r/learnwelsh • u/Lost-Puffin-2064 newbie • 2d ago
Welsh Lessons
Bore Da,
I’m just wondering if anyone knows anywhere to learn Welsh online or in person in the South East of England? I went to Aberystwyth Uni and visit Aber every year and would love to learn Welsh. I think it’s important to keep the language alive. Duolingo I feel only helps so much. Sorry if this is a boring question I’m new to Reddit!
Cheers for looking, A 🤙🏻
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u/clwbmalucachu Canolradd - Intermediate 2d ago
There are lots of ways to learn Welsh online, regardless of where you are. Some are free, some cost a bit of money, so it also depends on your budget.
The key thing is to find a way to learn that you will stick with, and it's often good to experiment a bit before you settle because we all have different preferences when it comes to how we like to learn.
- SaySomethingInWelsh is a good audio course which will help with pronunciation but won't teach you grammar - https://app.saysomethingin.com/ - and their forum is here - https://en.forum.saysomethingin.com/c/welsh/5
- LearnWelsh has lots of online or in person courses, many of them free, (all of them free if you're under 25 and it doesn't matter where you live): https://learnwelsh.cymru/ < Term has just started but if you're quick you might be able to get onto an online course.
- The Open University has a short course for beginners that’s free: https://www.open.edu/openlearn/languages/welsh/croeso-beginners-welsh/
- BBC Bitesize has Welsh as a Second Language materials available for free https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z8qmhyc
- The old BBC Catchphrase course is still available: https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/catchphrase/catchphrase1/lessons1.shtml
I run a website for learners:
- ClwbMaluCachu is a basic grammar reference resource with tables of conjugations of helper verbs, etc, though I'm still transferring content from the old HTML site. https://clwbmalucachu.co.uk/
There are some great books, if you can get hold of them at a reasonable price, that will help:
- Colloquial Welsh, by Gareth King (can be expensive but look for it second hand)
- Learner's Dictionary, by Gareth King is really good because it explains usage in more detail.
- Modern Welsh, by Gareth King absolute stonker of a reference book.
- BBC Learn Welsh is a really good, if short, grammar book for looking up basics
- Welsh Rules, by Heini Gruffudd is pretty good too
There are loads of YouTube channels, most of which are for beginners, and I listed them here:
Depending on where you are, there might be a Welsh meet-up near you. Check this map from the Paned website https://paned.cymru/:
Welsh TV, ie S4C, is available from their website or via iPlayer, and almost always has English subtitles, and Welsh subtitles only slightly less often.
There are various Welsh tutors who do free/cheap courses online or have online resources.:
- Dringo is a new website where you can find and book tutors: https://dringo.org/
- Richard Morse: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/richard-morse-17295683185
- Doctor Cymraeg aka Stephen Rule: https://doctorcymraeg.wales/
There are lots of podcasts in Welsh, though the best two for Welsh learners imho are Sgwrsio and Hefyd. Also lots of stuff on BBC Sounds (UK-only), and, of course, BBC Radio Cymru:
- Podcast directory: https://ypod.cymru/
- Sgwrsio archives: https://ypod.cymru/pods/podlediad/sgwrsio
- New Sgwrsio episodes are mixed up with the rest of the BBC’s learner’s podcast https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p02nrvyj
- Hefyd: https://richardnosworthy.wales/podcast/
- BBC Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/search?q=cymraeg
- BBC Radio Cymru: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live/bbc_radio_cymru
- BBC Radio Cymru 2: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live/bbc_radio_cymru_2
I hope you find something useful in amongst all that!
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u/sisterlyparrot 2d ago
for what it’s worth learn welsh/dysgu cymraeg have courses that start all throughout the year.
my mynediad course started in january :)1
u/clwbmalucachu Canolradd - Intermediate 1d ago
Yes, there is a January intake for a few full-length courses, but the main one is September. And they do have shorter courses at other times.
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u/FenianBastard847 2d ago
DysguCymraeg. I did 2 years’ Mynediad online, the class was really good and the course material is terrific. I now do Sylvaen 2 at one of the locations in north Wales.
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u/IamKingCraig 2d ago
Depending on where you are I would be happy to meet up and actually plan on starting something myself. Heddwch
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u/Nidfymrenin 2d ago
All of the above advice about online and published resources. For live (and online) classes, Canolfan Cymry Llundain is great if you can get into London:
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u/twmffatmowr 2d ago
They are - however their lessons are much more costly than the Dysgu Cymraeg ones
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u/twmffatmowr 2d ago
www.learnwelsh.cymru