There is a unique family who are originally from Old Colwyn in Conwy, as the three brothers and sisters are learning Welsh together, with their mother Stephanie also a new Welsh speaker.
Jo, Reuben and Lexi are learning Welsh in an evening class through the National Centre for Learning Welsh’s provider in the North East, Popeth Cymraeg, in partnership with Coleg Cambria.
We had a chat with them to hear more about their journey learning the language.
Where did you grow up and where do you live now?
Reuben: We grew up in Old Colwyn in Conwy but I now live in Bristol, Jo lives in Chester and Lexi lives in Penmynydd, Flintshire. Our mother still lives in Old Colwyn.
Did you learn any Welsh before this?
Reuben: Yes. I learned Welsh at school when I was a child. I had a good teacher, but the method of learning Welsh as a second language at school felt quite unnatural and rigid. I moved to England and then Sweden for university and forgot a lot of my Welsh.
Jo: I started learning Welsh at school when I was about 5 years old. But I moved to Leeds in 2019 to go to university in the middle of the pandemic! As a result, I felt that I had lost touch with Wales and the Welsh language. I moved back to Old Colwyn after university and that's when I started learning Welsh again.
Lexi: I learnt Welsh at school, and when I was sixteen, I went to a learn Welsh for adults class with two friends. After a period in Bradford, I moved back to north Wales and started learning Welsh online.
Stephanie: I started learning Welsh back in 2002 in a night class. I went once a week during the pandemic and managed to do my GCSE exam. Now, I do Duolingo every day.
Why do you want to speak Welsh?
Jo: I started learning Welsh because I wanted to keep in touch with my family. As I now live in Chester, it's even more important that I keep going.
Reuben: It feels difficult to be Welsh without the Welsh language. It is of course possible, but the language is a very important part of our community, our people and our history. People have fought for the right to speak Welsh. Speaking Welsh has helped me feel connected to my country after moving away.
Lexi: After having my daughter, I wanted to start learning again because I want to speak Welsh with her.
Stephanie : I was very keen to learn Welsh when I moved to Wales because it is a language that is unique to Wales. When I was young, I lived in Paris and went to a French school so I’ve always enjoyed learning languages and I find it very beneficial.
Did you all start learning Welsh in the online class at the same time?
Reuben: Yes. We all wanted to be able to speak Welsh again, so we joined the Popeth Cymraeg class together.
Jo: I used to learn Welsh on Duolingo, but there was no sense of community. Learning with Popeth Cymraeg is different because the tutor, Ioan, gives more context around the words. I also enjoy learning with my brother and sister because it makes us feel closer to where we grew up.
What is the best thing about learning Welsh?
Lexi: I like listening to the news on BBC Radio Cymru and listening to Welsh artists on Spotify like Mared. When I was a child, I liked to sing at the Urdd Eisteddfod with the school. I like music!
Jo: The best thing about learning Welsh for me is seeing the enthusiasm of Welsh speakers when they hear that I am learning. I think that is something very special.
Reuben: The best thing for me is when I start to be able to have an impromptu conversation outside the classroom. It's still difficult, but it's nice when it starts to get easier to chat naturally.
Do you speak Welsh with each other outside of class?
Reuben: Yes. We always text in Welsh on WhatsApp.
Jo: We also send 'voicenotes' on WhatsApp to form sentences faster. We also practice with our Mum because she speaks Welsh.
Lexi: I also speak Welsh with my daughter and we read Welsh books from the library.
And where else do you get the chance to speak Welsh?
Lexi: I try to speak Welsh in shops and in the supermarket. I try to write a shopping list in Welsh every week. I sing in a local choir and sometimes we sing songs in Welsh.
Jo: I watch Gogglebocs Cymru on S4C with Welsh subtitles to practice translating in my head. It's hard for me! Also, I try to speak Welsh and write emails in Welsh in my work. Recently, I went to see Mared in a gig with a friend from work - I love the song 'Dal ar y Teimlad'. I often listen to Welsh music to feel surrounded by the language and I hope to go to more Welsh gigs.
Reuben: I've met a few people who speak Welsh in Bristol, so I can have a conversation from time to time. And I speak Welsh with the family of course!
Thank you very much for chatting with us and good luck to the three of you in your journey learning the language.
