Itās going to be great to hear how the journey goes for you - itās often particularly entertaining when people have got a fair bit of passive Welsh to begin withā¦
Lots of people use Duolingo and SSiW - some have a preference, others see it as a horses for courses kind of thing - so donāt worry, however you choose to go will be goodā¦
North or southā¦ I donāt think it matters in terms of fitting with Duolingo, itās more about you and how you feelā¦ your sense of belonging to the south inclines me to think thatās the best way forward for you, because youāll adapt to northernisms easily enough if you find yourself living up here (you can also do selected challenges from the northern course, and the northern listening work, to help you adapt when necessary)ā¦
Keep us posted on how it goes! And whereās your mother? Catrin and I are just outside Carmel, Stine is in Penygroes, Beca is in Llanrug, so āfoot of Snowdonā is pretty much SSiW territoryā¦
Many thanks for your welcome Aran - lovely to be a part of this! I have just completed day three of the one sentence programme and the buzz I got from being able to to say it all in one go by the end was amazing! 30 seconds of fluency feels just great even if I am completely stuck thereafter at the moment!!
My mother lives in Brynrefail so only just around the corner and, bizarrely, having explored the site a little more, her partner runs a small business at Parc Menai - so a very small world! I actually lived in Llanberis for a couple of years back in the early 90s when I was doing a lot of climbing and mountaineering and it is definitely where I would like to end up again one day.
I have, after doing lesson three both ways, settled on the South Wales version for now as it just āfeltā more familiar and, as you say, I think it will just make it easier for me to learn because the rhythms and accent are more ingrained and familiar - speaking it is like slipping into a known yet not known pattern - but I know any Northern variations will be easy to come by and understand in time.
Kindest regards and many thanks for such an amazing resource
Ros
Hallo, Iām Sue, Iām 68 and Iāve been learning Welsh since I was a child, but I still feel like a beginner. I was born and grew up in London but my Nain and her sister, who were first language Welsh speakers, lived with us. Theyād talk to each other in Cymraeg when they didnāt want the rest of the family to know what they said! I learnt only a few words from them, but I did learn to pronounce. Wind forward 50 years, and my husband and I agreed weād move to Wales when we retired. By now we were living in Sussex and there were no classes I could get to, but the London Welsh Centre pointed me to Nant Gwrtheyrn, and for the next few years I went there for a course every year. Six years ago, we came to live in Llandudno, and we love it. Since weāve lived here, Iāve
attended weekly classes.
Hi everyone. SSI was recommended to me by a teacher friend and Iāve just joined. Apologies for not having read through all of this thread, but I hope to get to know you all by and by.
Iām German and have lived in Llangattock near Crickhowell for the last seven years. Not exactly a Welsh-speaking area, so my attempts at picking something up on the go havenāt been successful. Hubby and I have tried a course, but Iām sorry to say it bored us out of our minds, so here I am!
I did the first eight of Aranās Lockdown Welsh sessions on YouTube last night and enjoyed them very much! Iāve got a question though: In one of your ālead-in documentsā you say how learning by translation is so difficult and ineffective (with which Iāve always agreed, having been a language teacher and teacher trainer myself - as you know, the most difficult customers, haha ā¦). However, the one-sentence method here involves translating from English all the time - how does that add up?
I love the āchunkingā that seems to be a central part of your method, and the NOT focussing on grammar. I work as a copy editor for a language education publisher these days, and the fact that even new coursebooks still revolve around grammar topics just drives me to distraction. Many colleagues agree, but unfortunately itās what the customers (i.e. the language teachers) want.
Sorry about the tangent rant. It was actually meant as praise by contrast!
So - Dw iān edrych ymlaen at dysgu Cymraeg Ć¢ chi!
Hi, everyone, Iām a bit shy, so bare with me. I have just started the taster course, if someone had told me I would be able to say these sentences a few days ago, I wouldnāt have believed them. It just sort of works, I donāt know how though! I have been trying to learn Welsh for years, my grandchildren speak Welsh as their first language, and I want to speak with them. I know I have a long way to go, but Iām so enjoying the taster lessons. Iām going to sign up for the course. I want to wish everyone good luck, and also weāll done.
Hi everyone! Just completed day 3 & I have got the biggest smile on my face!!! I am absolutely loving learning the beautiful Welsh language (or should I say, yr iaith Gymraeg ).
Iāve chosen to learn the South Wales option, as my family are originally from Llywnypia (maternal grandmother & her sister). What options have others chosen & why?
Hello Victoria, I think you sent me a message asking how things were going, I couldnāt find where to click reply as it sent me here, I apologise as Iām not good with new sites. Iām glad to see youāre enjoying the course, its encouraging for people like me who have tried to learn Welsh for years and not got anywhere. Like you Iām smiling and so proud of myself, and thatās only after the taster! Iāve chosen North region as thatās my home. Good luck.
Iām new to the site. Iāve started learning Welsh because my Grandmother lived in Wales and my Mum was born there. They didnāt speak any Welsh around me, but Iām hoping to move there one day. I love the sound of Welsh and I love Wales. Iām enjoying Say Something loads so far - after my first five days. Iāve been trying Duolingo but it doesnāt feel very satisfyingā¦
Hi there! Iāve finally moved to the beautiful Gower which is where Iāve always considered home to be having been coming here my whole life and my mum being from here. Learning Welsh has been on my bucket list for far too many years but I have finally taken the first steps and completed Day 1. Your website was recommended by a friend of mine who is willing to help me practice my Welsh as I go through the course. Through learning the language I am looking forward to becoming more connected to my heritage and hoping to play a small part in keeping this language alive! Iām excited to be a part of this community
Hi. I was born in Pontycymmer, lived in Swansea and Rhyl till I was 18, learned to speak Welsh up to āOālevel standard but then moved to England (Harrogate at present) where Iāve lived for the last 50 years. Iāve always wanted to relearn & reclaim my ability to speak Welsh and Iām surprised after three sessions how many words I remember although itās a bit of a struggle sometimes, but enjoying the challenge.
Wow @wynn-james I live in Harrogate! There are loads of learners and speakers in Yorkshire - we are zooming every Saturday at the moment - but you are the first (well second!) in Harrogate on SSIW to my knowledge!
Iām new to the forum (not even sure how to post) I did 2 years in college 2 nights a week about 7 years ago and came away with lots of words for āthingsā but not much glue to pop them in a sentence. I started SsiW about 18 months ago but didnāt get past challenge 3 due to a lack of commitment then in March this year, the start of our lockdown, I decided that I would pick it up and run with it. It frustrates me that Iām still not able to hold a conversation despite living in Anglesey the past 11 years and living with a Welsh farmer.
Anyway, its just now Iāve visited the forum and already Iāve learnt Iām doing it wrong Iāve been going through each lesson about 3 times until Iām pretty much word perfect and Iāve just read that that isnāt necessary.
Iām currently at Level 2 challenge 5 so have quite a bit of language in the bank but with a lack of confidence, donāt use it (my other half being unhelpful and looks at me like Iām demented if I try) however, my reason for visiting the forum today was to tell someone that last night (after a glass of wine) i put my big girl pants on and ordered myself another wine completely in Welsh I ran through the sentence a million times in my head and coughed it out to the OH first to make sure it sounded ok but normally, even after all that preparation, Iād be chicken at the last second so to me and now Iāve found the forum, I will be back
Shwmae, Day One on a new journey! A proud born and bred Welshman whoās never been able to speak his own languageā¦is how Iāve felt for over 50 years! I did try many years ago in night school but struggled with confidence and eventually dropped out. I now live in Scotland and have been toying with the idea of this method of learning for a while and now Iāve taken the plunge or at least completed the day one task sent to me on email. Not sure what comes next or the different options open to me as yet, I assume Iāll get follow-up emails laying out the options. Either way Iām looking forward to this immensely and dream of the day Iām able to speak with my first language Welsh friends confidently and to see the look on the faces when I finally get there!
Hello, Iāve been living in Llandudno for 3 years and thought it was time to make an effort to learn some of the language. With the recent lockdowns I thought this might be an ideal point with more time on my hands!
Iāve done the first couple of lessons and they seem to be easing me into things quite gently. It would be nice to eventually converse in Welsh on a basic level so fingers crossed!!
Hi. I just signed up to see how this all works so Iāve got the Beginner sample activities. Iām already Advanced though. Is there a way to try out the Advanced level?
Iāve been going through each lesson about 3 times until Iām pretty much word perfect and Iāve just read that that isnāt necessary. 
I ran through the sentence a million times in my head and coughed it out to the OH first to make sure it sounded ok but normally, even after all that preparation, Iād be chicken at the last second so 
to me and now Iāve found the forum, I will be back 
