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Welsh and I: A collection of thoughts and ideas from a guy whose life got changed by a language.
Set out in the form of a memoir, Stephen Rule goes about tackling the challenges and celebrating the successes of the Welsh language in an attempt to establish the language as one which has the ability to live in the lives of the people of Wales and the world. As one who has learnt the language, earned his degree in it, and now teaches it to young people and adults alike, Stephen's personal journey to become fluent has been a nightmare and a dream, has opened doors to another world, and has urged him to challenge both the way Welsh is delivered via education as well as general stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding the language. Written in English, the book is arranged into six chapters; Cymraeg a Fi (Welsh and I - Stephen's own experiences of learning Welsh and how he overcame struggles), Addysgu’r Gymraeg (Teaching Welsh - ideas he uses on a daily basis that have worked to inspire learners of all ages), Dysgu’r Iaith (Learning Welsh - encouraging those who wish to take up learning Welsh or who can become frustrated with certain elements of acquiring Welsh), Pam Lai’r Ddwy? (Why not both? - questioning what place Welsh can have in the lives of the reader and the nation as a modern community), Amddiffyn ein Cymraeg (Defending our Welsh - the lengths to which people have gone, inspired by their love for the language, to ensure its survival as a living tongue), and Iaith Arbennig (A Special Language - celebrating how the Welsh language has shaped the lives of so many people as well as the entire world). The book can become a fantastic companion to people thinking about learning Welsh but aren’t sure where to begin; people who are currently learning and attempting to deal with the challenges of the journey; teachers of Welsh in English-medium schools craving dynamic tactics and ideas not easily found in conventional ‘how to’ education books; people who speak the language and who are keen to aid a non-Welsh-speaking partner or friend on their own journeys to fluency; people who question the morals of supporting such an old language; and people of all ages who seek opportunities to ymfalchïo (take pride in) in a language that belongs to them as much as it has belonged to all its speakers across centuries. By following his own personal experiences - of being one with a burning desire to learn Welsh, went on to learn it, now teach it and, on a daily basis, attempt to share the delight and value of our language to others - Stephen's hope is that this book can inspire individuals (or even an entire nation, with a bit of luck) to realise what part the Welsh language can play in the future of our nation. In essence, this book is for anyone who possesses any connection to Wales or her language.
- GenresNonfiction
155 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 11, 2020
22 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 20, 2024
3.5 🌟 I really enjoyed this because it was so hopeful and inspiring and because I am deeply invested in the future of the Welsh language. Although a lot of it was about teaching Welsh and it's obviously a self-published book, it was interesting and entertaining and made me feel even more motivated me to keep learning! Thanks again Iza <3
I also learned things I didn't know before, for example the 1847 Welsh school inspections by English commissioners who concluded that the Welsh language was a "barrier to moral progress and commercial prosperity." Saddening and angering.
On a brighter note, these Welsh idioms:
"Dw i ar bigau'r drain" = I'm on the tips of thorns (on edge)
"Dod at ei goed" = to come to one's trees (senses in the English version)
I also learned things I didn't know before, for example the 1847 Welsh school inspections by English commissioners who concluded that the Welsh language was a "barrier to moral progress and commercial prosperity." Saddening and angering.
On a brighter note, these Welsh idioms:
"Dw i ar bigau'r drain" = I'm on the tips of thorns (on edge)
"Dod at ei goed" = to come to one's trees (senses in the English version)
June 28, 2021
I've wanted to (re-)learn Welsh for ages, and I would wholeheartledly recommend this book to anyone else in my position. Amongst other things, it makes the whole process of getting started appear less daunting; you might live in England - like me - and not know where to begin, but Stephen's overarching philosophy in this book is that, whatever your circumstances, you can still do *something*. And in doing that something, you make a start on your journey into Welsh, and in turn help the language itself by simply using it in some way. So I'll start communicating with my Welsh mates on Twitter in Cymraeg and take it from there!
January 31, 2024
(From Stephen Rule's other books, I've reviewed the Parsnips and Owls series)
This book really is what it says on the cover: a collection of thoughts and ideas from y dyn 'i hun, Doctor Cymraeg. Be prepared for Pokemon, Michael MacIntyre, Henry VIII, the Golden Record, Welsh idioms, classroom antics, the human drive to look up swear-words in a dictionary, and lots of history!
Specifically, Rule is a Welsh teacher of all age groups from high-school kids to adults, and a lot of his reflections are in relation to teaching. While I'm not a teacher nor would I be (I'm too impatient for a start), there's been many a conversation I've been privy to with other Welsh learners where we assist each other or vent frustrations without the teacher there to weigh in, and it's almost like Rule has penned a response to all of this. Not quick-fixes, but pep-talks, and ideas on how best to absorb and learn: it all points back to exposure and natural use of Cymraeg, of course, but there is much to mull over in this book for learners of all stripes.
The structure is pretty much a blog in a paperback. There's nothing wrong with that and I wouldn't go so far as to call it 'disjointed' but I personally found this book best enjoyed with a cup of tea for hydration, white noise in my ears for focus, and a couple of entries before bed. My attempts to binge-read this (or expecting a linear 'plot' a la Some Sex and a Hill: or How to Learn Welsh in 3 Easy Pints) didn't end well given the number of subjects it jumped around on, but the plus-side to this is that it will be easy to 'dip back in' and pick a short chapter to reflect on and digest when I want to. Or when I need a shoulder-shake. Which is more often than I care to admit.
Very enjoyable on the whole. 5/5.
P.S. Oh, and I do highly recommend playing Pokemon Coch, the creation of which Rule touches upon near the end (chapter Yn Y Gem). As a child of the nineties and noughties, getting to see and play one of the franchises that defined my generation *in Welsh* was and is something truly special.
This book really is what it says on the cover: a collection of thoughts and ideas from y dyn 'i hun, Doctor Cymraeg. Be prepared for Pokemon, Michael MacIntyre, Henry VIII, the Golden Record, Welsh idioms, classroom antics, the human drive to look up swear-words in a dictionary, and lots of history!
Specifically, Rule is a Welsh teacher of all age groups from high-school kids to adults, and a lot of his reflections are in relation to teaching. While I'm not a teacher nor would I be (I'm too impatient for a start), there's been many a conversation I've been privy to with other Welsh learners where we assist each other or vent frustrations without the teacher there to weigh in, and it's almost like Rule has penned a response to all of this. Not quick-fixes, but pep-talks, and ideas on how best to absorb and learn: it all points back to exposure and natural use of Cymraeg, of course, but there is much to mull over in this book for learners of all stripes.
The structure is pretty much a blog in a paperback. There's nothing wrong with that and I wouldn't go so far as to call it 'disjointed' but I personally found this book best enjoyed with a cup of tea for hydration, white noise in my ears for focus, and a couple of entries before bed. My attempts to binge-read this (or expecting a linear 'plot' a la Some Sex and a Hill: or How to Learn Welsh in 3 Easy Pints) didn't end well given the number of subjects it jumped around on, but the plus-side to this is that it will be easy to 'dip back in' and pick a short chapter to reflect on and digest when I want to. Or when I need a shoulder-shake. Which is more often than I care to admit.
Very enjoyable on the whole. 5/5.
P.S. Oh, and I do highly recommend playing Pokemon Coch, the creation of which Rule touches upon near the end (chapter Yn Y Gem). As a child of the nineties and noughties, getting to see and play one of the franchises that defined my generation *in Welsh* was and is something truly special.
January 2, 2025
Gwych iawn!
Wonderful collection of interconnected essays that cover pedagogical theory, the sociology of language and bilingualism, and the challenges facing (any) minority language, as well as Welsh itself. A lovely read.
Wonderful collection of interconnected essays that cover pedagogical theory, the sociology of language and bilingualism, and the challenges facing (any) minority language, as well as Welsh itself. A lovely read.
November 21, 2022
Well worth the read
My family hails from Tonypandy in the Rhondda and though I haven't lived in Wales since I was a baby, I have always felt the pull back to the land of my fathers.
My Nana spoke Welsh, and she, her parents, her brothers and Aunts and Uncles are all buried in Trelaw Cemetery, with headstones in a language I cannot (yet!) read with any fluency. Learning Cymraeg for me is a way of holding that connection back to my ancestors, and honouring where I've come from.
Anyway, that's WHY I've been trying to learn Welsh on and off for twenty years now. Duolingo has made it a lot easier and following wlesh speaking accounts on social media has really helped. I followed Dr Cymraeg on twitter and quickly realised that Stephen is both hilarious and an excellent teacher. Reading this book had given me the confidence to have confidence in myself as a learner (and boosted my vocabulary!)
Diolch yn fawr, Stephen.
My family hails from Tonypandy in the Rhondda and though I haven't lived in Wales since I was a baby, I have always felt the pull back to the land of my fathers.
My Nana spoke Welsh, and she, her parents, her brothers and Aunts and Uncles are all buried in Trelaw Cemetery, with headstones in a language I cannot (yet!) read with any fluency. Learning Cymraeg for me is a way of holding that connection back to my ancestors, and honouring where I've come from.
Anyway, that's WHY I've been trying to learn Welsh on and off for twenty years now. Duolingo has made it a lot easier and following wlesh speaking accounts on social media has really helped. I followed Dr Cymraeg on twitter and quickly realised that Stephen is both hilarious and an excellent teacher. Reading this book had given me the confidence to have confidence in myself as a learner (and boosted my vocabulary!)
Diolch yn fawr, Stephen.
August 12, 2020
One man's life work
This book shoes just how passionate the author is about Welsh. It's well written and gives good advice to anyone wanting to learn Welsh or those new to teaching it. It's written in a self depreciating style and will make you smile and if it encourages just one new learner then you know Stephen will feel he has made a mark.
This book shoes just how passionate the author is about Welsh. It's well written and gives good advice to anyone wanting to learn Welsh or those new to teaching it. It's written in a self depreciating style and will make you smile and if it encourages just one new learner then you know Stephen will feel he has made a mark.
April 20, 2023
Great read
This is a fascinating and entertaining account of a Welshman reconnecting with his Welshness by learning Welsh, becoming fluent and even a teacher and passionate defence of the old language on various social media platforms.
This is a fascinating and entertaining account of a Welshman reconnecting with his Welshness by learning Welsh, becoming fluent and even a teacher and passionate defence of the old language on various social media platforms.
November 30, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this memoir by Welsh language teacher Stephen Rule. Diolch a da iawn Stephen. Bendigedig!
May 2, 2022
Enjoyable and informative
As a new Welsh learner I enjoyed this book greatly and it has inspired me to get my head down and crack on! Diolch
As a new Welsh learner I enjoyed this book greatly and it has inspired me to get my head down and crack on! Diolch
August 21, 2020
Darllenwch llyfr hwn nawr os dych chi'n dysgu Cymraeg! Mwynheais i ddarllen 'Welsh and I' a mae'r llyfr hawdd a hwyr.
December 25, 2020
Cyn-ddisgybl yn mynegi profiadau dysgu'r hen iaith..what's not yo like?
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews