September is an excellent month to start learning Welsh.
Lots of courses start then, in line with the beginning of the academic year in September.
Being August 2010 at the time of writing, that’s around three weeks’ time.
If you’re an absolute beginner and are pretty serious about learning, the wlpan intensive course is a big favourite. It would require some time commitment but to learn and absorb a language that’s probably what it will take.
Welsh for Adults have all corners of Wales fairly well covered. They run classes in the early morning, lunchtime and evening.
Alternatively there are very short taster courses available if you just want to try it and pick up some useful phrases.
As well as Welsh for Adults there are other learning providers. (Feel free to leave a comment below if you have a recommendation.) Your workplace may be able to offer a course through Acen or another company.
If you want to learn in England or Scotland, try contacting the local Welsh society for help – this map or list may give you a clue.
After that the next big time for Welsh courses starting is January. But don’t put it off.
If three to five times a week is not ‘intensive’ enough for you then check out Nant Gwrtheyrn residential courses in stunning Pen Llŷn – or ‘boot camp’ as some people refer to it, in the nicest possible sense.
There’s a lot to be gained from learning Welsh by attending classes in an offline environment – you get to meet other learners face-to-face (who are often just as daunted as you might be) and of course have a tutor to encourage you and correct you.
That said you can also study at home and/or online and some reputable courses are available – these options certainly have their place if your circumstances prevent you enrolling in an offline course. BBC have a free video course online (more of a taster) and SaySomethingInWelsh have had many good reports about their online courses. Another one is Cadw Sŵn. There are others of course – I’m sure other learners would be grateful for any feedback or observations on these so feel free to leave a comment below.
Pob lwc!
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All good advice and excellent resources. One thing I’d add is that if you’ve done any Welsh at all in the past, and you’re thinking of getting back into learning, don’t wait until the start of the academic year — you might be reading this in February 2011, for example, and it’d be a shame to leave it six months before joining a class. Your local Welsh for Adults centre will be able to put you in touch with tutors running courses in your area, and they are always (trust me) looking for more students.
If you do want an electronic resource, Aberystwyth University have just released CBAC’s Cwrs Mynediad material as an iPod App (see http://bit.ly/bMuROL).