17th March 2008
Sue takes a taster session
Dozens of visitors to the 大象传媒 Wales roadshow in Dolgellau on Sunday left with a few more words of Welsh than they arrived with, after taking part in five minute Big Welsh Challenge taster sessions.
With the help of tutor Sue Evans and a few well chosen props, more than fifty people learnt how to introduce themselves and express a liking for beer, cheese, and biscuits among other things.
Iolo helps the learners
Big Welsh Challenge celebrity mentor Iolo Williams gave a helping hand and 大象传媒 Catchphrase learner Nigel Walker also joined a taster session to give a few words of encouragement and brush up on his own Welsh.
Former athlete and rugby international Nigel Walker joins in
People joining the groups ranged from parents with children at Welsh medium schools who were trying to keep up with the homework to holidaymakers staying in the area who wanted a few phrases to use during visits to Wales.
Martin Parkinson from Bolton was delighted to have the chance to brush up on his pronunciation. "It's really one of the hardest things to learn Welsh in Bolton when it's not spoken around you," he said. "When I was younger I spent a lot of time here. It's great to have someone to explain how to say the place names," he added.
Martin Parkinson chats to Sue
"I've really enjoyed myself," said tutor Sue. "I hope some of the learners who've joined our groups today will be encouraged to carry on with Welsh. Some of the people who are on holiday have experienced hearing Welsh for the first time and now realise it's very much a living language. We had people who didn't know how to say Dolgellau. It's great now that they've gone away now able to pronounce the place where they're staying."
