Language app Duolingo revealed last year that Welsh is the fastest-growing language in the UK meaning that more UK-based app users were learning Welsh than any other language. Welsh publishing house Y Lolfa, with the support of a publishing grant from the Books Council of Wales, will publish the book in both Welsh and English, and it will be available to buy in the spring. O law i lawby T. Rowland Hughes- A middle-aged bachelor prepares to move house after his mother’s death. The book focuses on memories held in the furniture. Clare has always been aware of her Welsh identity, and since 2008, the Welsh language has played an increasingly important part in her life. Welsh language studies started at City Lit, Bangor University, Nant Gwrtheryn Language Centre in NW Wales, Cardiff University, and with long phone calls to long suffering Welsh cousins. In 2010 she started teaching at City Lit, and has taught Welsh in various capacities ever since. The books are graded at four levels for learners – Entry, Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced, and the aim is to provide learners with opportunities to enjoy reading about a range of subjects. The series is the result of a successful partnership between the National Centre for Learning Welsh and the Books Council of Wales.

Helen Prosser, Director of Teaching and Learning at the National Centre for Learning Welsh, said: “Creating opportunities for our learners to enjoy using their Welsh outside the classroom is a crucial part of our work at the Centre, and the Amdani series is extremely popular. She said: "It made a huge difference to hear the emotions come through via the Welsh language – especially since in the play Lady Mortimer's husband, who speaks no Welsh, desperately wishes he understood what his wife was saying to him. Courses for beginners, where you will learn to speak about everyday activities such as your work, family and friends, and hobbies.

Enjoy your Welsh

Kathryn in costume as Lady Mortimer as part of her Zoom Shakespeare reading group. (Image: Kathryn Wilson)

She added: "Even though the pandemic has turned the world topsy-turvy one of its silver linings for me is discovering Welsh." To try something new Liz Day, 33, PenarthAmdani’ is a lively series of reading books specifically designed for adults who are learning Welsh. The books have been carefully graded across four different levels – Mynediad/Entry, Sylfaen/Foundation, Canolradd/Intermediate and Uwch/Advanced. Modrybedd Afradlonby Mihangel Morgan- In Mihangel Morgan’‘Modrybedd Afradlon’, two elderly sisters disappear with their nephew on a road trip, but there is a twist in the tale! Mae'r wefan yma y ndefnyddio cwcis yn gwella eich profiad wrth lywio'r wefan. O'r rhain, mae'r rhai a ddynodir yn "angenrheidiol" yn cael eu storio yn eich porwr gwe gan eu bod yn hanfodol i'r ffordd mae'r wefan yn gweithio. Rydym hefyd yn defnyddio cwcis eraill i ddadansoddi sut mae ein ymwelwyr yn defnyddio ein gwefan. Caiff y cwcis yma eu storio yn eich porwr gwe gyda'ch bendith chi. Mae gennych yr opsiwn i wrthod y cwcis yma, ond gall eu gwrthod effeithio eich profiad o ddefnyddio'r wefan. Suitable for those who are familiar with the main patterns of Welsh. There’s a little more writing, reading and listening at this level.

The charity World Book Day® is holding its annual celebration on Thursday, 2 March 2023, a day dedicated to ensuring all children can develop a love of reading. A biography of the singer and presenter Wynne Evans. A very personal and honest history of Wynne and his family, his experiences as a famous tenor, and his journey to learn Welsh as an adult. The project was coordinated by the BLAS programme at Bangor’s Pontio Arts Centre, which has a long-standing relationship with the North Wales Africa Society. It was one of a number of activities which received funding from the Books Council of Wales’ New Audiences Grant in spring 2022. The National Centre for Learning Welsh and the Books Council of Wales are marking a milestone this year as they celebrate five years of the popular Amdani series of Welsh books for learners. During 2023 every title in the series will be made available as an audiobook for the first time.

He said: "I first discovered the language on a rugby trip to a Wales v Ireland game when Hen Wlad fy Nhadau was sung by the Welsh supporters with such raw passion and such a love of their country that it moved me deeply and that night we socialised with a group from Bangor who happened to be Welsh speakers. Why not try out your Welsh on our online taster courses. These courses introduce everyday words and phrases and are available to everyone, for free. Stryd y Bont follows the stories of people living on the same street in a Welsh town. What secrets do they have and do they really know their neighbours? The heartfelt story of two sisters who try to come to terms with their mother’s illness, and its effect on their own lives.. A Welsh-language adaptation by Elin Meek o Forget to Remember by Alan Maley. Short stories with a good pinch of humour, by an author who is a Welsh learner herself. You’ll find adventure, detective and science-fiction stories here.

She said: "Cwtch. Cwrw. Diolch. That was pretty much all I could say in Welsh until I started an intensive course just over a year ago. Fast-forward a year and I managed to hold a conversation in Welsh on live TV!" Nid yr A470by Ian Parricharts the author’s adventures and the people he meets as he travels the length of this infamous road from Llandudno to Cardiff. Môr a Mynyddand its sequel Plethu by Rhian Cadwaladrwere publishedby Carreg Gwalchin 2018 and 2020, respectively. The main character tries to weave together two families in two countries, and the story follows the ups and downs. Marie-Pascale said: “I’m happy to have been a part of this MARRIAGE OF CULTURES that led to so many smiles and to the cognitive involvement of our children: being tomorrow’s ADULTS that will understand the unifying BEAUTY OF DIVERSITY and uphold it.” A Welsh-language adaptation by Manon Steffan Ros of Windows of the Mind by Frank Brennan. This collection of diverse short stories will be sure to make you think. Get to know complex characters, remote locations, and stories that will stay in your mind for a long time.

For the love of Shakespeare

Arwel Jones, Head of Publishing Development at the Books Council, said: “Five years ago there were no books for learners that were designed to match the national learning standards. In collaboration with the National Centre, the Books Council decided to commission a range of 20 books for that purpose, and the Amdani series was launched. By now, publishers in Wales are regularly producing books for the series, and there are 40 titles available. Thanks to the New Audiences Grant funding from Creative Wales, we have been able to support the production of an audiobook for every title in the series, so that you can soon enjoy these stories through your headphones as well as on paper.” Liam has since completed two intensive courses in Nant Gwerthyrn and Cardiff and passed written and oral exams. He hopes to move to Wales and use his language skills every day. Liam first encountered Welsh while at a rugby match. Since then he has passed his sylfaen (foundation) exams and attended the Eisteddfod twice. In the small village of Tredafydd in the south Wales valleys, Megan and Huw become lovers. But will their love conquer the circumstances? Death, their families and years apart are all against them.