I thought the article was exactly how I’ve viewed things- the vast majority of school leavers never use the language again once they hand their books in. I’ve been determined to learn Welsh despite some obstacles. We didn’t have the chance to learn it at school so I took a night class for a year but had to stop due to O and A levels. Then I had a nasty experience at a local Eistedfod- there was a group of native Welsh speaking youths going around and asking people in Welsh if they spoke Welsh- if you didn’t then they literally spat at you. I thought "don’t you know how lucky you are to be able to speak Welsh? It was shameful. I’d tried a couple of times over the years to start learning again but I’d developed M.E. and it always stopped me. But again I ploughed on and heard of a supplement that can help M.E. folk concentrate a bit more - and bingo! at last I’m on the dysgu Cymraeg path! Ok sometimes my brain is too tired but otherwise I really enjoy it. But- around here (South Wales valley town) hardly anyone speaks Welsh. There are still people around here who think it’s a dead language! But when I joined the postcard group here I found 3 others in the town learning Welsh. My friend’s husband speaks Welsh so at some point I hope to be able to have a decent conversation with him. There is a lot of effort put into pushing Welsh classes - which is great- but it needs to get out into the community to breathe. Councils could help buy encouraging shops to put a few handy phrases up in the place so a customer could say basic things like “shwmae sut wyt ti heddiw?” Small start I know but it needs to be brought out into the light and not just online or in books- I think councils have the possible key to encouraging people to gently use some Welsh if they want to try. Learning Welsh is great but it has to be used. 
You did absolutely brilliantly @mairyddraig! It’s never easy to push yourself to take those first steps, but you’ve done it and there’s no looking back now! Llongyfarchiadau!
That experience at the Eisteddfod must have been frightening and upsetting. Sometimes native Welsh speakers can be their own worst enemy, like some of the people I encountered back in the 1980s who rebuffed any attempts at speaking Welsh with them. Thankfully things have changed for the better since then.
You did really well to persevere and if you keep at it, you will get there. As for places where you can speak Welsh, if you keep an eye out, you will probably find activities and events where Welsh speakers can be found. Local noticeboards in the library, shops or community centres, or local Facebook groups often publicise talks, musical events, guided walks, coffee mornings etc where Welsh will be spoken.
Sorry to hear about your experience previously. Have to admit there’s no Welsh speaking things I’ve noticed being advertised around here- but I’ve got M.E. (yes Menieres as well for the eagle-eyed amongst you 
) so wouldn’t get out n about using it- but I’ve just sent a postcard to my cousin who is more advanced than me- and of course the SSIW card group- I’ve managed to exchange a couple of sentences on the phone with my friend’s hubby but not got enough vocab or knowledge yet to talk about general things- I did give one sentence telling him about a book for beginners (novel) I’d read so it’s a start! 