I’m having a hard time understanding spoken Welsh. I find that my brain just doesn’t ‘kick in’ fast enough.
When I’m listening to Radio Cymru I do much better but then radio presenters are trained to speak clearly and I also know the context!
With the few colleagues who speak to me [read: speak AT me] in Welsh, I have absolutely no idea. I just nod and say ‘ok’. I don’t have the heart to tell them I don’t understand. One person in particular is quite softly-spoken and also wears a Covid mask at work so it’s quite hard for me to hear.
For now I have stopped using SSiW and going to Dysgu Cymraeg lessons as i’m just not enjoying it anymore. That’s probably part of the problem but I just can’t seem to get past this hurdle of not enjoying the language. Doesn’t help that I’m considering moving out of Wales and back home (due to financial reasons and not having any social circle here).
I’m really regretting in a moment of enthusiasm telling fluent speakers at work that I was learning and keen to practice- now I’m stuck in an awkward situation!
I imagine you wouldn’t have trouble asking an English speaker to either speak up or speak a bit slower, if you didn’t understand them. I understand the feeling that you don’t want to impose on the other person, but if you want to have positive experiences with your Welsh speaking colleagues, I think it is vital to let them know that you don’t understand them. If they speak too softly, kindly ask them to speak up, if they talk too fast, kindly ask them to speak more slowly. And if you then still don’t understand the words being used, ask if they can say it in another was or ask for a translation. If they want to help you learn and use your Welsh, they will be happy to do so.
(Things may be more complicated because these interactions are happening at work, and people may be pressed for time. If that is the case, the best course of action would be joining online chat groups, where there is less “real life pressure”)
Sorry to hear you may have to move. Luckily languages know no borders!
I’m a bit of a language butterfly and do this swapping and changing of approaches within one language all the time. There’s no need to be exclusive, unless it were for financial reasons, something everyone understands.
Have you tried watching YouTube videos at higher speeds? I do it often.
My message to you is, apart from following the advice already given to you by @Hendrik : Stick to opening your ears and mind. I’ve never regretted learning a language, but I so regret the languages I’ve given up.
Notice how adults talk slower to children especially younger ones.
When you start learning a new language there is nothing wrong asking the speaker to slow down or use more simple welsh. I also slow down the audio files of harder welsh dialogs
“Siaradwch Gymraeg yn araf (os gwelwch yn dda/ plîs)…dw i’n dal i ddysgu!”
Speak Welsh slowly please…I am still learning!
Perhaps put on a concentrating face - it usually works for me, they will see that you want to converse in Welsh but are getting there gradually.
Incidentally, the sport, weather and traffic radio bulletins are handy for taking in a bit of high speed Welsh - whilst still being fairly standardised - plus the interviews with players etc are handy for a bit of slower colloquial dialect.