On Language Learning

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm addicted to language learning.

A few days ago, one of my former university profs set up a Welsh language learning group, so I look a look, and he posted a link to free online lessons. Out of curiosity, I checked out the site, and they had an interesting approach to language learning: No pens, no paper - audio only until you're comfortable conversing.

They said that speaking ought to come first with no reading or writing at all. In fact, trying to read/write while learning a new language is distracting and detrimental to fluency because when you are looking at letters with a bias of your own natural language, it confuses your brain and the new langauge has a harder time sticking.

I thought that was a reasonable claim, so I decided to take a try at Welsh. My excuse being that if I'm going to live in Bristol, I'll be right next to Wales. And I really did love Cardiff and would want to visit more - and see more of Wales. Also: another language is ALWAYS fun!

So I downloaded the lessons onto my phone and am now listening to them on the bus on my way to work.

So far, so good. Listen, learn, repeat. What I didn't expect was humour!!! After about 15 minutes of learning and repeating "I/I am" with various combinations of verbs (try, like, want, say, speak, do, go, stay, know), the instructor then said:

"Great! You can already say some really useful things! The next time someone's telling you their life story in the office when you just want to pop out for a sandwich, you can say: 'Dw i'n trio mynd!' If they're a Welsh speaker, they'll be surprised enough to shut up for long enough for you to escape. And if they're not a Welsh speaker, they'll be so busy thinking 'I didn't know you spoke Welsh!' that you'll get away just as successfully. See how handy Welsh is?"

Cracked me right up!

So we'll see how long I'll be able to keep to this langauge. I was doing the Rosetta Stone thing for a long time (Italian, German, Russian, Spanish) and I find that while it's great for proper, intenstive study (for a variety of reasons), it's not great for casual learning because it IS so intensive.

If you're at all interested in learning Welsh, check out these lessons: https://www.saysomethingin.com/welsh/