Catching up with Adam

What’s your background?

I’m a software developer and I’m from Derby.  But I now live on a farm in Llandyrnog, Denbighshire.

How do you use your Welsh outside the classroom?

Welsh is spoken at home so I’m very lucky, I can practise every day.  My wife speaks Welsh, as do her family and the local community.  Local people visit the farm, so I enjoy practising Welsh with them, and hearing different accents.

Why did you decide to learn Welsh and move to Wales?

My wife is from Wales, so Welsh is her first language.  After we had children, we wanted to move from Leeds, to raise the kids somewhere beautiful, and give them the chance to speak Welsh.

Why is raising your children bilingually important to you?

I wanted the children to feel that they belong in Wales, so giving them the opportunity to learn Welsh was an easy decision.  Also, learning a language is so easy when you're a child, so I wanted them to start early.

What’s the best thing about learning Welsh?

I love etymology.  The words we use have a strong link to our history, and they help us understand the world around us better.  As Welsh is one of the oldest languages in Europe, that connection is very strong.

Does reading Welsh books help you learn the language?

I really enjoy reading the Amdani book series and the Lingo magazine.  I like chatting to people in Welsh every day, but I also like seeing the language in a more formal way on paper. That helps ensure I understand the language more deeply.  I hope to eventually read the whole Amdani series one day.

Any advice for those who want to start learning Welsh?

Learn the alphabet.  Welsh has a beautifully consistent alphabet – once you learn the sound of a letter, it’s nearly always the same.

What’s next with learning Welsh?

I’ve signed up to follow an Entry 2 Learn Welsh course in September.  I’d also like to sit the exams in future years, to prove to myself what I’ve learned.

Favourite Welsh word?

Heddwas (policeman)