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[RedGreenInBlue]

I mentioned elsewhere that I've booked accommodation for the Parti Penblwydd SSiW in Aberystwyth. I just wanted to say that I'd been putting it off for a few days before daring to pick up the phone, because I felt I ought to do this phone call in Welsh if possible.

Anyway, I called the gwesty, and after initially lapsing Into English, managed to say when I wanted to stay "yr unfed ar hugain o Ionawr, am un nos" and diolch i'r drefn, the owner understood - "nos Sadwrn?" meddai hi

Unfortunately at that moment I got cut off and had to ring her back. And I don't quite know where it came from, but I was saying, "sori, fi oedd ar y ffôn munud yn ôl - wnaeth rwydwaith fy ffôn symudol ddiflannu!" (well, I'm fairly sure that's what came out) and then I sort of panicked a bit and had to switch to English. But she was very nice about it, and said that she has admiration for learners because Welsh is so difficult to learn. I have to admit I was tempted to say, "But it's not!" But I thought I wouldn't argue with someone who sounded so nice and who let me practise my Welsh on her! And I'm sure she'll hear about SSiW sooner or later…

[Dee]

That is seriously brave! I think it is so much harder to speak another language on the phone when you dont have all the visual clues and body language to help you. Brilliant!

[Iestyn]

Exactly what Dee said!

Da iawn ti - you have set the marker for visiting now, and it will be far easier for you to bully such a lovely lady into speaking Welsh with you while you stay with her.

[vgh50]

I agree with Dee, Peter, that's quite an incredible milestone you've reached to have the confidence to speak to a total stranger...on the phone!!

Brilliant, I'm in bewildered awe of your achievement!! I thought I was quite close to your level of Welsh, but now I think not...very impressive!!

[TygerC]

Really awesome. I still stress every time I have to call somewhere and speak English...

[Bryn-Daf]

Gwesty'r Marine Per chance?

[Aran]

Speaking on the phone is the single most difficult task in a learnt language - well, simultaneous translation aside...

I can remember being very uncomfortable on the phone for a long, long time after I was completely relaxed in face-to-face conversations - as Dee says, all those non-verbal clues are such a huge help, being without them is like having the stabilisers taken off your bike without warning...

Felly, llongyfarchiadau mawrion mawr i ti!...

[RedGreenInBlue]

Thanks for all your replies! I should point out that (a) I only dared ring after reading on the forum that the owner was nice and friendly (unlike BekB's experience!), and (b) I had to draw up a list of useful words, e.g. "book", "available", "how much", "bathroom".

Oh, and before the phone call I decided that I wasn't going to say that I was learning Welsh, and just neidio i fewn - but I just couldn't stop myself saying "sori, dw i'n dysgu'r Gymraeg"! (Is it an English thing to apologise for learning another language? )

[sumsmeister]

The thing is Peter, is that you can probably dispense with the "Learner" tag, because you're an improver and will only get better!

[my_cat_silky]

I agree, Peter, that you can definitely dispense with the "learner" tag (not that being a learner is anything to be ashamed of, and of course we are always learning all our lives - I still come across English words I hadn't known existed! ). Yet if our recent conversations are anything to go by, you are well at the advanced end of the learning scale, I would say! And well done for having the courage to speak on the phone - I found that even when speaking face to face with Welsh speakers, I was sorely tempted to shift back into Saesneg, and I imagine it would be even more tempting to do so on the phone when you can't see who you are talking to! The fact that this lovely lady clearly understood you must have given you a real thrill, I imagine, and you were no doubt thinking to yourself afterwards that you were glad you had taken such a huge step in speaking to a perfect stranger on the phone, because now you know that you will be able to do it again!