Cwrs Cymraeg Y Mileniwm, 2000

As most of you know, Cymdeithas Madog celebrated the millenium by holding its annual Welsh language course in Wales this past August. Participants all “went home” to Trinity College (Coleg y Drindod), Carmarthen for the annual week-long Welsh submersion course. This marks the first time that the course has been held outside of North America and students were privileged to experience Welsh as a living language in the town and marketplace.p>

Sponsored by the National Welsh American Foundation and the Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association, the course has become a staple of the North Americans’ study of the “language of heaven”. This year’s local course organizer, Cefin Campbell, who has been teaching Welsh to adult learners for almost 20 years, resides in Carmarthen. In addition to returning with his delightful sense of humor, Cefin was a wealth of information about the area in and around Carmarthenshire. Six different levels of study of the Welsh language were available with three classes each day, and a variety of workshops were offered in the afternoons.

Students were encouraged to try more than one workshop or to spend the week on the same subject if they so choose. Marc Stonelake and Hefina Phillips both led gweithdai (workshops) on verbal practice in reading easy passages in Welsh. Mari Dalis presented a discussion on “making the most of the Eisteddfod” which was found very helpful to those students who had elected to stay over at the college dorm to enjoy a few extra days in Wales to experience the local flavor, shop, go sightseeing and spend one or more days at the Eisteddfod. Other workshops included the ever-popular folk singing, Papur y Cwrs (course newspaper), a workshop for the higher level students entirely in Welsh which addressed the literature of the Eisteddfod, Background to Welsh politics and language, Welsh websites and resources for Welsh learners.

Evenings were their own delight as each brought a different entertainment. Students were welcomed Sunday night with wine and cheese and were addressed by the Mayor of Carmarthen. Many thought that the highlight of the week was the Twmpath Dawns (an evening of Welsh Folk dancing) on Monday complete with the musical group Jac-y-Do who performedtirelessly for their appreciative audience.

Tuesday night saw students shuttled via minibus to downtown Carmarthen to encounter the real Wales in the Drovers Pub and share in a lively trivia quiz with Steve Morris as MC.

Wednesday afternoon all were treated to a bus trip to Tywi Valley including stops at the National Botanical Gardens, St. Teilo’s Church in Llandeilo and Castell Carreg Cennen. The next night students traveled to Llandeilo to the White Hart Inn for a sing-a-long where Nia Clwyd, one of Wales best known folk singers, played the harp and sang.

Thursday night we were privileged to view a Welsh Language film, Solomon a Gaenor, featuring the popular Welsh Actor, Ioan Gruffudd, at Trinity’s own Halliwell Theatre.

All students themselves were the entertainment at a Noson Lawen on Friday night. The varied talents of course participants was made evident as the group enjoyed skits, poetry, recitations and music. Cymdeithas Madog’s Eisteddfod competition was won by Mary Williams Norton from Poynette, Wisconsin who was presented with the traditional hand carved chair to keep for a year. The Chair was made in Wales and is engraved with the names of previous winners. Steve Watkins won the first/second year event.

The following afternoon all traveled by bus to Cardiff and St. Fagan’s Folk Museum for a delightful and informative day. The week was over all too soon as students gladly and sadly gathered at Halliwell Centre’s Merlin Restaurant for their farewell banquet. Following the feast, the guest of the evening, Ron Davies, addressed the gathering. All teachers from Wales who had attended previous Cymdeithas Madog Courses where invited to attend the banquet and old friendships were once again joyfully renewed.

The last day of the cwrs, Sunday, the National Eisteddfod held this year in nearby Llaneilli, was the destination. Everyone enjoyed the many displays of Welsh and Celtic organizations, especially the Welsh Learners Pavillion, purchased memorabilia and Welsh literature and music, and visited the cultural events. Many students chose to talk a several kilometer walk along the coast or see the famous Welsh baritone, Bryn Terfel that evening.

We are looking forward to 2001, the site for the Cymdeithas Madog Course will be Emory University in Atlanta.

Cwrs Cymraeg Y Man Cyfarfod, 1999

Well, what a week it was! Cwrs Cymraeg Toronto ’99, Cymdeithas Madog’s 23rd annual Welsh language week, has now come and gone. And from the responses by students and teachers alike, it was a great week of Welsh language learning. For those not able to join us, here’s your Cwrs Cymraeg Toronto ’99 Wrap-Up.

On July 18, seventy-eight Welsh language students from all over North America gathered on the campus of York University in Toronto for Cwrs Cymraeg Toronto ’99, Cymdeithas Madog’s 23rd annual Welsh language week. Some of the students had been learning Welsh for years while others were completely new to the language. But all were looking forward to a week of hard work (and a little fun). And they weren’t disappointed.

There were seven classes covering six levels. The beginners were introduced to the Welsh language by Hefina Phillips and Aled Davies. Those with a little background in “yr hen iaith” (“the old language”) were in the capable hands of Alun Hughes and Steve Morris. For students with more experience in Welsh, there were classes lead by Mark Stonelake, Heini Gruffudd and Emyr Davies. All in all, there were classes for every level of Welsh language learning.

After classes, there were workshops ranging from basic reading skills and an introduction to Welsh poetry to viewing the latest CD-ROM based learning materials. And after the workshops, the Cwrs Cymraeg Toronto ’99 choir met to rehearse. By the end of the week, the choir was so good, it would put the Morriston Orpheus to shame.

In the evening, the activities were more relaxed. They ranged from a welcoming reception (hosted by the Toronto St. David’s Society), a twmpath Welsh folk dance (complete with some horned rams) and a quiz (with fabulous prizes) to a Toronto bus tour (complete with a picnic and a cymanfa ganu at Dewi Sant Welsh United Church), an evening in the Elephant and Castle British pub and a Welsh language film. The highlight of the evening activities was the Saturday night noson lawen where classes and individuals took turns providing the evening’s entertainment. The evening concluded with the awards for the cwrs eisteddfod. There were many deserving winners in three levels. Particular note should go to Paul Graves for winning the prestigious Cymdeithas Madog chair.

All in all, it was a very busy week. And when Sunday rolled around, the students left for home tired but now knowing so much more Welsh.

It takes a lot of people to make a Cymdeithas Madog Welsh language week work. At the risk of leaving some deserving names out, the local committee of Cwrs Cymraeg Toronto ’99 would like to thank:

• The fabulous teaching staff of Aled Davies, Hefina Phillips, Alun Hughes, Steve Morris, Mark Stonelake and Emyr Davies. Particular thanks to the lead teacher for Cwrs Cymraeg Toronto ’99, Heini Gruffudd, for all his hard work over the past year.
• Wayne Harbert and the Board of Cymdeithas Madog for all their work to make this year’s cwrs possible.
• Reverend Jackson, the Board of Session and the congregation of Dewi Sant Welsh United Church for their great welcome and support.
• Myfanwy Bajaj and our good friends at the Toronto St. David’s Society for their help
• The staff of York University for making our stay so pleasant.
• But most importantly, thanks to the 78 students of Cwrs Cymraeg Toronto ’99 for their interest in the Welsh language and their driving enthusiasm. Cwrs Cymraeg and Cymdeithas Madog only exist because of the determination of students such as these. It takes many hours of work by many people to organize a Cwrs Cymraeg. But when you see the effort these students put into learning Welsh, it makes every second worthwhile. Diolch yn fawr i chi i gyd – thanks to you all.

Cwrs Cymraeg Y Pont Aur, 1998

The seismically active San Francisco area was rocked by the descent of the 22nd annual Cymdeithas Madog week-long intensive Welsh language course. Local organizers David and Karen Evans were on hand greeting students as they arrived, arranging transportation to and from the campus and assisting them throughout the week. With their invaluable help, students were able to settle into their dormitory rooms and gather their energy for a week of learning the “language of heaven”. The North American course is held every July with the support of the Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association and the National Welsh American Foundation.

Teaching on his sixth Cwrs Cymraeg, lead teacher, Cefin Campbell, returned from Llandeilo, Wales accompanied by three other Welsh instructors. Basil Davies, who is well-known to Y Drych readers from his monthly column, Un Cam Ar Y Tro, Steve Morris and Sue George all traveled from Wales to guide and encourage their students. North American teachers Marta Diaz, Hefina Phillips and Pawl Birt rounded out the staff.

Students were divided into six levels with the assistance of a placement test and received four language classes daily. Afternoons were filled with workshops selected by the students according to their individual interests.

The Welsh theme continued into the evenings as each day brought a new activity to challenge and excite the participants. A Twmpath Dawns (Welsh Folk Dancing), Trivia Quiz night, Welsh language film, tour of the University’s Bancroft Library “Welsh in the West” exhibit and a Welsh Pub night at Henry’s Pub in the nearby Hotel Durant were all well attended.

Highlights of the afternoons included plenary presentations by Professors from the Celtic Studies Program of the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Kathryn Klar spoke on “Madog in America”, Dr. Donna Reid explored the “Symbology of the Eisteddfod, Professor Eve Sweetser explained the History of Celtic Studies and Dr. Annalee Rejhon offered information on “The Welsh Arthur”. In addition, the course teaching staff led a discussion on “Devolution: A Year Later”.

One of the outstanding events of the week was an excursion to the Black Diamond Mine Regional Preserve. Students toured the grounds and mine and had a picnic lunch. Five coal mining towns thrived there until the early 1900s operating California’s largest mining operation of coal (black diamonds). Many of the resident miners were immigrants from Wales. On the site remains a Protestant cemetery, Rose Hill,where course participants were able to read Welsh inscriptions on the old headstones.

Culminating the week was a banquet at the University’s International House followed by a Noson Lawen (cheerful evening) typical of Welsh gatherings the world over.

Entertainment explored the talents of the staff and students alike and included music, poetry, skits and recitations. Capping off the night was the announcement of the winnersof the Cymdeithas Madog Eisteddfod. Kevin Rottet of Whitewater, Wisconsin was “Chaired” as the 1998 Bard and was given the guardianship for the next year of a hand-carved chair made in Wales and engraved with the names of the previous winners.

On the last morning, students, staff and visitors attended a Gymanfa Ganu before taking their sad departure for another year. Looking forward to 1999, Toronto’s York University will be the site for the next Cymdeithas Madog Cwrs Cymraeg.

Cwrs Cymraeg Y Mynydd Glas, 1996

Roedd cyrraedd Poultney, Vermont, fel cyrraedd Cymru i’r pedwar athro o Gymru a oedd newydd dreulio rhai dyddiau yn ninas wallgo Efrog Newydd.

Y wlad yn y lle cyntaf: gwlad fryniog, a’r golygfeydd yn ymestyn yn bell; tomen ambell chwarel lechi’n dringo’r llechweddau uchwben y llynnoedd llonydd… Y prif wahaniaeth yn y wlad oedd diffyg cloddiau, a mwy o goed.

A phentref Poultney ei hun: er ei fod yn bentref tawel, braf, yn nodweddiadol o bentrefi hyfryd LLoegr Newydd, roedd yma ddigon o olion bywyd Cymraeg byrlymus blynyddoedd a fu. Roedd y Ddraig Goch yn chwifio o flaen ambell dy, llechi Cymreig eu golwg ar do ambell dy, capeli Cymreig yma a thraw, ambell un o’r hen drigolion yn dal i siarad Cymraeg, a’r mynwentydd yn llawn o feddau rhai a anwyd yng ngogledd Cymru.

Nid cyd-ddigwyddiad oedd hyn oll, wrth gwrs. Yma y cynhaliwyd y cwrs Cymraeg cyntaf, ugain mlynedd yn ol, wrth i ymwybyddiaeth am y dreftadaeth Gymreig a Chymraeg gael ei deffro ymhlith rhai o’r trigolion wedi gwaith a wnaed gan rai yn y Green Mountain College.

Manteisiodd y cwrs eleni ar y cysylltiadau Cymreig yn yr ardal, a dyma oedd un o’r agweddau mwyaf diddorol i’r athrawon o Gymru. Cynhaliwyd Cymanfa Ganu yn y Capel Presbyteraidd Cymreig, a threuliwyd awr ddiddan yn astudio’r casgliad llyfrau Cymraeg a’r arddangosfa yn y Coleg ei hun. Ymwelwyd ag amgueddfa lechi newydd, lle y sgyrsiwyd a William Williams, hen chwarelwr sydd bellach yn grefftwr llwyau caru, ac aethpwyd ar daith o gwmpas chwareli, mynwentydd a chapeli’r ardal.

Am fod rhyw 75 o fyfyrwyr wedi ymuno a’r cwrs eleni, roedd modd i bedwar athro ddod draw o Gymru. Mae tri ohonynt – Heini Gruffudd, Mark Stonelake a Steve Morris – yn dysgu cyrsiau Cymraeg i oedolion gyda Phrifysgol Cymru Abertawe. Emyr Davies, gwr dawnus sy’n dysgu yng ngholeg y Drinidod, Caerfyrddin, oedd y pedwerydd. Ymunodd tri athro o America a hwy – Marta Weingartner-Diaz o Indianapolis, Paul Birt o Ottawa, ac Alun Hughes o Ontario.

Trefnwyd rhaglen lawn o ddysgu – rhyw 4.5 awr y dydd, gan ddechrau am hanner awr wedi wyth y bore. Trefnwyd y dysgwyr yn chwe lefel, o ddechreuwyr i rai rhugl. Wedi’r dysgu, cynhaliwyd bob prynhawn nifer o weithgareddau, gan gynnwys cor, dosbarth canu gwerin, dawnsio gwerin, dosbarthiadau darllen, a phapur y cwrs. Cafwyd rhaglen lawn fin nos hefyd, gan gynnwys Twmpath, Cymanfa Ganu, Noson Ganu mewn tafarn, Darlith ar Gymry’r ardal, a gwelwyd ffilm ‘Hedd Wyn’. Roeddem yn ffodus fod Jack Lewis, llywydd Cymdeithas Cymanfa Ganu Genedlaethol Gymreig UDA, yno i arwain y Gymanfa yn ei ddull hwyliog a brwd ei hun. Gorffennwyd yr wythnos gyda Noson Lawen ac Eisteddfod hwyliog.

Roedd ochr anffurfiol i’r gweithgareddau hefyd, a’r ochr hon yn dueddol o fynd ymlaen yn hwyr i’r nos. Yn ol y son yfwyd y dafarn leol yn sych o gwrw ‘Bass’ un noson, ac ar ddiwedd y cwrs, bu rhai mor ffol a gweld y wawr yn torri… ond gwell peidio a manylu.

Roedd llawer o ddysgwyr ifainc brwd ar y cwrs y tro hwn, a chafwyd dau ddosbarth i ddechreuwyr. Roedd y rhain yn dod o sawl rhan o’r Unol Daleithiau, a phob un a’i reswm ei hun dros ddysgu’r iaith. Roedd un llanc ifanc o Efrog Newydd wedi clywed ei fam-gu yn adrodd gweddi’r Arglwydd, a’i ddymuniad yn awr oedd sicrhau ei fod ef, trwy ddysgu’r iaith, yn peri i’r iaith barhau yn ei deulu. Daeth Aned, merch a enillodd gystadleuaeth prydferthwch yn Puerto Rico, i’r cwrs ar ol cael ei chyflwyno i’r Mabinogi mewn cwrs prifysgol yn Hawaii. Hedfannodd dau arall yn eu cwrs yn eu hawyren breifat… mae’r storiau’n ddi-ben-draw.

Roedd yno hefyd nifer o’r hen ffyddloniaid, sydd yn cyfrannu’n helaeth tuag at yr holl drefniadau. Bu Dick Myers, Loretta Close, Mary Elen Palmer a Janice Edwards yn enwedig o brysur yn sicrhau bod y trefniadau lleol yn effeithiol. Heb y rhain, ni fyddai cwrs, ac ni ellir ond rhyfeddu at y gwaith aruthrol a wneir gan y rhain ac eraill yn wirfoddol i sicrhau bod cyfle i bobl yn yr Unol Daleithiau dreulio wythnos yn dysgu’r Gymraeg, a chael hwyl yr un pryd.

Mae gan lawer o’r mynychwyr awydd (a threfniadau pendant) i ddod i Gymru yn ystod y flwyddyn, ac ni allwn ond gobeithio na chant eu siomi ar ol treulio wythnos wefreddiol yn dysgu’r iaith. Yn sicr, fe gafodd yr athrawon eu hysbrydoli gan ymroddiad y dysgwyr, a chan y diddordeb newydd yn y Gymraeg sydd fel pe bai’n ailgynnau yn yr Unol Daleithiau.

Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon. Mae’r syniad o Gymru erioed wedi bod yn gysylltiedig wrth yr iaith. Er y gellir parhau ymdeimlad cenedlaethol heb yr iaith, collir hanfod Cymreictod. Mae’n sicr bod llawer o gymdeithasau Cymreig ledled America’n cyfrannu at yr ymdeimlad cenedlaethol, ond mae rhaid edmygu’n arbennig ymdrechion Cymdeithas Madog sydd yn trefnu’r cwrs iaith hwn mewn modd mor broffesiynol.

Cwrs Cymraeg Baltimore, 1994

Cwrs Cymraeg Baltimore a’r Fro at Towson State College was another hit. Participants of this year’s cwrs were again treated to the varied teaching styles of the instructors from Wales.

Alun Ifans of Dyfed and headmaster of a primary school brought his enthusiasm as well as his special sense of style. Those who were in his class were treated to his version of “Welsh Aerobics.”

Ken Kane, an architect from Cardiff, brought with him his unique sense of humor and his ability to teach through the medium of sarcasm, certainly a new approach to learning a langauge, but a successful one.

Lead teacher Clive Rowlands, also from Cardiff, teaches Welsh to adults. Clive, who was with us for an unprecedented five consecutive years, was the calming force in the sea of unexpected occurrences.

The teaching team also included a North American contingency. From Ottawa, Ontario, we had Paul Birt; from Bloomington, Indiana, we had Marta Weingartner; and from Atlanta, Georgia, we had Hefina Phillips.

The teachers, as usual, worked very hard to accommodate the learning styles of a varied group of students. The formal language classes filled the morning and early afternoon hours, and the informal programs were offered in the late afternoons and evenings. The informal events included music, dance, and videos from Wales, as well as a panel discussion on the status of the Welsh language.

Along with the week-long language classes came two tours of the local area. There was a trip through Towson and part of Baltimore to the Inner Harbor. Dr. Eugene Owen of Baltimore gave a guided tour. His expansive knowledge of the area made the trip very educational and extremely interesting. After visiting the Inner Harbor, the tour continued to Fort McHenry where a short film showed the history of the fort and the writing of The Star Spangled Banner offshore during the naval battle there. It was pointed out specially that the original 15-strip flag was woven of Welsh wool. After touring the fort, a picnic in the rain preceded the return to the college in song led by Danny Proud of Minnesota.

The second trip led through the countryside to Delta, Pennsylvania, with a brief stop at the Mason-Dixon line, and the Old Line Museum with its six-foot hand-carved slate clock. The Museum in Delta chronicles the history of the area, with its close Welsh associations with clothing, documents, and tools. The tour also included Delta’s old slate jail, and the churchyard where many Welsh immigrants are buried underneath grave-stones carved in slate. Rehoboth Chapel in Delta treated the cwrs tourees to a delightful dinner made by the Ladies Aid Society. After dinner, there was a gymanfa ganu with inspired singing that was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone there.

Back at Towson State College, Saturday evening everyone retired to Auburn House for a wonderful dinner. Afterwards, students participated in a noson lawen unlike anything seen in Wales, or anywhere else. It was definitely a unique mixture of the sublime and the ridiculous. Included was a tribute to Gone with the Wind in honor of the 1995 Cwrs in Atlanta. The noson lawen led into the adjudications of the cwrs eisteddfod, and the chairing of this year’s bard. Bob Roser’s winning prose was written on the theme Pe bawn i… (If I were…).

The week ended with Sunday morning worship, the service given in memory of Larry Williams, a Baltimore resident and past cwrs participant, who had died during the year. After the service, very emotional good-byes were said with promises to see everyone again at next year’s cwrs in Atlanta.

Cwrs Cymraeg Waukesha, 1992

The words of lead teacher Clive Rowlands say it all. ‘Arbennig iawn’ is how he described Cwrs Cymraeg Waukesha, which took place at Carroll College from July 25 to August 2, 1992.

It was indeed a ‘very special’ course, and not just because it provided an additional seventh day of teaching compared to previous courses. The facilities were excellent, the organization was smooth-running, the students (over 60 of them from all over North America) were enthusiastic, the quality of instruction was top-class, and the atmosphere was warm and friendly.

The course began on the Saturday, with an evening wine-and-cheese reception. Teaching began at 8:30 the following morning and continued with breaks for coffee and lunch through until 2:15. This was to be the pattern each day, with the remainder of most afternoons devoted to a dosbarth-ar-y-cyd (joint class) and a choice of language-related activities.

Accompanying Clive Rowlands were two other teachers from Wales, Alun Ifans and Ken Kane. Though both were new to Cwrs Cymraeg, they took to it like ducks to water and were instant hits. Whether it was Alun’s manic enthusiasm (in leading the folk dancing) or Ken’s idiosyncratic sense of humour (when he lectured on Welsh place names), they ensured that there was never a dull moment.

The faculty included one other newcomer, Mair Wyn Jones from Ontario, who had earlier taught on the Oakville short course in March, and whose piano skills proved invaluable throughout the week. The other teachers were veterans Paul Birt, Alun Hughes, and Hefina Phillips.

Between them, the teachers provided instruction for all levels of learner, with emphasis on the spoken language. There was also a special class in advanced language skills — reading, writing, listening, comprehension and grammar, as well as speaking — for the intermediate and higher levels taught by Alun Hughes.

The joint classes at mid-afternoon featured presentations by teachers and students on various aspects of Welsh language and culture, and the activitiy sessions that followed, each led by a different teacher, provided a choice between such diverse topics as Welsh music, basic grammar, the evoluation of the Welsh langauge, reading and preparing the course newspaper Wn i Ddim.

There was also a course choir, which practised diligently in the late afternoon under the capable direction of Geraint Wilkes, a member of the local organizing committee and a renowned tenor in his own right.

No Cwrs Cymraeg is complete without its extra-curricular activities, and Cwrs Cymraeg Waukesha was exceptional in this respect. Events kicked off on Sunday afternoon with a fascinating bus tour of historical Welsh sites in Waukesha County, including the village of Wales itself.

The remaining activities all took place in the evenings, and included Welsh-language videos, a boat trip on Lake Michigan, a twmpath dawns (folk dance), a treasure hunt, and a pub night in the Budweiser Pavilion at the State Fair Grounds, with refreshments courtesy of Anheuser-Busch. Pub night entertainment was provided by Geraint Wilkes, the Glen Ghillies music group, the Awel y Ddraig dance group directed by Beth Herbert, and — a special treat — an ‘alternative’ dance group made up of the male teachers.

The climax of the course, as always, was the noson lawen on Saturday night, culminating in the presentation of the chair to the winning bard. This year’s winner, and a very popular one, was Cheryl Mitchell from Washington. Winners of the competitions for intermediate and beginning students were Anne Smith and John Ellis respectively. The course closed on the Sunday morning with a worship servcie led by David Davis. The course is also the time when the board of Cymdeithas Madog holds its annual deliberations. At the Waukesha meetings, Hefina Phillips was elected President, Paul Birt Vice-President, Hugh Davis Treasurer, and John Otley Secretary. Bill Clarke and Evan Parker retired as directors, both after many years of service, and Marjorie Griffith and Loretta Close were elected to replace them.

That Cwrs Cymraeg Waukesha was such a success was due in no small part to JoAnne Simon and her team of local organizers, Russ Evans, Margaret Glasgwyn, Beth Simon and Geraint Wilkes. Thanks are due to these, and also to the British Council and the National Welsh-American Foundation for financial support.

Cwrs Cymraeg Ar Lan Y Niagara, 1991

According to the Buffalo News, if you had been in the vicinity of downtown D’Youville College during the summer of 1991, you would have heard people speaking a “strange musical tongue’ and saying things like ‘bora-dah,’ ‘sootmy?’ ‘de-on-di-awk,’ and ‘naw-sun-law-when.’ They don’t look very musical written like that (could you tell that the third one is ‘da iawn, diolch’?), but fair play (or ‘kwaray tayg’ as the News puts it), the paper was doing its best at the impossible task of representing one language in another, and it was certainly spot on about the musicality of the sounds.

Yes, for one week in 1991 a small part of Buffalo was transformed into a mini-Wales and was alive with the music of the Welsh language, as 67 students and 7 instructors came together for Cwrs Cymraeg ar Lan y Niagara, Cymdeithas Madog’s 15th annual Welsh-language course. Co-sponsored by the Buffalo St. David’s Society, the course was a resounding success and was acclaimed by regular attendees as one of the friendliest and smoothest run on record. That this was so is a tribute to the hard work and organizing skills of the local committee – Mary Ellen Palmer, Loretta Close, and Tom Edwards.

The course followed the proven pattern of language classes for most of the day, broken by a joint class (Dosbarth ar y Cyd) immediately after lunch, with social and cultural activities in the evening. The academic side of things was in the capable hands of Hevina Phillips of Oakville, and accompanying her were three teachers from Wales (Elwyn Hughes, Helen Prosser and Clive Rowlands), and three from North America (Paul Birt, Alun Hughes, and Marta Weingartner). Together, they provided classes for all learning levels form beginner to advanced, with the emphasis on speaking the language, as well as a special reading/writing class for intermediate students.

The Dosbarth ar y Cyd sessions included a panel discussion on Welsh issues featuring the teachers from Wales, a discourse on the Eisteddfod by Elwyn Hughes, a talk on Pantycelyn by Hefina Phillips, and fascinating presentations by two of the students on the course – John Otley on the Mabinogion, and Ann Triggle on Welsh postage stampls.

The evening activities were a chance to relax, to consolidate what had been learned during the day, and to enjoy various aspects of Welsh culture. Two Welsh-language films were shown (‘Nel’ and the highly acclaimed ‘O.M.,’ the story of O. M. Edwards), there was a Twmpath Dawns (folk dance) and games night, an evening of Canu yn y Tafarn (pub singing), a bus trip to Niagara Falls and a picnic on Grand Island, and on the final night of the course a banquet and highly entertaining Noson Lawen. The latter culminated in a hilarious take-off of the Gorsedd ceremony which had the bards performing and outrageous dance to the strains of ‘Shuffle off to Buffalo.

The bardic chair was awarded, for the third time in four years, to John Otley of Toronto for a poem entitled Rhaeadrau (Waterfalls). The final course event was the Sunday morning service led by the Rev. Jennifer Phillips of Boston.

Cwrs Cymraeg ar Lan y Niagara was a course to remember as one of the best.

Cwrs Cymraeg Bro Boston, 1989

On Sunday, July 30, 1989, about 100 students of all ages (well, from age 6 to 86 or so) gathered on the pleasant campus of the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts to start our thirteenth Cwrs Cymraeg. Two of those attending, Tom Reilly of New York and Larry Williams of Baltimore, had been to every one but the first, rounding out a substantial dozen. In all, students came from over 20 states and 2 Canadian provinces.

Our classrooms, luckily, were air-conditioned. Our sleeping quarters were not. But we managed very well, for the activities of each day brought a benevolent fatigue conducive to gentle sluber on confortable beds. We were treated very well by the staff in the dining room, who served good food with a smile.

There seemed to be an especially good spirit – ysbryd – this year, marked by harmony and lack of tension. There was plenty of work, almost too much, but it was no arduous chore to tackle it. Our teachers are a special breed – a happy breed who like their work. It was my own good fortune to be yn nosbarth Robert Owen Jones, and I learned many new things, revived some dormant knowledge and recharged the batteries of Cymric enthusiasm. I also marvelled at the talent of the young students who had not been studying Welsh very long, but had learned a lot. Professor Jones gave evidence of possessing a vast store of knowledge and wisdom, and we were fortunate to have contact with him every day, even for a brief week.

It was a pleasure to have Nesta Jones, Robert Owen’s wife, on the teaching staff. In addition to her work in the dosbarth, she conducted an afternoon workshop for a reading group. We were also delighted by the presence of three of the Jones children, Lowri, Luned and Dafydd; two others, of university age, were away.

Cefin Campbell, in addition to all his other commitments, was the lead teacher of the course, and he was a very capable and efficient one. His pedagogical skill is something I have long admired.

In choosing an afternoon workshop to attend, I was faced with an embarassment of riches, for all were tempting: drama, penillion singing, papur bro, linguistics, etc., etc. But I chose Hefina Phillips’ advanced reading group and am happy to have done so. Hefina can read complicated literature at several levels almost instinctively, revealing to her students the art of a creative author and, in her close reading, underlining the marks of his or her genius. She is priceless.

Our teachers were doubtless overworked. They gave us more in a week than some professors I have known dispense in a term. Robert Owen Jones, for instance, in addition to the daily class and afternoon workshops, gave a fascinating lecture on the Welsh language and culture in Patagonia, based on his successive stays there. He also participated in the gwasanaeth, our chapel service on Sunday.

Delyth Campbell, wife of Cefin, was another asset to our teaching staff and contributed an interesting lecture on Welsh courting customs to the dosbarth ar y cyd, as well as gracing many of the events of the week, including the panel discussion on Wales – a sobering occasion to those concerned about the language.

Greville James, a man whose versatilitiy knows no bounds, had, besides his class, more functions than one can reasonably expect from one person. He was the skilled “caller” at the twmpath dawns; he spoke effectively on the Welsh folktale at the dosbarth ar y cyd; and he was an incomparable master of ceremonies at the eisteddfod.

Another participant of tremendous versatility was the Rev. Gwyn Walters, who led a mini-cymanfa ganu on the first night (on which occasion the Harvard University Celtic Department gave us a hospitable reception). His dosbarthiadau were conducted with great skill and care; I know this from my wife Angela, who was in his class. His lecture on types of Welsh preaching, together with a demonstration of the hwyl, was a classic. He also added instrumental music, as he did at the eisteddfod and on other occasiona. On bore Sul he preached a sermon and directed some of our singing when we showed we were in dire need of direction.

Paul Birt of Hull, Quebec, of whom I unfortunately saw all too little, proved to be a fluent speaker of Welsh and several other languages. His interesting experiences in Poland were alluded to, as well as the increadible revallation that certain courses of study at Lublin University require the Welsh language. Past President Alun Hughes, well-known for years of service to Cymdeithas Madog (like Tom Reilly and Larry Williams, this was his twelfth course), was in charge of astudio preifat. Dic Driver and Marta Weingartner had the important role of teaching assistants.

An optional event was the harp concert by Robin Huw Bowen on the Tuesday. Almost everyone elected to attend, and all were glad they did. Robin is an outstanding master of the triple harp. He enlightened us on the nature of the instrument (on the hottest night of the week), and he played music of various centures. The medieval selections were captivating, although the applause indicated that “Clychau Aberdyfi” was the audience’s favourite; I found “Morfa Rhuddlan” especially good.

I must mention the boat trip around Boston Harbor. It was a delight, but we froze until we warmed up in song. The next day, keeping to the theme of boats on a smaller scale, we had a presentation of the history of the coracle, together with discussions of its construction. After an enlightening discourse replete with “coracology,” coracle-maker George O’Bryan of Stony Bottom, West Virginia and Rod Bowen, one of the Cwrs organizers, invited intrepid students to try a hands-on approach on the Charles River. Several did so, and nobody fell into the water, as far as I could see. (These coracles can be bought, incidentally.)

Leaving out many of the myriad details of a great week, I must say a word or two in praise of Leslie Evans, the chief organizer. A top-flight artist in her own right, she showed that she is also an able administrator. She contributed the lino’s – or dragon’s – share to running the course and making things work smoothly. They surely did.

From an Acorn Comes the Oak: The Roots of Cymdeithas Madog

gan/by Sian Thomas

It must have been early in 1977 that Wyn Evans, then-minister of Dewi Sant United Church, Toronto, phoned to tell me that someone was organizing a Welsh course, and he expected me to sign up. I don’t recall being given any choice in the matter. God works in mysterious ways. . . .

Poultney, Vermont came into my life like the bells of Cantre Gwaelod, ringing in the sea. Stories took shape of Welsh quarrymen of the last century imported–lock, stock, and families–to work the slate quarries. Ah, the romance! Now, in the dying embers of America’s Bicentennial, the good people of Poultney had committed themselves to one last Bash–a Welsh course in celebration of their past.

Staff of Green Mountain College worked with Ann Cowie, a Welshwoman living in Baltimore, and the idea became reality. John Albert Evans, a well-known teacher of Welsh to adults, was brought over from Wales and Maldwyn Pate, a Welsh dancer working in New York, was signed on as back up. Publicity was circulated to all Welsh societies, and people like Wyn Evans all around North America took it from there!

What a gamble! Students showed up for that first-ever North American intensive course–enough for two classes. Most of us were rank beginners; anyone who had so much as heard the language before got slotted into the advanced class!

We sweated and we slaved. Half the problems arose, not so much from vocabulary and grammar, but from cultural differences. “Please, John. How do you say I’ve got a book?” “Mae gen i lyfyr.” “But, John, that’s – There’s a book with me. How do I say, got?” Or when John would wheel suddenly on one of us Canadians screaming, “Quick, in your second language, what’s *horse*?” And, being well-programmed Canadians, we replied, “Cheval.” Miles away, Trudeau had goose bumps of joy.

OK. So the learning curve was steep for both teachers and students. But, oh, we didn’t half laugh!!!

There was a bar in the village–I hope it’s still there–and we went there to sing, relax, and use our Welsh every night. The first night, a generously proportioned young man was sitting at the bar in baseball cap and T-shirt. We started singing in Welsh. He leapt from his barstool and ran out the door, much to our shock. (Could we be that bad?) Twenty minutes later he burst through the doors followed by a man obviously his father wearing baseball cap and Cymru-Am-Byth T-shirt. Pops had been in the area’s Male Voice Choir when it disbanded some decades earlier, and he stuck to us like glue throughout the week, sometimes in tears.

In this village, where the Language had slowly disappeared into the mist over the last century, small children still called old ladies, “Nain” as a mark of respect. One hot afternoon, many of us walked out to an even smaller village on the outskirts of Poultney to a small museum in an old chapel. There we saw Eisteddfod ribbons from 100 years since, all in Welsh. By the turn of the century, their inscriptions were bilingual. In 1977, there was no Eisteddfod at all. History in the making. This was the Course’s heritage. Perhaps we did our bit to make it a living tradition once again. The Noson Lawen on the final night was open to the village. They laughed as heartily as the students did when I “got” John Albert Evans with a can of ReadiWhip in our sketch. (Oddly, John didn’t. . . .) They listened as astutely as the renowned ethnomusicologist Phyllis Kinney lectured on Welsh folk music. They danced with us when Alexander Hamilton, an advanced student, played his accordion. And they all stood with us as we sang three national anthems to end the evening.

That week saw a rebirth, not just for Poultney, but for the Welsh language in North America, I do believe. Within weeks, five of us were in touch by telephone, discussing our hopes for continuing the work. Within months, Cymdeithas Madog was formed, and the future looked secure for a course in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1978.

Did we know where it would all lead? Probably not. Annual courses across the continent, local study groups, newsletters, scholarships, cultural grants – how could we have foreseen all this? The fact that Cymdeithas Madog is now a recognized institution on both sides of the Atlantic is testimony to all the volunteers, all the students, all the teachers who have contributed their own strengths since 1977. “Y fesen yn dderwen a ddaw.” says the old Welsh proverb.

So, when Cantre Gwaelod’s bells sing out this year, be there. Listen. Learn. Enjoy. And, as you return to your homes, start thinking how you too can play your part in making history.

Fel iar yn cario brechdan.

Like a chicken carrying a sandwich.

How Cwrs Cymraeg Can Visit You

Every summer, Cymdeithas Madog sponsors its week long Cwrs Cymraeg in a different location – normally in North America. We are actively seeking potential local organizers for future years and the time to start planning is now!

Our highly successful courses are the fruit of a close working relationship between two essential teams: The Cymdeithas Madog board and the local organizing committee. Cymdeithas Madog provides resources, guidance and start-up funds and handles such things as teacher selection. However, we depend on a local organizing team at the course site to negotiate arrangements with the host institution, and to coordinate room and board, classroom space, teaching resources and local transportation for our teachers and students.

Initial checklist and questions

This may seem like an overwhelming task, but the following short list of questions will give you a place to start:

1. Who is on your team? Are there keen individuals who are interested in promoting the Welsh language; or have strong organizing abilities:
2. Can you think of potential venues for the course? Some questions to ask in a preliminary phone call to the college, university or conference centre are these: – Do you have space for approximately seventy course attendees; 6 classrooms; a meeting room for the whole group and residence accommodation nearby?
3. What is your daily meal plan, or meals and accommodation?
4. Do you have availability in the third or fourth week of July, from Sunday to Saturday night?
5. Are there other specifics/considerations about your facility that we should bring to the attention of Cymdeithas Madog’s board?

The Venues committee will be happy to work with you on submitting a proposal, if you can gather those facts.

The mission of Cymdeithas Madog is to give as many people as possible, in as many regions as possible, the chance to learn yr hen iaith (“the old language”). Our collaboration with resourceful and hard-working local organizers over the years has allowed us to fulfill this mission with outstanding success. However, this partnership also serves to give a boost to the Welsh spirit of the host communities. The courses last only a week but their local impact can be long lasting. Often, after Cymdeithas Madog moves on, the Welsh learners in the area where the course was held start up a local class and continue studying. In this way, Cwrs Cymraeg blossoms into many Cyrsiau Cymraeg – a multitude of Welsh courses.

If you would like to see the Cwrs come to your area, please talk to your local Welsh Society, college or university about co-sponsoring a course with us. Then get in touch with our secretary who will gladly provide more details on how to become a Cwrs Cymraeg local organizer.

We’re eager to hear from you and the sooner the better – please!