Rhugl neu Be? Wel, helo Dysgwyr a gaf i ddechrau wrth ddweud Diolch mawr i chi am benderfynu dysgu ein hiaith hyfryd. Ac ers pryd dach chi wedi bod yn dysgu? Blwyddyn, dwy flynedd, tair neu mwy? Tric yw’r cwestiwn yna achos ar ôl y flwyddyn gyntaf mae gynnoch chi ddigon o Gymraeg i ddysgu wrth ymarfer, felly y tro nesaf mae rhywun yn gofyn y cwestiwn y ffordd gorau i ymateb yw “Mi wnes i ddechrau dysgu tair blynedd yn ôl a dw i wedi bod yn ymarfer am ddwy flynedd erbyn hyn.” Yn y ffordd yna dach chi’n ateb y cwestiwn yn gywir ond ar yr un pryd yn dweud wrth y person sydd yn eich holi eich bod chi yna i gael sgwrs. Yn rhy aml mae ‘r Cymry, os maen nhw’n gweld chi fel dysgwyr, yn rhy barod i ddweud “Da iawn chi.” ac wedyn mynd ymlaen i siarad gyda chi yn Saesneg. Dydy hynny ddim yn eich helpu i symud ymlaen gyda’r iaith. Peth arall hefyd, peidiwch â phoeni am bryd byddech chi’n rhugl. Blynyddoedd yn ôl pan o’n i’n trefnu teithiau cerdded i ddysgwyr ym Mhowys roeddwn i’n siarad efo un o’n cyd cerddwyr ac er ein bod ni wedi siarad dim ond Cymraeg gyda’n gilydd am ychydig o flynyddoedd roedd hi’n mynnu nad oedd hi’n rhugl. Gofynnais iddi pam oedd hi’n dweud hynny. “Dwi ddim yn gwybod pob gair eto” oedd ei hateb. Ers hynny dw i wedi teimlo bod y syniad o ruglder yn effeithio’n negyddol ar hunan hyder dysgwyr. Felly pam na wnawn ni newid agwedd tipyn bach a meddwl am y teimlad o fod yn gyfforddus gyda’r iaith yn hytrach na chadw at y syniad o ruglder. Rŵan pa golofn wnaethoch chi ddarllen cyntaf, yr un Gymraeg neu’r un Saesneg? Os y Saesneg, twt, twt, dylech chi ddangos mwy o hyder a chyn symud i’r dudalen nesaf darllenwch y Gymraeg ar unwaith! Os y Gymraeg, da iawn, marciau llawn ac ewch ymlaen.

Fluent or What? Well, hello Learners and can I start by saying a big Thank you for deciding to learn our lovely language. And since when have you been learning? A year, two years, three or more? That was a trick question because after the first year you have enough Welsh to learn by practising, so the next time someone asks you that question the best way to answer is. I started learning three years ago and I have been practicing for two years now.” That way you have answered the question correctly but at the same time told the person who asked you that you are there to have a chat. All too often Welsh people, if they see you as a learner they are too ready to say “Good for you” and then go ahead and speak to you in English. That doesn’t help you to progress with the language. And another thing, don’t worry about when you’ll be fluent! some years ago when I arranged walks for learners in Powys I was talking to one of my fellow walkers and even though we had only ever spoken Welsh to each other for quite a few years she insisted that she wasn’t fluent. I asked her why she said this. “I don’t know every word yet.” she answered. Since then I have felt that the idea of fluency affects negatively on the self confidence of learners. So lets change our attitude a little and think about being comfortable with the language rather than keep to the idea of fluency. Now which column did you read first, the Welsh one or the English? If the English, tut tut, you should show more confidence and before you move on to the next page read the Welsh at once! If the Welsh, well done, full marks and on you go.