So, I was too tired last night to write an update and now I feel like I’m cheating writing in English!
Summary of the day:
Got kids ready for school, usual rushing and shouting. Disappointed to discover I am not a better mother in Welsh. Still ended up standing at the door shouting “Shoes, Teeth, Coats, Bags!” but just in Welsh!
Walking to and from school was interesting because everyone forgot I was doing the challenge, called “Good Morning” then when I answered in Welsh, most people looked horrified, apologised and said “Bore da!”. The children thought it was hilarious.
Set off through the biblical rain into town to meet Jenny from this forum. Unfortunately there are hazards involved when two learners make arrangements in their new language. We discovered that there are two ‘Bodlons’ and two ‘Hen Llyfrgell’ in Cardiff. I was in the one in the city centre whilst Jenny was waiting in the one in Whitchurch! Luckily we managed to meet eventually and had a good chat for about an hour and a half with hardly any English words at all. Great to meet a fellow learner!
Left Jenny straight for my next meeting with a local friend and fellow school mum, Victoria. Victoria has lived around here all her life, has a first language Welsh speaking husband and family and is very good at Welsh herself but lacks confidence. She invited me over to support me and help us both practice our Welsh. We had a great gossip and again used almost no English words (the dictionary was on the table for emergencies).
In the car throughout the day I listened to Radio Cymru. Initially I found it frustrating and couldn’t understand what was happening. I think I was trying to translate everything in my head and couldn’t keep up. When I relaxed and just let it wash over me I realised I could just about follow what was going on and listened to a discussion about new and interesting vegetables(!), the potential new collaboration between Catrin Finch and Robbie Williams, fundraising for Shelter Cymru and a lady having seemingly endless coffee in Bridgend.
Picked up kids from school and attempted to do my bobsled challenge from the day before with them. I struggled to explain what was required, they didn’t really understand but very enthusiastically came up with a play of sorts, which they insisted on performing very boisterously. I think I failed that challenge but I had fun trying!
My husband came home from work and did his best to speak Welsh with me and encourage me to keep speaking it to him although our elder son ended up translating here and there.
Put kids to bed and watched S4C together with subtitles.
Exhausted!
My main feelings at the end of the day are:
pride that I have managed to speak Welsh for a whole day, totally breaking my 5 minute barrier!
surprise that I managed to have interesting conversations as I anticipated being limited to talking about boring things as that would be all my limited vocabulary allows.
shock that I actually often forgot I was speaking Welsh and it started to come more naturally
enthusiasm to keep going with this and really improve my Welsh!
Apologies for the extremely lengthy post. I’m just a bit excited. I’ll try not to get so carried away next time!
Mae’n ddrwg gen i! I keep reading about bobsled challenge. I have decided it doesn’t actually involve a bobsled, so, er, beth ydy hi?
Oh, re-dydd un, - ardderchog, a diolch for being willing to come here and tell us about it in English!
ok. Bobsled run - in short - is kind of mini bootcamp where you get every day different challenge you have to fulfill. The instructions come on your e-mail and you have to follow them. Of course this is one of the features which are payable. All about bobsled run you can read here. There are all info you need to know.
Da iawn ti! I agree with @margaretnock, please share as much as you like and get carried away! It’s wonderful to hear all about your challenge and your excitement!
I’m sure you don’t mean to come across as being impatient or ungrateful here, Peter - this is probably one of those situations where text-based communication just needs a little bit more emphatic politeness - like, for example, thanking Tatjana for taking the time to share the information she did, before focusing on what you feel hasn’t been answered (by me, rather than Tatjana, since she didn’t write that page).
Oops - probably one of those other situations where text-based comms needs a little bit more emphatic politeness, like, er, actually getting someone’s name right…
They’re more like this than the green beans… Designed to push you out of your comfort zone and into active use of the language - but also to be achievable for beginners yet open to scaling up for more confident learners…
I didn’t but I’ve read a lot about other’s experiences to be tempted to try, but time is usually not my friend as I’m on the way most of the time. Here’s one of such experiences to give you idea and taste.
I found this rather tempting, as curious as I am, and (almost) willing to try. This is the driving machine of actually trying, isn’t it? - being curious enough to try.
@aran I’m sorry to give info before you have written anything but I all of a sudden felt people are too eager to know, this should wait. Maybe i need some of above said/written warning/reminder too.
Thanks Tatjana, sorry I didn’t explain what the bobsled challenge is. I decided the five day one would fit nicely with my own five day challenge. Each day you get two emails from Aran, one to tell you to do a new SSIW lesson and one with a different challenge each day. I have described my challenges so far. I think they are great, for the sum of £15 it works out as £3 per challenge - less than a coffee in Costa or a zumba class in my local leisure centre, and much more useful!
It’s a tricky balance, because it’s entirely normal to cut to the chase like that with good friends, and one of the things we’re always glad to see is when people feel that this is a community of friends - and yet at the same time we have to bear in mind that lots of people are reading the threads who don’t actually post themselves, and don’t know who is or isn’t in a ‘friend zone’ of communication…
There is no clear line - but it’s always hugely encouraging when I offer a fine-tune and it is accepted so gracefully and warmly - diolch yn fawr iawn
