…and so, I have continued with my listening experiment ( on another time challenged week…unfortunately) - this week I carried on listening rather than looking at the transcript.
This wasn’t any sort of plan but I got the sense when listening that there were relatively few words I didn’t understand. I have however found it challenging because of the speed…
I had a few experiences where it goes through my speed threshold - a strange sensation where I go from hanging-on-in-there - understanding a conversation and ‘hearing’ the meaning …to suddenly being outside of the conversation and hearing someone speaking in Welsh - it’s very strange - presumably I’m not alone here?
I have found that in short bursts I had substantially understood different sections. I’ve just confirmed this by looking at the transcript. We had been warned about gedru!..and there were a few other words which weren’t show stoppers.
I think that this is luck as nothing too specialist was discussed. I am listening to Radio Cymru more and more and I still have patchy understanding so still a lot to do. Obviously on this one despite having a reasonable hit rate on the words, I still couldn’t quite understand it due to speed.
Nevertheless, once again, this feels like progress - of sorts.
Bear in mind that in my opinion, that the bar is set quite high with these Sgwrsau. Otherwise we wouldnt be learning anything. I’d say going straight in without forewarning of the subject or repeats without having read the transcrips is a fair task.
I also listen to some public podcasts, which are aimed at a wide geographical audience, so use fairly toned-down dialect. These seem quite easy to understand after the sgwrsau.
Just to say Dal ati stick with it. No gain without pain and all that.
Oh yes definitely - its an upward and onward, dal ati, situation - in fact with a fairly scribble free transcript there is no question of ongoing progress (albeit that it is subject dependent and there will be good weeks and bad weeks).
Yes I agree - I think the bar is high - and accompanied by a transcript and translation that is perfect isn’t it…the opportunity to wrestle a real world conversation to the ground!
I feel now that I would really like to listen to radio Cymru all day - which of course isn’t possible - so it comes down to how to make absolutely the best use of the time you do have available…and creatively thinking of new ways to create more - I now listen to Geraint Lloyd after 10 in evenings on my phone/ headphones whilst winding down for the day ( without disturbing anyone!) , for example.
I am generally following Aran’s comprehensible input tip (subconscious learning) and so trying to focus on speaking, listening and reading…ie using the language not learning via rote…,so these are my priorities.
It is (just!) a question of reeling in a wider vocab and improving my listening speed. Simples!
As you say dal ati - I am enjoying progress and is starting to get exciting (cautiously)…
