We moved to Valley, Anglesey in March and for the first time as a learner I found myself in the midst of a Welsh speaking environment. I’ve had encouragement and praise from local Welsh speakers when I have tried to communicate, and was able to carry on a basic conversation with a few people. However, as time progressed and I heard more people talking (e.g. Pobl o Cwm) I was able to discern a few phrases etc. here and there, but there was a huge amount of material I was unfamiliar with, and even worse, words and expressions that I should have known (i.e. covered on the course) but had forgotten!
I’m sure a lot of you have been through this stage and I would appreciate any advice you could give, helpful lot that I know you are!
I have just completed Course 3 and have started Level 1, but am still doing lesson 25 once a week. I thought Level was perhaps a little too easy at first but I’m now finding that it covers a lot of useful material which I don’t remember coming across on the earlier courses. I’m finding it particularly useful as it covers a lot of vocabulary you would use as a learner. For example, if you identify yourself as a Welsh learner, the person you are talking to would naturally ask how long you’ve been learning.
At the moment I’m trying to keep busy with the course and taking some solace in this wise Welsh saying:
Bob un cam, cer mla ‘n’… “with each step go forward”
Maybe I should pin it on my wall!
Regards
Pat
Awesome - you sound like you’re doing really well. I moved from Cardiff to Newcastle Emlyn last October and, like you, have had nothing but support from the local Welsh speakers when I try out my Welsh on them. I think it’s just about confidence and practice now isn’t it? Especially if you have finished course 3. Are you listening to radio Cymru too? I have always found Pobl yn Cwm too difficult to follow, but used to watch the children’s programmes on S4c (Noddy, Sali Mali etc) and found them quite useful. I always remind people that I am learning and ask them to speak slowly for me!
Thanks Morgs
I’ve started listening to Radio Cymru and its much easier to follow than Pobol y Cwm.
Thanks for your good advice you’re a good 'un!
Regards
Pat
I would listen to the radio as Morgs suggested, I do that a lot here where I am because there are difficulties accessing British TV, which is uniquely hard to access from overseas for some reason. I think radio is a great medium for learning - you can close your eyes and follow the words so closely. Also, songs & music are a nice way to keep the same words fresh in your mind.
I had an interesting Welsh in the Wild experience today, although not in Wales, but in the “wilds” of the Oxfordshire/Gloucestershire border area.
I was on the monthly group walk that I and my wife take part in, and in the afternoon, an older gentleman who is no longer fit enough for the whole walk, but who comes to the lunch, came with us for the afternoon. I had known he was Welsh, and guessed he spoke Welsh, but I was always too shy to attempt to speak to him. However, he heard I was learning, and actually started speaking to me in Welsh last month, although we didn’t have long.
Today, we had time for a much longer conversation which I enjoyed. He is interesting, because he grew up in a Welsh speaking community, and speaks Welsh when he goes back “home”, but has lived outside Wales for much longer than he ever lived there, and doesn’t really get much practice, and is a bit rusty when it comes to vocabulary.
He says he quite likes speaking to me because it forces him to dredge up words from his memory that he hasn’t used for ages, and sometimes I am occasionally able to remind him of something, and of course he teaches me new words.
He’s actively trying to get back his Welsh, and of course I pointed him to SSiW, but so far, I don’t think he thinks it’s the style of course he needs.
The funny thing is, today, as we were going past what I think is a National Trust Property, there was someone near the gate (possibly who worked there) who turned out to be Welsh, and we all had a bit of a siarad. He was from the “wrong” part of Wales, and they both had a laugh about that, but he was pleasantly flabbergasted to encounter 2 Welsh speakers going past in the heart of the English countryside! 