this Kate,l find a few “stock” phrases prepared in advance can be very helpfulAlso asking someone a question that they can be answering whilst you get time to think!l think it’s important to find the right group as well.Nothing is more did heartening than gathering together all your courage and finding your self the only beginner in amongst very confident speakers.I find the Thursday 7pm slot is very forgiving if you ever want to give it a try.
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Hello Aran
First let me say your course is amazing .
Its really given me some of the most powerful and friendly learning tools I have ever had.
My confidence when using the app has really improved .
There is always a but
( since this thread exists i feel comfortable to share )
Your system
You say it in English
I translate
And then wait to see if I’m right
But the listening and the comprehension is where I fail .
I struggle with the listening practice
On speed or on slow motion.
I did an experiment with my wife ( welsh speaker )
I used the script from the old course level 1 first listening practice
I read from the welsh part and translated on the fly .
It was slow and broken.
I then did the same with the English, translated it on the fly into Welsh, and flew through it
Easily.
The point is all my practice is in English into Welsh, but never Welsh into English.
Since you have your Database with the different categories:-
English Mpeg
English Written
Welsh Mpeg 1
Welsh Mpeg 2
Welsh Written
Would it not be easy ish to
Swap it all around
Welsh Mpeg
Welsh written
English Mpeg
English written
You say it in welsh
I translate to English and wait to see if I’m right
It would double the size of the course, promote confidence both ways of translating and help confidence speaking to Welsh speakers.
Aswell as give students more to practise.
I’m sure I’m not the only one that struggles with compression whilst in a conversational situation.
I genuinely believe this would help.
Marcus
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You might be setting your expectations on yourself too high here.
Translation is much more difficult than understanding. I’d guess even very good second language speakers would struggle to translate word for word.
I think the usual advice is listen for the key words to get the jist of what’s being said. In all language textbooks/videos I’ve seen and read, the method is to ask you questions about what was said rather than ask you to translate.
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Hi Marcus, and thanks for your lovely words 
It’s not a bad idea, but we think we can do (or actually have done!) something better - which will be arriving soon for Welsh - a new approach to listening, designed specifically to help people who are struggling with this (while I also agree with Ian that you don’t need to be able to translate from new into known language, that is a higher level skill) - but for your sense of understanding, I know what you mean, and we think the new material will really help (I’m finding it incredibly helpful with my current Croatian test).
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Hello
Thank you both for your replies.
I might be explaining myself poorly !
Translate mqy be the wring word
Maybe comprehension is a better word to use.
I do struggle so much listening to a welsh speaker and understanding them.
I really do feel quite lost
As for the occasional word i do comprehend, it takes ny brain so long to process, that the moment has passed !!
I will continue to try.
I hope the addition to the course solves my problem .
I look forward to it .
Im a great beta tester if you need one !
Thank you for your time
Marcus
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I think you explained yourself well! And it’s a good, creative idea - if we didn’t have an alternative currently being tested in other languages, it would have made sense as a test.
We’re figuring out when/how to add the listening to Welsh - and we’ll shout about it loudly everywhere as soon as we do - it’ll be great to get your feedback 