Shelagh Fishlock has sent this information through about an online magazine called Y Wennol - The Swallow. It is distributed for free by Rob Evans who is an ex-tutor and has a website called Gydangilydd.cymru. This is what Rob says about Y Wennol:
When I was a tutor in Powys some years ago I started a newsletter called Y Wennol and got Welsh learners to write stories to fill it. The newsletter was printed to start with and fortunately I ran a printing business at the time, later it was published on the web. But I retired and moved to live in Swansea and that was the end.
I have been concerned about all the enthusiastic learners who get lost somehow after their courses are over. I donāt think we do enough to get them into the Welsh community. The language cannot afford to lose a large percentage of learners who have shown enthusiasm and support .Hopefully this humble newsletter will be a way to keep learners in contact with the language either by reading or contributing their own articles to it.
Writing is a good way to develop your language skills because you have time to find the best way to express yourself. When you are in conversation you have to think very quickly. Reading is very important if you want to develop your vocabulary. the more you read, the more words accumulate in your sub-conscious. So, enjoy your reading!
Shelagh adds:
Most of us want to learn Welsh so we can talk to friends and other Welsh speakers. But in order to improve our new language it really helps to start reading and writing. There is an on-line free magazine which can be very useful, called āY Wennolā (The Swallow).
It has articles on different topics with vocabulary, a beginnersā page and information about events. Everyone is welcome to write an article or story, no matter what your level of Welsh. (The editor corrects any mistakes)
I have been reading and contributing to Y Wennol for more than a year, which has been a real boost to my confidence in Welsh.
Nia came to Swansea last Saturday to meet learners in our areaā¦ Rob Evans joined us and told us about his Newsletter Y Wennolā¦ We all enjoyed talking and looking over Swansea Bayā¦
It looks interestingā¦ is it then in ā S Welsh grammar? ā I can read some Welsh as I do Duolingoā¦ but find switching between N and S Welsh sentence constructions and words very confusing sometimes ā¦
Diolch yn fawr- bydd diddorol siwr o fod. I must echo the comment below about the Welsh language in the North and South and West Wales. I am not as gifted in the respective lingos!
Weāve had a lovely message of thanks from Rob, the editor of Y Wennol, and heād love to get some articles from you!
Thank you SSIW
Thank you to all of you who sent their email addresses to receive Y Wennol each month. I was quite overwhelmed. I know that a lot of it is perhaps a bit difficult but most of the articles have been written by learners who went through the same pain as yourselves and, through contributing articles have quickly moved to higher levels. Theyāre pushing themselves you see and it would be unfair of me to rein them in. My biggest problem is in getting simple articles, something for new learners. This is where you could come in ā why not write me a simple article saying who you are, your likes and dislikes, where you went on holiday ā whatever you can cope with. Iāll make sure that everything is correct (if I need to!) so that you can be proud of your work.
Youāll enjoy it and youāll be using what youāve learnt and, together we will build up your confidence.
An appeal from Rob - Editor of Y Wennol. Whoād like to have a go at writing just a few sentences about themselves in Welsh?
Helo Bawb
Dw iān dechrau gweithio ar Y Wennol mis Gorffennaf a dw i angen straeon syml, rhywbeth sydd yn dweud pwy ydach chi, ble dach chiān byw, beth dach chiān hoffi ac unrhyw beth arall. Maeār fath yma o stori yn bwysig iawn achos maeān agor y drws iār rhai sydd newydd ddechrau, gobeithio wedyn bydden nhwān parhau i ddarllen Y Wennol a dysgu mwy o eiriau wrth wneud hynny.
Peidiwch Ć¢ phoeni, byddaf yn gwneud yn siŵr bod popeth yn iawn, y sillafu, y treigladau a phob dim. Byddech yn falch iawn o weld eich stori mewn print a gobeithio byddech yn parhau i gyfrannu.
Diolch yn fawr
Pob hwyl
Rob
Hello Everyone
I am just starting on the Wennol for July and I need some simple stories, something that says who you are, where you live, what you like and anything else you can add. That sort of story is very important because it opens the door to those who are new to learning Welsh, hopefully then they will carry on reading the Wennol and learn more vocabulary by doing that.
Donāt worry, I shall go through everything to make sure that itās correct, the spelling, the mutations and everything. You will be very proud to see your story in print and, hopefully you will continue to contribute.
Rob is again appealing for very short articles for Y Wennol. He specifically wants just a paragraph aimed at the level of a new Welsh reader. It would be great if some of you could commit to doing that from time to time. Hereās what Rob says:
Good morning Everyone
Iām busy preparing the Wennol for October and I am very short of simple articles for those who are at the beginning of their journey through the language. This sort of article:
Fy enw i yw,
dw iān byw yn,
a dw i wedi bod yn dysgu am
dw iān hoffi
ac yn y blaen.
I only want one paragraph but it is very important to have this sort of article so that beginners can realise that they can understand a bit of Welsh and perhaps they will then be happy to contribute at that level.
Because the articles are very short I need about 10 each month ā at the moment I only have 2.
UPDATE: Rob has had a great response to his appeal for articles, so he has enough for this month, but he needs an ongoing supply, so if youād like to write something going forward, that would be great!
Yes, heās really enthusiastic and helpful, so do give it a go. I find writing helps my learning process but weāre all different so do whatever works for you. I sent him an article last week about our wonderful weekend (Penwythnos Garddio) recently at Garth Newydd which I think is going in the October issue.
Does anyone have an email address for Bob or Y Wennol? When I tried the links on this page my computer wants me to set up an email account. I already have an email account with my internet provider. If someone could email me on esoteric666@optusnet.com.au I will be very grateful ā¦ diolch
David
