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Paige Morgan, in her own words

Paige Morgan, in her own words

Paige Morgan was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, but now lives in Wilmington, Delaware in the USA.

Paige can’t remember how her interest in the Welsh language started, but she remembers trying to learn the language as a child - using second-hand books.

She re-connected with the language in 2016, and this year, ompleted an Advanced level course with Learn Welsh Swansea Bay, which is run by Swansea University on behalf of the National Centre for Learning Welsh.

We’re grateful to Paige for sharing her language journey with us, in her own words.

I remember listening to BBC Radio 3, back in 2016, and I heard an extremely beautiful song; a melodious song by Bendith.

I loved the song, and I said, "I should try to learn Welsh again."

There were many more resources to help me learn by then - apps such as SaySomethinginWelsh and Duolingo - but above all, the Welsh-language radio service, BBC Radio Cymru, was particularly useful.

While listening to the radio, I discovered I love Welsh music... Brigyn, Ryan a Ronnie, Plethyn, Meinir Gwilym, Rogue Jones, Geraint Lovgreen... I couldn’t get enough of it. It didn't matter that I couldn't understand every word in the songs. And that’s how my journey learning Welsh started.

I learned very slowly on my own, sometimes with only 5 minutes to spare to do Duolingo... but Radio Cymru was always there, like some kind of immersion programme. Listening to the radio was important as it was a good way to hear dialects and to understand there are different ways to express something.

I joined the North American Welsh Choir in 2019 and the choir offered Welsh classes at Entry level but they were too easy for me by then. I was like a magpie learning the language, finding resources in all kinds of places.

The choir came to Wales in 2023 - my first time in Wales since starting to learn Welsh.

I was very nervous about speaking, but I started chatting with the tour organiser on the second day and my Welsh came out like bubbles in a sparkling wine.

After returning to the USA, I missed speaking Welsh and I started doing an Advanced level class online, even though it took place at 4:30am, USA time.

But my tutor Tracey Eccott's class was worth the effort. I was so happy to have the opportunity to speak and learn more Welsh every week.

Tracey is a lovely and very capable tutor, and my Welsh has improved a lot with her help.

I decided to return to Wales, to walk the coastal path and practise my Welsh.

I arrived in April and started walking the path - snacks in my bag, Bwncath playing in my earphones. The weather wasn’t great but I was making good time, seven miles in two hours, and then I came to a slippery part of the path. I put my foot on the grass and fell...

I heard the bones break. A sound that was loud and quiet at the same time. I'd never broken a bone before.

My tutor Tracey and her husband, Tony, insisted on coming to my rescue and I was very grateful.

I had to stay in hospital for a week before having an operation (it was a complex break) and then I stayed with my friend Kim for three weeks before I could fly back to the USA. I owe a lot to Kim, and my Learn Welsh tutors, Tracey and Kara – and my friend, Ian, who came from London to see me.

I could say many things about this period, but, without a doubt, the Welsh language was an anchor for me.

After my first night in hospital, a nurse came to my bed, and I saw the ‘Cymraeg’ badge, so I asked "do you speak Welsh?". She was shocked by my question - no one expected an American woman to start speaking Welsh in a hospital!

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But after we had a chat, she asked if I would prefer speaking Welsh or English. And I chose Welsh.

This was not an easy choice, and it felt like my mouth was full of sand during the first two days; but I remember the point when I realised I’d had a real conversation in Welsh - and that was amazing. After that, things got easier and easier.

So, I had four weeks living my life in Welsh. My Welsh grew like a weed in the summer.

The language has been awakened in my head now; I tend to think in Welsh often... which sounds very strange, I'm sure. I feel it's my language now.

And to finish, Paige shares her advice for anyone learning Welsh:

“It’s ok to learn slowly and remember there are many different options out there today; find a way of learning that works for you, and above all, keep talking. Silence will not improve your Welsh, as silence is like barren soil when it comes to growing a language.”