SaySomethinginWelsh.com

Sounds as though you've pretty much cracked it...

When you're too knackered to take in fresh material, I strongly recommend the listening practices - you're not meant to do anything but just hear them, and let it wash over you - but they make a real difference...

Time for a progress report...

I've now worked my way through lesson 19, I'm going to run through it again in fast speed tonight before moving on to lesson 20.

But my big success was last weekend, I played in a charity rugby game for Gwladrugby.com against Clwb Rugby Cymru Caerdydd the welsh language rugby club based in Cardiff. We got hammered but managed to raise money for charity which was the purpose of the get together.

After the game we went back to the CRCC clubhouse, which is a welsh language oasis. As most learners know welsh speakers often switch to English out of politeness, not in the CRCC clubhouse they don't, once I'd explained I was a learner the conversation was almost entirely in welsh. It reminded me of being in France where no one speeks English, fair play every one was really patient, but I left feeling ten feet tall that I'd managed to use so much of the Welsh I'd learn't. Obviously the beer may have helped.

http://www.clwbrygbi.com/location.html

Lostontheoggin wrote:Obviously the beer may have helped.

A key part of all language learning...

Aran wrote:

Lostontheoggin wrote:Obviously the beer may have helped.

A key part of all language learning...

He's not kidding. Of if he is, he shouldn't be. My eldest daughter, who spends a lot of time researching such things on the internet, swears that a frequent suggestion for how to improve your speaking skills on language learning boards etc. is:

find a drinking establishment where they speak your target language
go there
drink
speak the language

jstetson wrote:

find a drinking establishment where they speak your target language
go there
drink
speak the language

Anyone who can do that once a week would be functionally fluent inside six months, I'd reckon.

Now no longer learning Welsh on the Holyhead to Dublin Ferry, i'm now working on the Fishguard Rosslare ferry which means a lot less travel to and from work and the welsh spoken is South Walian as well. Making slow porgress as Ive been so busy with work so I'm still on lesson 22 which I've been going over and over when I get a minute.

All going well though, interesting thing is that people who don't know I'm a learner and have heard me speaking welsh to the welsh speakers onboard have said 'You speak Welsh don't you' which gave me a bit of a boost.

Lostontheoggin wrote:All going well though, interesting thing is that people who don't know I'm a learner and have heard me speaking welsh to the welsh speakers onboard have said 'You speak Welsh don't you' which gave me a bit of a boost.

I feel the urge to give you a traditional Aran verbal slap for that - you ARE a Welsh speaker if people have heard you speaking Welsh!

It is definitely the case that SSiW gets you punching above your weight in being believed to be a fluent Welsh speaker, because it gets you pronouncing what you can say better than a traditional learning method.

Lostontheoggin wrote:All going well though, interesting thing is that people who don't know I'm a learner and have heard me speaking welsh to the welsh speakers onboard have said 'You speak Welsh don't you' which gave me a bit of a boost.

Good man! Remember, it's your duty to Gogify them now...

You are joking Aran, I'm a Cardiff boy, I'm smuggling in Clarkes Pies and cheese and onion baps.

Hmm, just a random thought - I've always fancied a ferry trip to Ireland. I wonder if an SSiW weekend outing would be a possibility? Go over on the Saturday, come back Sunday .... of course I haven't checked how long the ferry takes or how much it costs or anything, though I did hear you can use Tesco vouchers