I’m a native English speaker who lives in Israel, and I’ve recently started to learn Welsh for the sheer love of it. I’ve just finished the basic Course 1 (first 25/26 lessons). I’m starting the ‘Vocab’ lessons which seem just as good as the basic ones.
I think that this is an excellent course (although I’d personally like a bit more grammar). Well done and diolch yn fawr to all concerned for making this such a rewarding experience.
My main problem is that although there are many languages spoken in Israel, Welsh is, regrettably, not yet on the list. Anyone out there in the area who’s learning Welsh and wants to get together for a talk?
Do Forum members have any suggestions for those of us who can’t easily find Welsh speakers with whom to learn?
If it’s grammar you want, there is plenty available, paid a phoenu…just not (explicitly anyway) at SSiW.
There are some good books by Gareth King, and some of them are on Google Books (probably old editions, and possibly not complete). Look for example for “Modern Welsh: A Comprehensive Grammar”. Or you can get titles by looking him up in amazon.co.uk then search google books for those titles.
(Of course, I think you should buy the books as well, but delivery to Israel might be expensive or take ages or whatever, so you can make do with google books (hopefully) in the meantime).
There is also some material on the BBC website, for example.
You want grammar? We got grammar!
(Not necessarily for the faint-hearted though, which is why the SSiW approach is a little different. )
As for practice talking, might I suggest the FfrindIaith program (which is accessible from this website - click learn, and then one of options on top of the screen is FfrindIaith)? Time zone differences may be an issue, but it’s better than nothing.
Eirwen, my wife, is a native Welsh speaker from North Wales. I am learning Welsh with SSiW and also have begun learning Hebrew. I can manage some basic Hebrew conversation at this point
Do you speak Hebrew fluently? We could do 15 minutes of Welsh conversation to help your Welsh followed by 15 minutes of Hebrew conversation to help my Hebrew - or something like that via Skype.
We live in semi-retirement on the Italian/French border,
Well, this is our common problem. I’m living in Slovena where absolutely no one I would be aware of would speak Cymraeg at all. The most helpful practice for me are Skype chats (with learners of higher level for now) and it probably could be the temporary solution of the problem for you aswell.
Croeso! Many of us come from outside Wales, where it’s hard to find Welsh speakers to practice with, so you’re not alone! I find talking with other learners to be very helpful.
As for the grammar side of things, the idea of this course is that you pick it up organically, rather than having to struggle to learn rules that you don’t yet have any language to apply to! That said, many people use supplementary material for the grammar, and it can be very helpful.
I’m interested. Welsh for Hebrew? Gwych! I’ll get in touch if and when I ever get Skype; I’m still in the 20th century on that point.
How does one write privately to another Forum member without disclosing email addresses publicly?
Thanks to all the replies above - it’s a great welcome to the Forum. And even though I realise that you’re not all Welsh or living in Wales, such a welcome does mirror my experience with the Welsh people whom I met during family visits there in recent years. They’re/you’re such friendly people almost without exception. And I never felt the need to hide my Jewishness from this beautiful country - something that unfortunately can’t be taken for granted.
Those are reasons (amongst others) that have prompted me to start learning Cymraeg.
I don’t yet have Skype, but it seems my best bet by common assent.
Lastly, how does one write privately to another Forum member without disclosing email addresses publicly?
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