I was hoping that my next piece was going to be about my training diary that I have been keeping for a couple of months now, but I am finding that I am adding to it all the time, and the diary itself is developing into more than just a training log, so I want to be able to a really good write up on that soon. Instead I thought I would give you a little insight into my short journey learning Welsh.
Starting to enjoy language
Language has always fascinated me really, no doubt sparked through learning at school. I’m always keen to learn a few key phrases in a new country and I always enjoy looking for the connection and similarities between different languages.
Although I didn’t complete my degree in German and Dutch, I didn’t lose the love for learning, it was just that completing a degree wasn’t for me at that time in my life. I have over the years picked up a small amount of Nepali from spending four months there immersed in Nepalese culture and I still remember much of it now. That combined with a bit of German, broken Spanish, vague knowledge of Dutch (how did I write those essays) a tad of Romanian, (from making friends while working on a building site – ok I know the word for hammer!) I can probably make it sound like I know a bit (I don’t!) but it’s really all just good fun and the kind of fun that keeps my brain entertained. Especially doing things like trying to make sentences in Nepali and fill in the gaps with the words I don’t know in German!
I was by no means top of the class in school and university, so don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that I am a gifted language learner who can turn their hand to any language. I just enjoy dipping my toe in different pools because its refreshing and doing things you enjoy is good for the mind. In fact I think if I tried to become fluent in every language where I had dipped my toe, I would have drowned in the sea of work that comes with learning to speak another language – it is hard work and requires constant attention. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could be programmed like the fictional Jason Bourne and without even knowing it be able to converse in any language at the drop of a hat?
Beginning the Cymraeg journey
I have lived in Wales for nearly 3 years now and apart from the odd word here and there, and the odd road sign, I didn’t know how to say much in Welsh, yet I knew the Welsh language was alive and kicking because I had heard many people chatting away together, I’ve also attended a party which was entirely in Welsh. Luckily I had a friend there to translate the speeches. There are also Welsh language TV and radio shows and all leaflets and signs must be printed in English and Welsh. I don’t know much about the history of the Welsh language but I think it’s great to keep the language going. Part of its appeal to me was that it is an unusual language and widely known for its lack of vowels and difficult pronunciations – sounds like a great challenge!
I started by using the SaySomethingIn app, of course this one was SaySomethingIn Welsh, but I think they also do other languages too. The process is full on from the start and by the end of the first 30 minute lesson you are able to use a group of words to say slightly varing sentences, the concept is genius. I think the rate of progression is directly linked to how much you want to learn and area able to achieve. In my case I found that I was enjoying learning so much after lesson one, I was soon able to move on to lesson two and so things continued. However I feel that even when things got tough, it has still been easy to carry on because like the tutors explain, treat it as a word game rather than learning a language and don’t be hard on yourself for making mistakes. Also for this reason it a great tool even if you are not a natural language learner, the process might surprise you!
The concept is that they throw words and phrases at you and you repeat them back, eventually combining all the words and phrases you already know, adding and taking away parts here and there until you are left with quite the range of vocabulary. You have listening tasks too and there is a vocabulary list to refer to, so it appeals to pretty much all learning styles. In the end words you thought were hard in the previous lesson soon become second nature and so you progress.
Since you don’t need to sit and slave over a book and paper you can learn on the move and its actively encouraged to learn while you are doing other things. My personal favourites are learning while I’m washing up or folding clothes. It’s surprising how much you can take in while doing something else.
Eureka moments vs scary moments!
Little mile stones for me are recognising words while I’m out and about. Living in Wales and learning Welsh is great, there are opportunities to test your language skills everywhere. I have found listening to BBC Radio Cymru a great help too, although I don’t really understand much at this stage, it is still wonderful to hear words and phrases I recognise. I call this game Word Bingo, simply listen and pick out the words I do understand then try and grasp the general topic.
Learning Welsh in my own bubble is great; I can make up short sentences and speak to myself fairly well. I can also recall just about everything I have learned… However… when faced with speaking with a Welsh speaker for the first time it was like I hadn’t learned a thing. I recently had the chance to speak with my good friend Gareth from Cardiffs GetOnTheWater . Although he was incredibly patient and spoke clearly, my brain went to mush through fear of being able to produce a single coherent sentence back that I could only remember the simplest of things. I guess I am at the learning stage of being consciously incompetent (which I’m sure works for language as well as sports coaching) There is so much I want to say yet it must be that fear of failure takes over. I am interested to see how this journey progresses and takes me on a learning adventure, hopefully to being unconsciously competent in Welsh, for the basics anyway.
Where will it take me?
I’m not sure really what I would like to with being able to speak Welsh, but I guess it may open up job opportunities in Wales when I finally decide that I don’t want to make a living from swinging around on a rope. Most of all it might complete a life goal of being able to speak a language fairly fluently, and hopefully I will be able to put it to good use. However I won’t count my chickens yet, just in case, and I will report back in a few more months with more exciting news after I have fried my brain with lots of new words and phrases!
Live Life Adventuring 