On Saturday, 26 March, Oriel Plas Glyn-y-Weddw, Llanbedrog hosted the launch of the Cymraeg Efo’n Gilydd (Welsh Together) scheme.
Cymraeg Efo’n Gilydd is one of the Llŷn Landscape Partnership projects, and its aim over the next three years is to help those who are learning Welsh in Llŷn, by providing them with opportunities to practice and use their Welsh in informal, social surroundings.
Every learner would probably wish to reach a stage where they are no longer thought of as learners, but rather, as Welsh speakers. The purpose of this project is to help learners achieve this goal.
Joan Ward, from Penrhos, who has been learning Welsh for three-and-a-half years, said: “I want to be able to take a full part in the Welsh medium life in Llŷn, and only by having the opportunity to meet and chat naturally with Welsh speakers do I have any hope of doing so.”
Financed by the Llŷn Landscape Partnership, ten activities per term will be organised over the next three years, to bring Welsh speakers and learners together.
David Morgan from Ceidio who has been learning Welsh locally for five years said: “Activities such as these are incredibly important because they give us the opportunity to make use of what we learn in real situations outside of the classroom.”
Welsh speakers sometimes feel unsure when talking with Welsh learners, and often turn to English, in the mistaken belief that this would put the Welsh learner as ease. Because of this, Welsh learners often feel that they don’t get opportunities outside of the classroom to hold real conversation with native Welsh speakers. Correcting this lack is the purpose of the project, giving Welsh speakers and learners the chance to converse.
For the scheme to succeed in giving Welsh learners the opportunity to practice their Welsh, it is important that we attract both Welsh speakers and learners to be part of the activities.
Howard Jones from Bryncroes who has been learning Welsh for seven years, made an appeal to Welsh speakers to support the scheme: “Welsh learners must be given the chance to become Welsh speakers, so please, help us by coming to these activities so that we can speak ‘Welsh together’.”
The first activities as part of the scheme will be taking place after Easter and further information about them will be available from Pen Llŷn Communities First – 01758 730309 and from Siwan Hywel, Informal Learning Officer, North Wales Welsh for Adults Centre – 01248 383928.
The partners involved in the scheme are; Llŷn Landscape Partnership, Llŷn Communities First Partnership, Nant Gwrtheyrn Language and Heritage Centre, Meirion Dwyfor College Pwllheli, School of Lifelong Learning, Bangor University, North Wales Welsh for Adults Centre, hunaniaith, Workers’ Education Association, Harlech College.
