Hi Sadelle,
Sorry for not responding earlier, with the first couple of days of social activities, I missed your message! Yes, that could work, plus I think it could potentially attract people interested in Celtic languages and get a discussion started. You are welcome to submit that topic.
It will be possible for two discussions to happen during the same time slot, so take a look at the schedule to see which ones are free! http://bit.ly/LF-Activities
Let me know if you have any questions!
Thanks, @Nicolas ! Let me go look at the times available and see if anyone else wants to join me?
@ScottBE , @charlottee - would you both be interested in helping me do a session in the Topics area on a Celtic Languages Resource share? Basically share what Celtic language learning resources we know about, have used or experienced and enjoy. I’m thinking like language books, actual online courses, self-learning resources, social media learning groups, meetups, websites, podcasts, youtube and streaming television and radio. Certainly not a comprehensive list, but what we’ve personally made use of.
I don’t know what time zone you’re both in. I can’t do the open slot for tomorrow, but there are sessions open in Topic #2 are at http://bit.ly/LF-Activities - it could be fun!
Hi ScottBE,
My motivation to learn Scottish Gaelic is because it was my grandmother’s first language. An uncle, and two aunts were fluent in early life. But because the provincial education did all it could to stamp out the language, the home language was only English by the time my mother came along. She only learned the swear words. I started to learn Gaelic many years ago but pressures of family life and career caused me to stop.
I have carried on some of the family’s Scottish traditions by becoming a piper and played in bands for many years. I even taught my grandson how to play via Skype over the internet. He lives in Germany.
As you can see, there are so many different reasons to lead you to a language. Mine is quite personal.
Thanks Paul!
I am also a piper so I can relate to that. How are you learning gaelic? Are you following a course or teaching yourself?
Sounds like a great idea Sadelle! Unfortunately they are all during the day for my timezone and as I’m a teacher that’s a bit tricky for me since I’ll be at school during those times. We could use this thread to post the resources if it doesn’t work out for timings, otherwise feel free to go ahead without me and I’ll catch up with you guys later!
all Celtic languages have their beauty and diversity. I speak Welsh, and, as it happens, last week BBC Radio Cymru celebrated ‘Wythnos Dysgwyr Cymraeg’ (Welsh Learner’s Week) with different programmes and discussions: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/18y2rPRh9DFSLtTwP6kMS1z/wythnos-dathlu-dysgu-cymraeg-bbc-radio-cymru.
You can follow lots of people and societies on Twitter who tweet in Welsh (or biligually) and there’s a translate facility to translate into English in Twitter. @cymraeg is one to start, but plenty of individuals, bands, groups etc.
Also worth listening to Welsh language pop music (folk music isn’t such a thing in Wales as in Ireland or Brittany). Try @YwsGwynedd (a singer) who tweets with his weekly favourite songs including list of Welsh songs who’ve had 100,000+ downloads on Spotify.
Say Something in Welsh is a popular way to learn Welsh which also has an online community of learners and speakers to back you up. https://www.saysomethingin.com/welsh
Hi Siôn, I’m so happy to hear there are as many resources for Welsh online. I think especially the communities of learners are so so important, especially for folks learning on their own. Even for me, with a 3 hours class and local community every week for Irish, I still appreciate the online communities. It’s how I find out about events, new websites and new podcasts all the time.
Question for you, is there a Welsh language TV station that has streaming available abroad, akin to what TG4 does in Ireland? If I had to pick ONE resource I love the most that is available to me as a learner in the Americas, it would be streaming shows from TG4.
One of these days I’d love to try out some Welsh. I loved the presentation that Dafydd from iTalki did on an Intro to Welsh. I learned so much in 45 minutes.
@ScottBE oh dear, yes I see the afternoon (I’m assuming your evening) sessions are now all booked up. That’s too bad. I guess I waited too long. But that’s ok, we can keep the convo going here, and maybe pop into the Moon Café some time if a few of us want to chat at a better hour.
S4C is the Welsh-language channel, but I’m not sure if it’s available outside Wales. Maybe not because it’s also hosted on-line by the BBC. But worth going to http://s4c.cymru to check.
S4C puts clips of programmes, often with subtitles in Welsh or English on Facebook, so it’s worth following that.
Also BBC Radio Cymru is probalby available online but they also have Facebook for Radio Cymru and there’s Radio Cymru 2 which is quite new and is, at the moment, only a morning broadcast between 6.30 - 9.00 or 7.00-10.00 on Sunday and that’s mostly Welsh pop music (with some English music) and less speech.
… actually, had a look at the Radio Cymru Facebook page and, as last week was Welsh Learner’s Week, there are short interviews in Welsh with people who’ve either learnt Welsh or, who were raised in Welsh (or went to Welsh medium schools) but are from non-white ‘Welsh’ backgrounds - e.g. Sara (born in Yr Aifft - Egypt - father from Cardiff). They’ve got Welsh subtitles but not English: https://www.facebook.com/bbcradiocymru
… and clips on S4C on Facebook, with Welsh subtitles but brief description in English https://www.facebook.com/S4C
I was learning via cassette tapes (it was that long ago 
but I can’t remember where from.Doing it on my own. Now Gaelic is 3rd on my to-do list…if I last that long.
Oh this is great - I’ve been thinking about learning Gàidhlig for a while now to connect me back into my Scottish ancestry (we’re Macleod’s on my mum’s side With roots in the Hebrides). I would absolutely love some recommendations for music or favourite resources for absolute beginners. I’m having a look at the learnGaelic site someone linked and am I right in thinking there’s Duolingo too. Or is that for Irish Gaelic?
I saw on the programme that there is Welsh italki practice today at 10am (London time). Is anyone joining the practice? I’m thinking of joining if I have the time
I don’t have much in the way of Gàidhlig resources, although I did just find this blog post: https://www.fluentin3months.com/scottish-gaelic/
Also I’ve dipped into this old series for a few episodes (before I started my Irish classes) - it’s a bit outdated, but still fun to watch: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Speaking+Our+Language
And yes, Gàidhlig is available on Duolingo though I can’t speak to how good it is there.
@ScottBE @charlottee @Paul_R @Jinyoung @Sion_Jobbins and anyone else…There was a wonderful Poetry Session held last Friday, created by folks in the Poetry and Language thread.
There’s talk of doing another one and it would be wonderful if we could entice a few other Celtic language speakers to share a poem. I shared one in Irish by Áine Ní Ghlinn with the group. Here’s the link to that thread… Poetry and Language
Sadelle Wiltshire, Thanks for the invite but I am not actively working on Gaelic. It is somewhat further down my to-do list.
Dia dhaoibh, a chairde! Tá áthas orm a rá go mbeidh Ciorcal Comhrá i nGaeilge ar fáil Dé Domhnaigh, 17ú lá Deireadh Fomhair 2021 ag 13:00 ET (am i Nua Eabhrach), más suim agaibh, sa Earth Exchange. Tá súil agam go mbeidh sibh in ann a theacht.
Slán go fóill!
Hi Friends, I’m happy to say that there will be an Irish language Conversation circle happening on Sunday, Oct. 17 at 13:00 ET (1pm New York time), in Earth Exchange if you have any interest. I hope you will be able to come.
