I often feel I am the only one learning a language!

[busybusybee]

Which is ridiculous because I work with lots of people who speak languages from all over the world - But they are all improving their English

I spend ages every week learning Welsh -with the aim of being fluent eventually - very early days though

I hardly ever get the chance to talk to welsh speakers even though I live in Wales because i live and work in a rural location

I was just wondering if any other MN were learning a language and finding it lonesome!

I find it impossible to learn a language at home on my own from books. For one I don't have the discipline and second it doesn't 'feel' real, a language is a living thing that needs to be spoken. That's the approach we took with my hubby, he grabbed all the French he knows from just listening to me talking to our daughter or relatives and from tv. And I learned Spanish with boyfriends . So no real advice here except try and spend as much time as possible with Welsh speaking people. Sorry...

I'm hoping to start learning Welsh too, partly because I'll need it to GCSE standard when i start to teach (I just strated a degree which I hope will lead me there) and partly because my boys learn it a t school and I am sick of saying 'nope, don't ask me!' every time they ask a question. Are you learning in a class, or by correspondence of home study can I ask?

I don't know about where you are, but here in South East Wales I don't hear Welsh spoken much- twice since I moved here in June, I guess? The local Uni has a Welsh speaking group though, is there a Uni near you?

I am not, but was just thinking you could set up a thread in welsh to practice, must be a few more Welsh speakers among MN

Would love to learn welsh. Dh is looking into classes - think work will part fund it. DD1 goes to english secondry and dd2 goes to welsh secondry. Just contemplating whether to send dd3 to welsh or english nursery. Can't help you in a welsh thread though sorry. Although my dd probably could.

Peachyclare where are you out of interest?

Caerleon. And you?

Used to live in Risca then Bargoed and now Connah's quay.

busybusybee
i am welsh and am moving back to wales soon.
there is a thread, im sure where you can speak welsh, hausfrau, pixiefish and moondog are welsh speaking.

here

woops sorry hausfrau!(confused state again) why did i think you could speak welsh??? am i going mad??

tut tut!! and a slap on the wrist to you!!! lol only joking, it depends what part of wales you come from though, some areas are not primarily welsh speaking.

my nain was from south wales though, and couldnt speak a word of welsh as no one spoke it in abergaveny. she moved to bangor when she married so mum speaks welsh, as do i, you dont live in bangor and get away with not being welsh speaking.

Hello all - when nobody posted on sunday - I felt even more alone!!!!

Enough pity

I know there is a Welsh thread on here - trouble is i think they all speak good welsh - im still at an early stage - although by no means a complete beginner - I suppose its just confidence really.

I live in Carmarthenshire which has quite a high percentage of Welsh speakers- but I get few opportunities to actually chat and make friends. All my friends and colleagues speak numerous other languages but not welsh - sigh!

dont worry, i started a thread earlier that no one has bothered to post on!
maybe you could join the thread and explain you are a beginner, im sure they would be gentle with you

I have been learning off and on for years but recently on moving to Wales i have made much more of an effort! This site is brilliant - I follow the Lloyds family lessons - highly reccomended by me!

\link{http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/catchphrase/Find the Lloyds here!}

DS started at welsh medium school last week so thats a good incentive for me to keep learning - if only to keep one step ahead of him

at my feeling in competition with a four year old

SpaceCadet - Which thread? and where and when are you moving to Wales?

children learn so quickly though.
my thread has dropped off active convos, it was a thankyou thread on other subjects
mumsnetters are lovely!(title)

how many of your children go to welsh speaking schools? Obviously busybusybee's does as she just told us so. I was intending to send dd3 to welsh nursery in Sept but just had speech therapy appointment this morning and I am now so confused, is it a good idea when she has difficulty pronouncing english let alone confusing her with another language.

Sorry hijack over.

My kids school is 50/50. They have to respond to things like the register in Welsh and conduct the day to day transactions in the language, but general conversations are in English. They do sing Happy birthday in Welsh now as routine, and I made the special effort to get Welsh language Happy Birthday peel off's (Hobbycraft) for the cards they give. We get a newsletter each week with the Welsh phrase of the week, but frankly it's meaningless to us! Pronounciation cues would help! I have suggested to DS2's teacher.

My Grandad is a Welsh speaker from Pembroke, but the Welsh pronounciation he uses is way off. Either the language is changing, he's lost his ability since moving (in the War so a while ago!!) or he's lost his marbles. I suggest the latter

No he's not loosing his marbles there is a North and a South Welsh. Different dialects for the two so it would sound way off i guess.

Nah, Grandad deffo losing his marbles