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Ffenestri
Dyma storïau a cherddi lliwgar (colourful) i ddysgwyr lefelau Mynediad, Sylfaen a Chanolradd. Mae llawer ohonyn nhw (many of them) yn ddoniol ( funny), rhai yn drist (sad), ond mae'r cyfan (everything) yn addas (appropriate) i ddysgwyr. Ar bob tudalen mae geirfa (glossary) i helpu gyda geiriau newydd. Gyda Ffenestri mae dysgu Cymraeg yn llawer o hwyl. Rhowch gynnig arni (give it a go)!
166 pages, Paperback
Published October 30, 2015
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34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 14, 2022
I can't go through Ffenestri by its contents, there are too many stories - but I'll name-drop the ones that personally stood out to me. The book may look wee, but like the Tardis it's bigger on the inside!
Storiau o'r Tip was probably my favourite amongst the Mynediad stories. If you've seen Rybish on S4C, it's a similar kind of vibe (but a bit less biting wit) - it's so easy to read in the characters' voices and to set a scene in your head! Sypreis was another excellent character study; I think we've all met someone like Gwenllian and the bellowing English from the care-home manager nearly made me drop the book ("HERE'S A NICE LADY COME TO SEE YOU, GWEN DEAR! SHE SPEAKS WELSH!!").
To keep it fresh, Mynediad finishes with a poem (the excellent Hwyl gyda Geiriau - chuckle-worthy) and then Sylfaen opens with a bang - or rather, a short thriller in Tacsi mewn Trafferth. The changes in genre are part of what makes Ffenestri such a valuable resource, I think, while keeping it enjoyable: there's an entirely new perspective in Teigr, where you read from the point of view of a much-loved family pet. There are true stories too - Ffrindiau yn Alabama is one such story. I'd never heard of the Wales Window, although I'd read about the KKK attack on the church before, and it was lovely to read about the connection between these two communities. Give it a google, you won't regret it.
Canolradd was quite hard to get through without assistance, but I expected that given I've just started Sylfaen (Baled y Dysgwr Dryslyd is, as the yoof say, 'a mood'). Some of my overall favourites were in that section, so I'm so glad I persevered! I'd happily read full-length novels of Y Disg Aur, Y Elvis Cymraeg and Garddio Gwallgof. The first of those three has another perspective switch with a gut-punch of an ending. The other two are slice-of-life, but have so many distinctive characters (with varying levels of civility towards one another!) that it'd be easy to have a story arc for everybody.
All in all - another corking short-story collection for dysgwyr Cymraeg. If you liked Lois Arnold's previous book, E-Ffrindiau, this is very similar in how the difficulty increases with each piece, but the storylines and formats are distinct enough to keep one's interest (or to break it into small reading sessions - with Ffenestri, I usually read one or two stories before bed). It must be a toughie to write for learners and keep the tone and genre varied, but Lois Arnold achieves this in Ffenestri and it's definitely worth the purchase. Bendigedig!
Storiau o'r Tip was probably my favourite amongst the Mynediad stories. If you've seen Rybish on S4C, it's a similar kind of vibe (but a bit less biting wit) - it's so easy to read in the characters' voices and to set a scene in your head! Sypreis was another excellent character study; I think we've all met someone like Gwenllian and the bellowing English from the care-home manager nearly made me drop the book ("HERE'S A NICE LADY COME TO SEE YOU, GWEN DEAR! SHE SPEAKS WELSH!!").
To keep it fresh, Mynediad finishes with a poem (the excellent Hwyl gyda Geiriau - chuckle-worthy) and then Sylfaen opens with a bang - or rather, a short thriller in Tacsi mewn Trafferth. The changes in genre are part of what makes Ffenestri such a valuable resource, I think, while keeping it enjoyable: there's an entirely new perspective in Teigr, where you read from the point of view of a much-loved family pet. There are true stories too - Ffrindiau yn Alabama is one such story. I'd never heard of the Wales Window, although I'd read about the KKK attack on the church before, and it was lovely to read about the connection between these two communities. Give it a google, you won't regret it.
Canolradd was quite hard to get through without assistance, but I expected that given I've just started Sylfaen (Baled y Dysgwr Dryslyd is, as the yoof say, 'a mood'). Some of my overall favourites were in that section, so I'm so glad I persevered! I'd happily read full-length novels of Y Disg Aur, Y Elvis Cymraeg and Garddio Gwallgof. The first of those three has another perspective switch with a gut-punch of an ending. The other two are slice-of-life, but have so many distinctive characters (with varying levels of civility towards one another!) that it'd be easy to have a story arc for everybody.
All in all - another corking short-story collection for dysgwyr Cymraeg. If you liked Lois Arnold's previous book, E-Ffrindiau, this is very similar in how the difficulty increases with each piece, but the storylines and formats are distinct enough to keep one's interest (or to break it into small reading sessions - with Ffenestri, I usually read one or two stories before bed). It must be a toughie to write for learners and keep the tone and genre varied, but Lois Arnold achieves this in Ffenestri and it's definitely worth the purchase. Bendigedig!
September 20, 2020
'O diar, na!' galwodd hi. "Rhaid i chi symud y pethau hyn wir!'
'Beth?' gofynnodd Megan.
'Y corachod ofnadwy yma!' atebodd Elizabeth.
'Oh dear me, no!' she cried. 'You really must move those things!'
'Huh?' asked Megan.
'Those horrid garden gnomes!' Elizabeth answered.
The very best thing about reading Lois Arnold stories (among so many good things) is that her dialogues are so true-to-life, you can imagine yourself wanting to say the self-same words some day. Or know without a shadow of doubt that you will hear someone else say them!
Not only that, but the characters are clearly drawn, the plots interesting and even if the language used is fairly basic for the first group of stories, they are never childish or stilted.
Ffenestri contains 25 stories and poems that vary in length from 2 -12 pages, so never of a discouraging length. The subjects and genres are varied and often sprinkled with humour.
I agree 100% with the other review (by Elisabeth) that this is a very good "first reader" if you are just starting your Welsh journey, as the book contains three groups of stories corresponding to A1, A2 and B1 levels, allowing you to grow into the next level as your Welsh improves.
However, just like the other reviewer, I found the B1 (Canolradd) level stories largely accessible with A2 (Sylfaen) grammar and vocabulary knowledge.
All books by Arnold for learners of Welsh are highly recommendable, but this one is the perfect birthday/Christmas gift for any learner on the A1-A2 level. Well well well worth the price.
'Beth?' gofynnodd Megan.
'Y corachod ofnadwy yma!' atebodd Elizabeth.
'Oh dear me, no!' she cried. 'You really must move those things!'
'Huh?' asked Megan.
'Those horrid garden gnomes!' Elizabeth answered.
The very best thing about reading Lois Arnold stories (among so many good things) is that her dialogues are so true-to-life, you can imagine yourself wanting to say the self-same words some day. Or know without a shadow of doubt that you will hear someone else say them!
Not only that, but the characters are clearly drawn, the plots interesting and even if the language used is fairly basic for the first group of stories, they are never childish or stilted.
Ffenestri contains 25 stories and poems that vary in length from 2 -12 pages, so never of a discouraging length. The subjects and genres are varied and often sprinkled with humour.
I agree 100% with the other review (by Elisabeth) that this is a very good "first reader" if you are just starting your Welsh journey, as the book contains three groups of stories corresponding to A1, A2 and B1 levels, allowing you to grow into the next level as your Welsh improves.
However, just like the other reviewer, I found the B1 (Canolradd) level stories largely accessible with A2 (Sylfaen) grammar and vocabulary knowledge.
All books by Arnold for learners of Welsh are highly recommendable, but this one is the perfect birthday/Christmas gift for any learner on the A1-A2 level. Well well well worth the price.
August 11, 2019
Llyfr hyfryd yw Ffenestri. Mae'n grêt i dysgwyr gyda storïau am lefelau mynediad, sylfaen a chanolradd. Mae'r storïau yn hyfryd a byr iawn. Roedd y storïau am mynediad yn hawdd iawn ond lefelau canolradd a sylfaen oedd yn debyg iawn. Dw i ddim wedi gorffen cwrs sylfaen ond oedd storïau am ganolradd yn eithaf hawdd i fi. Mae'r geirfa yn defnyddiol hefyd.
Fy llyfr cyntaf yng Nghymraeg oedd Ffenestri!
Fy llyfr cyntaf yng Nghymraeg oedd Ffenestri!
February 4, 2025
Mae’r llyfr yn gwych i helpu dysgwyr darllen mwy aml. Llawer o storiau gwahanol yn bach, hawdd, darnau. Tipyn bach pwnciau od, ond neis i helpu pobl ymarfer y iaith o nefoedd!
November 17, 2025
Dyma’r llyfr Cymraeg cyntaf fy mod i wedi ddarllen sydd ddim yn rhan o’r Cyfres Amdani, felly roeddwn i’n disgwyl y byddai’n rhaid i fi gwglo rhai batrymau neu eirfa. Ond mae Lois Arnold wedi cymryd gofal i wneud llyfr sydd yn cydfynd â’r cyrsiau Dysgu Cymraeg, felly ches i ddim problem o gwbl gyda’r straeon hyn. Gallai’r straeon ‘Lefel Canolradd” fod yn anoddach, hyd yn oed.
Roeddwn i’n hoff iawn o’r stori “Y Disg Aur” yn arbennig. Dw i wedi darllen eithaf llawer o straeon i ddysgwyr nawr, felly roedd hi’n neis darllen rhywbeth sydd ddim yn cael ei “set” yng Nghymru. Hoffwn i wedi gweld mwy o straeon fel hyn yn y casgliad i fod yn onest.
Roeddwn i’n hoff iawn o’r stori “Y Disg Aur” yn arbennig. Dw i wedi darllen eithaf llawer o straeon i ddysgwyr nawr, felly roedd hi’n neis darllen rhywbeth sydd ddim yn cael ei “set” yng Nghymru. Hoffwn i wedi gweld mwy o straeon fel hyn yn y casgliad i fod yn onest.
February 17, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. Easy to dip in and out of. Some great stories.
July 22, 2023
Llyfr sy'n gyflym i'w ddarllen. Mae'n lot o hwyl, ysgafn a syml, felly perffaith I ddysgwyr. Neis iawn bod y straeon dôd yn fwy anodd fel chi'n symud ymlaen drwy'r llyfr.
December 6, 2023
Ardderchog!
Lois Arnold yw fy hoff awdur o lyfrau i ddysgwyr Cymraeg. Mwynheuais i ‘’ffenestri’ iawn iawn.
Lois Arnold yw fy hoff awdur o lyfrau i ddysgwyr Cymraeg. Mwynheuais i ‘’ffenestri’ iawn iawn.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews