Steve, Linda and Jane from Newport share their experiences of learning Welsh - and why they've come all the way up to Pen Llŷn to do it.

Why did you decide to learn Welsh?
Steve: I came to Wales three years ago from Newcastle. I thought everyone in Wales spoke Welsh - it's Wales, all the signs are in Welsh, so they speak Welsh!

Then I discovered that not everyone could. So we began to go to classes and met others who were learning Welsh and it was really sociable.

I learnt about things you don't get in English, like cynghanedd (a traditional form of Welsh poetry). It was like entering a different world. I'm still a dreadful cynganeddwr (writer of the strict meter verse) but I can definitely appreciate it.

How have you chosen to learn Welsh?
Jane: I gave up work for a year! I did do a university course at the same time, but really I was learning Welsh.

It was a great help. I attended the Wlpan eight week course in Lampeter - they say after that course, you will have reached GCSE level.

But speaking to those fluent in Welsh is different to speaking to other learners - they speak far more quickly and mix Welsh and English all the time.

So you rely on other people to be patient with you. Some aren't, but some are and they realise you're not fluent and they're really helpful. But it's important people don't slow down too much or you'll never learn Welsh properly!

What are the benefits of learning Welsh?
Linda: The Newport Eisteddfod (2004) was the first I'd ever been to. I worked in the learners' tent and it was a fantastic experience. I met people from all over the world - including a man from Yorkshire (where I'm originally from) who was learning Welsh - so we were speaking Welsh to each other.

Have you taken any formal Welsh exams?
We've done 'Using Welsh' and 'Using Welsh for Adults - advanced'.

How much Welsh are you able to use on a day to day basis?
Steve: Speaking Welsh over the phone is quite hard because you can't see the other person to interact with them. You call up, they say 'bore da' and so you tart speaking Welsh - but they can't actually speak Welsh.

There's more Welsh spoken in Cardiff than Newport, probably because of the effect of the National Assembly. So I get more of a chance to use it there.

Linda: In my local Indian restaurant, I began speaking Welsh to a girl from my Welsh classes. A man in the table next to us heard us speaking Welsh and joined in - it was great!

When living in England were you aware of the Welsh language?
Steve: I used to come to Wales a lot to climb in the mountains and I met lots of people who spoke Welsh. I was determined to learn the language but I didn't get the opportunity in England - so I just bought the T-shirt! But then I moved to Wales and decided I would give it a go.

Jane: My mother's family were from Anglesey and as a little girl I remember a great aunt who couldn't speak any English at all - this was the first time I'd realised that not everyone in the world spoke English.

If you could offer one piece of advice to a learner, what would it be?
Linda: I've come across a lot of people who want to speak Welsh, but don't want to read or write in Welsh. But it's really important to do everything to get a proper grip on the language.

It's really important to listen and to read to understand the construction of sentences.

Steve: You can sit in the house by yourself reading a book - you can't always have someone to talk Welsh to!

What are your future thoughts on learning Welsh?
Jane: Move to north Wales - this is the only way to get really fluent in my opinion. My family were from north Wales and it was such a disappointment to learn that the only word I knew in Welsh - nain (grandmother) - wasn't used where I lived in south Wales. That's why I came to Nant Gwrtheyrn to hear more north Walian Welsh. It can be really confusing for learners because words are pronounced differently in different areas - even on tapes for learners. Also, come to Nant Gwrtheyrn. It's a beautiful, incredible, historical place. There are no distractions - only great food, great wine and really good tutors. I hadn't been to Welsh classes in over three years and this has given a my Welsh a real boost.