Much like Uncle Bryn from Gavin & Stacey, Katie-Ann Gupwell cannot speak Welsh. Though her knowledge goes beyond "sut wyt ti?" and "rydw i'n hoffi coffi", she is nowhere near fluent, and she really wishes she was.
Gupwell studied the Welsh language up until AS Level but did not continue to A-Level. Not because she did not love or enjoy it, but simply because she could not manage four subjects and it was, sadly, the one she decided not to proceed with at the time.
Would she have been fluent if she had continued? Probably not, as she ended up studying at a university in England, but it is a skill she wishes she possessed. As Shwmae Su'mae Day takes place on October 15, she thought it was important to discuss how beautiful the language actually is.
Why Giving Up Welsh Was a Mistake
Shwmae Su'mae Day is held in Wales every year to promote the Welsh language and encourage people to use friendly, informal greetings. As someone who still wishes she could speak it, Gupwell is going to encourage people to try and do so too.
When you stop learning it, and you are not surrounded by people who speak Welsh, it is really hard to maintain the knowledge. Over time, she has found the knowledge has slowly slipped away, though certain words and phrases have always stuck with her. As with learning any language, practice makes perfect and, without practice, her skills started to dwindle.
On reflection, it makes her feel sad, because she loved learning it and equally loved speaking it. Though it has not impacted her in a personal or professional capacity, she often wishes she had not stopped learning to speak Welsh.
Encouraging Others to Learn Welsh
If a young person were to ask her if it is worth learning, she would say yes every time. As well as being a hugely beneficial skill, she honestly thinks people who speak Welsh should feel really proud.
She is not someone who likes to look back with a lot of regret, but she does wish she had continued learning or using the language in some way. As the saying goes, you are never too old, and hopefully she will one day dedicate the time and find the courage to return to the classroom to learn once more.
How to Learn Welsh
If you feel inspired to learn the language, there are a few different routes you can take. As well as signing up for courses, you can download apps to help broaden your knowledge too.
The official national website run by the National Centre for Learning Welsh offers virtual and face-to-face classes, self-study options and free courses for young people aged 16 to 25. Meanwhile, Duolingo is a popular free app that offers bite-sized daily vocabulary and grammar lessons. Say Something in Welsh - an audio-focused digital course designed to help learners start speaking conversational Welsh quickly - is also available. There are a number of ways you can refresh your knowledge or start from scratch.
