Dechrau newydd - new start
Post categories: Learning Welsh
| 22:30 UK time, Thursday, 11 January 2007
Our learners' class at Mold restarted tonight after the Christmas break and, rhaid i mi deud [I must say], it wasn't too bad getting back in the swing of things. The hardest thing, I find, is getting there. This is a self-imposed three hour dosbarth nos [night class] - I've been learning for four years - and this group is great fun. But I need your help!
We're studying Cwrs Uwch [higher course] through Bangor University - it's apparently the equivalent to Lower Sixth in school.
I thought I'd start this new category in the North East Wales Weblog to talk through some of the issues we dysgwyr [learners] have and maybe we could help eachother.
I've set myself a challenge - fancy joining me - to be able to comfortably siarad in Cymraeg [speak in Welsh] when the National Eisteddfod comes to my town of Mold this August - brave words or what?
Perhaps you could give me a llaw [hand], and vice versa?
My problem is I need to move from Wenglish to Welsh. I've adopted a kind of mix of both languages. Yes, you have to start somewhere.
My Welsh geirfa [vocab] is ddim yn drwg [not bad] but it's the more conversational Welsh that I need to improve upon - speaking in sentences not words - and that's why 'dechraues i the dosbarth mis Haf diwetha' [I started the class last September].
Wnei di fy helpu i - gobeithio?! Will you help me - I hope so?!
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~54~RS~)
Syniad da (Good idea).
Lots of learners have started blogging in Welsh to improve/practice their written Welsh.
One of the problems for learners in south east Wales, which I'm sure is the same in the extreme north east, is that it's difficult to practice your oral Welsh outside of the classroom unless you know other Welsh speakers.
Do you attend some of the informal 'chat' evenings at the Ruthin Castle pub in Mold, that are organised by Menter Iaith Sir y Fflint?
(it might be worth posting all the Sesiynau Sgwrs (cahtting Sessions) in a future blog post)
One person who does is Neil (Clecs Cilgwri = Tales from the Wirral) from the Wirral. Another way that Neil parctices his Welsh is making videos on YouTube, which are relly interesting, particulary the one of him in his workshop.
You could also help me with a wiki I've started in preperation for the Eisteddfod (see here). As you can see it's all going to be in Welsh, but even if you don't feel confident enough to post on it, I'd really appreciate suggestions on places to eat/drink/stay in the area as I'm not all that familiar with Y Wyddgrug, being from Denbigh originally and having moved away 10 years ago.
If you want to read welsh blogs, then the Blogiadur is the place.
Hwyl
Diolch yn fawr, Rhys. Dwi'n cytuno [I agree]. With the National Eisteddfod coming to Mold, and the need to raise cash to host the event, there are lots of social activities going on where a learner can practice - but I need to pluck up the courage! BTW, mwynhaeais [I enjoyed] Neil's film, Lyla, gwestai arbennig [Lyla, special guest] about his ci bach [puppy].