Nigel

I’ve been using SSiW for about a year now and supplement it with Duolingo. I started the whole Welsh learning process about 2 years ago.

I was brought up in Wales in the 60s and 70s, but in my schooldays, I found that Welsh was taught in English medium schools as an academic exercise rather than as a spoken colloquial language. Obviously, some bits stuck, but I was unable to understand or have a conversation with anyone.

So the trigger for me to learn the language after nearly 50 years of disinterest was that my 2 granddaughters started in Welsh medium education. I felt that this was the opportunity I needed to properly embrace the language. I felt that it was important to be able to talk to them in their own (and my) language.

The good news is that with the help of SSiW, I can, albeit at a fairly basic level, hold a conversation with them. Even if it is at the level of “what did you do in school today?”, “What are you doing at the weekend?” “Did you enjoy the show at the Millennium Centre?” etc.

I also now take every opportunity to talk to Welsh speakers I meet. Little opportunity in Swansea, but more further West. I can always find someone at the bird watching place in Penclacwydd to say ” dylech chi fod wedi bod yma bum munud yn ôl”

It’s a continuing long journey, the greatest difficulty being extending my vocabulary. The key for me in getting this far is constant repetition, as I find it difficult to retain words I come across infrequently. I’m hopeful that there will be extensions to the SSiW course to introduce newer vocabulary.

I sometimes confuse coffee shop people with my garbled requests (e.g. when I confused “hardd” with “hawdd” the other day), but I’ve now reached the point at my age where I’m beyond embarrassment.

Good luck everyone!