If you tell someone your plan to do something you’re more likely to actually do it, so I thought it’d be nice to share our plans for how we’re doing to learn Welsh this year.
I’m going to focus on properly memorising all the auxiliary verbs, particularly the conditionals (would, could, should, etc). I obviously know the ones I use all the time, but the more rarely used ones and the conditionals in general are not all on the tip of my tongue when I need them, so I need to properly internalise them.
I’m also going to conquer the structure where the object comes before the verbnoun and has to use a pronoun, which is explained in this video:
I’ve already started going through some of the books I’ve got to highlight this structure when I see it, so that I can more easily recognise it and can use it fluently myself.
And finally, I’m going to write another book for intermediate learners!
I first discovered SSiW in 2011 and fell in love with it. However, I haven’t really committed to becoming fluent in Welsh, because I’m American and haven’t been able to make it across the pond yet. I’ve done a refresher here and there over the years, though.
But this year, I want to commit to fluency. I’ve always wanted to speak my ancestral languages (including Welsh), and I’m ready to buckle down. I’m hoping to attend an online workshop in May, and by then I should be caught up.
I also look forward to practicing other languages on Automagic, especially French, German, Japanese, and Irish (another ancestral language!). I can’t wait to see what other languages you add. (Swedish and Scottish Gaelic would be nice! )
Gentle reader, I did not, in fact, conquer auxiliary verbs and that weird echo structure, but I DID write a second book, which is nearly finished.
I’m also watching a lot more TV, got a subscription to Golwg so am challenging myself with some more advanced reading, and have spent more time updating my still rather ugly but useful nevertheless website, https://clwbmalucachu.co.uk/
My learning plan for 20206 remains to conquer those pesky auxiliary verbs and that weird echo structure!! Oh, and to read more and write more.
I reckon if you read more and write more, and watch more TV and listen to more radio, those pesky auxiliary verbs and that weird echo structure will sort themselves out. I found after a while that things just started to “sound” right. It did help to get people to correct my writing (and I still do that) - every red mark is a learning opportunity!
Absolutely. Working with a professional editor on my books has really helped, because it’s highlighting areas where I am making consistent mistakes, which means I can then address those directly.
Interestingly, though, most of the edits are for word choice – we’re currently having an interesting chat about the meaning of ‘grass’!
In the year before covid I had a private tutor. We would meet for a couple of hours once a month. In between times I would write a piece, 500-750 words and email it to him. To start off with he would correct the work and bring it to our next meeting. When we realised that 50% of the mistakes were the same mistakes, month after month, we changed the practice to him underlining the mistakes and us then discussing them. Having the mistake pointed out made it easy for me to correct half of them.
I’m not planning quite so far ahead as 20206 but next year I intend to finish the Old Course, and keep up with my Dysgu Cymraeg Uwch 1 course by actually doing the homework. For reasons of health and mental processing issues, speaking and listening during class is fairly easy (although very tiring) for me, while reading and writing take a lot more effort and concentration. I’m trying to get a balance between keeping up with some literary Welsh, and not increasing my problems with stress over falling behind.
Fortunately, the only homework over Christmas is “Watch S4C / listen to Radio Cymru / just do something to keep your Welsh active.” Which I do anyway, because I’m hooked on Pobol y Cwm!
I want to get my French to a level I’d survive a Bootcamp with. I’m at the infinite play level on the course but there’s a few things I’m constantly stumbling over (like the correct use of ‘what’ as there seems a dozen different ways to say it). Also boost my French vocab to give me more range.
I also need to firstly get my Welsh back to where it was before COVID, so I’m doing a very fast run through the course with a lot of skipping. And then build on that with listening to Welsh media to get to the point it’s not a challenge to watch a programme and follow along.
If I understand the app “course” correctly, getting to infinite play in a language means you are well beyond the old “Level 1” standard of the original audio courses. (I think it’s beyond Level 3, even!) You therefore absolutely could survive a Bootcamp, and what you need to do is increase your confidence in that fact, more than you need to learn more French. Time to book a trip!
Hmm. One thing the Levels 1 - 3 never taught me was some standard phrases for booking hotels, ordering tickets, etcetera. I’m pretty sure I didn’t even learn the word “to book/order” (archebu) from SSi. Does the app fill this little gap now, or must you use your own initiative?
I think perhaps the difference for me is I went to my first bootcamp with courses 1 and 2 under my belt, but I also had a fair amount of vocab I’d learnt in school or just absorbed from growing up with Welsh around me
As I really didn’t do much French in school I started with almost a blank slate with SSiF. Yes, I’d survive a Bootcamp but I think it’d be much tougher.
Saying that, my first bootcamp was over 14 years ago so I’m probably remembering it differently to how it actually was.
I just finished Level 2 of SsiW and Aaron’s congratulatory comment at the end brought me to tears. It’s taken me 10 months to complete it and alongside the Dysgu Cymraeg course I’m starting to feel I can hack my way through simple conversations. This year I plan to carry on with the next 2 levels, go on my second weekend in Llanbedr-San-Steffan, and as many camping trips in Cymru as I can manage, as well as continuing online chats with Welsh speaking chums. (I’m living in Shrewsbury, so…)
Thanks Aran, Catrin and everyone who’s helped and encouraged me. I’m completely in love with Cymraeg.
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but next year I intend to finish the Old Course, and keep up with my Dysgu Cymraeg Uwch 1 course by actually doing the homework. For reasons of health and mental processing issues, speaking and listening during class is fairly easy (although very tiring) for me, while reading and writing take a lot more effort and concentration. I’m trying to get a balance between keeping up with some literary Welsh, and not increasing my problems with stress over falling behind.
Time to book a trip!