Holi Camilla

Camilla Cruciani is from Rome, Italy, and has been studying veterinary medicine at the University of Liverpool for three years.

Camilla’s mother is from the Lake District, and her father is Italian, so she already speaks both Italian and English.

And now Camilla is learning Welsh in online classes with Learn Welsh Glamorgan, run by the University of South Wales on behalf of the National Centre for Learning Welsh.

We spoke with Camilla about her language journey.

You’re originally from Italy and now live in Liverpool – what’s your connection to the Welsh language?

I met my boyfriend, Owain, a Welsh-speaker from Carmarthenshire, in Liverpool.

I had never heard Welsh being spoken before meeting Owain, nor did I know anyone who spoke it!  I hadn’t even heard the name Owain before!

Do you remember the first time you heard Owain speak Welsh?

Yes – I remember hearing him speak Welsh on the phone and very soon after that, I decided I wanted to learn the language.

I started with Duolingo, but then, after visiting Owain’s family in Carmarthenshire last summer, I decided I needed to properly commit to learning the language and I joined online lessons with Learn Welsh Glamorgan.

Do you enjoy learning online?

Yes, I really enjoy it and my tutor, Laura, is amazing.  She speaks Italian very well and is able to point out the similarities between both languages to me – the grammar or some words.  It helps me make connections while learning.

Where do you use the language outside the classroom?

I practise speaking Welsh with Owain and I’ve also started reading books in Welsh.  I’ve started with a book from the Amdani series, called ‘Byd Bach’ by Esyllt Maelor.  It’s a collection of short stories.

What’s your hope for the future?

I want to be able to speak Welsh fluently and I’d like to reach a level where people don’t have to switch the conversation to English for my sake.