When I started SSiW I didn’t really pay attention the instructions and totally ignored the pause button. By the time I’d twigged that it seems that an integral part of the learning process was to press pause when needed I decided to keep on with out ever pressing pause, extra mental work out and faster, more instinctive replies I thought…
Now level 22 has momentarily floored me and made me think about pressing pause, but I wonder if it is just a slight frozen brain as I’ve been working quite hard at the course in the last week. Are there other ‘dedicated non-pausers’ out there, have I made things harder for me by not pausing and should I start now. (Or do I need a ‘Get on with it’ in the style of Monty Python and stop thinking about the pause!)
I’m going to go for a really non-committal type answer and say “whatever”. You’ve done really well to get that far without pausing but it isn’t a crime to pause if things get a little too much, don’t feel guilty. And just because you used the pause button once or twice doesn’t mean you have to crumble and use it with every sentence either. There are no rules.
Definitely don’t pause if you don’t absolutely need to! 
Pausing will slow you down a lot, and by not pausing, you will learn to speak more instinctively. The instructions have changed as well, I’m pretty sure it is now recommended not to pause
-a very dedicated non-pauser
But, like @gruntius says, don’t feel guilty if you do pause 
Agree with @Novem - I believe the current recommendations are to go without the pause button if you can – just blurt out the first thing on your mind and it’ll often be correct. Force yourself to just speak “instinctively” rather than agonising over the exact grammar. Force yourself to “chunk”.
Speaking from my own experience, I used the pause button in the first couple of lessons but have stopped doing so (except for the rare interruption), and I think it’s done me quite a bit of good.
I’ve learned to “stop worrying and love the bomb just speak Welsh”. My lessons are over faster.
I believe Aran has said that the brain will adjust to the new stress after a while, and I think mine has.
But the important thing is: don’t worry. If you find that going without the pause button stresses you out too much, go ahead and use it. Or use it sometimes.
Hi @Richmountart. I’m a dedicated non-pauser. Whatever comes out, comes out and, if I get it wrong, no worries. I think that’s one of the main things I’ve taken away from Iestyn’s pep talks in the recordings - mistakes happen and it’s how you learn.
Hwyl
Kim
@gruntius, @Novem, @philipnewton and @Kimberley, many thanks for all your input.
Yes you’re right, carry on without the pause. I think a glass of wine and feet up in front of the log burner tonight will reboot the brain! I think the problem over the last 24 hours is that it seems to have been that I was unable to process the english to Welsh and then the Welsh that I heard was an unintelligible jumble of unknowns so moving on I’ll continue to be a dedicated non-pauser and if the jumble comes again, take a learning rest for a day instead.
Onwards afresh tomorrow and I might go back and review the previous lesson to ease into it again. Momentary panic over!!
Also a good idea! Let your subsconscious sort out the information it has received so that it can “gel” while you’re not watching.
I once had a break for several days because I was frustrated at how short the pauses were… when I re-did the lesson afterwards, they suddenly seemed a lot longer. I think my brain just needed that “downtime” to consolidate the “jumble of unknowns”!
For what it’s worth, I’ve struggled lately too due to tiredness. Completely agree with @philipnewton about taking a little break to allow consolidation.
Pob lwc 
I’ve just redone virtually the whole of level three in a week or so after a five month break.
In the meantime i’ve had a welsh speaking weekend, learnt lots of new words, go to saith seren most weeks, spoken welshi in cafes and pubs, watch a bit of welsh telly, listen to the radio, read tye news and generally try to translate things.
I still make so many mistakes but it is much better.
I don’t use the pause button and sometimes i forget completely what i waa supposed to be saying.
I cant think in welsh, i lose the thread. But after just over seven months i’m pretty certain the method works.
So dal ati. And well done so far.
It broadly seems that people who start the process without the pause button get used to not using it - it might even be a neurological adaptation - and I think it has huge benefits, so worth sticking with that approach, even though there will always be occasional tough patches…
I don’t think its neurological…just sheer bloody mindedness!
it reminds me of things like stabilisers when riding a bike. Or armbands when swimming.
We rely on things so much we worry more when they are not there. I think one of the reasons children struggle less too. They don’t have the same worries about failure or need for support. Its like the ability to take a risk. With risk comes failure AND reward…as we age we don’t take the risk…and neither do we reap the reward.