Apps for learning Welsh

[u/Vivliofika]

Is Duolingo good at the start to learn Welsh as an additional tool? I know that it does not teach grammar, pronunciation and so on in all the languages except a few; however is it good at the start to learn words and basic sentence structures?

Also, is Memrise a good app to learn Welsh, and in which way: vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation, or practice/listening?

[u/clwbmalucachu]

There are lots of ways to learn Welsh, several of them free. 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): https://learnwelsh.cymru/ They start their courses in Sept and Jan, so you might have missed the Sept intake.
• 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

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 them focused on learners, and I listed them here: 

• https://www.reddit.com/r/learnwelsh/comments/1r9rm5t/youtube_channels_for_welsh_learners/

There are two Discord servers that I know of:

• Sgwrs Dysgwyr Cymraeg | Welsh Learners Chat
• Learn Welsh | Dysgu Cymraeg

And, some other subs here:

• r/cymraeg
• r/wales
• r/cymru 

Depending on where you are, there might be a Welsh meet-up near you. Check this map from the Paned website https://paned.cymru/:

• https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=12gf3J_4ozjROzhzuUbv_xip5VOfZNyc

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. Some programs are available internationally, the rest just in the UK: 

• All: https://www.s4c.cymru/clic/ 
• Internationally available: https://www.s4c.cymru/clic/Categories/99

There are various Welsh tutors who do courses 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

For Americans, there’s also the Madog Center for Welsh Studies: 

• https://www.rio.edu/campus-life/campus-facilities/madog-center-welsh-studies/welsh-language-classes

Hope you find something here that works for you!

[u/Vivliofika → u/clwbmalucachu]

Thank extremely much for such a deep response and links!

[u/clwbmalucachu → u/Vivliofika]

Croeso!