What is Cymdeithas Madog? Cymdeithas Madog ("Madog Society"), the Welsh Studies Institute in North America Inc., is an organization which helps residents of North America learn about the Welsh language. Whether you are of Welsh descent, or simply interested in finding out more about the language, Cymdeithas Madog has a plethora of resources and information.
Online Resources. The Cymdeithas Madog website is well organized and easy to navigate, and contains a bit of everything that might be of interest to Welsh language learners. If you're new to Wales and the Welsh language, you might first check out their collection of Photos of Wales to get your bearings! After you've gotten an idea of what the country looks like, then get ready to plunge right into Cymdeithas Madog's great collection of resources.
Be sure to visit the Deunyddiau I Ddysgwyr/Materials For Learners page--there you'll find readings in English and Welsh, lists of books and educational materials, grammar tips, humor, songs, and more. All of this information was written by Cymdeithas Madog teachers and students, and is of exceptional quality.
The site also lists the various Gwasanaethau/Services which are provided by Cymdeithas Madog, including Pronunciation Tapes; a Video Lending Library; Cwrs Cymraeg, the society's annual week-long Welsh course; and the Cymdeithas Madog Scholarship Endowment Fund. There is also an e-mail list which you can join to receive news via e-mail.
One of my favorite parts of the site is the invaluable archive of links to Welsh websites. The categories include North American Welsh Societies, North American Welsh Newspapers, Welsh Language, Wales and Welsh Culture, Education, Sports, Companies, Welsh-Language E-mail Lists, and more. This archive has been extremely helpful for me, in both personal research and in researching information for Suite101.
Cwrs Cymraeg. By far, however, the most comprehensive service that Cymdeithas Madog offers is their annual week-long Welsh course, Cwrs Cymraeg. Cwrs Cymraeg offers an amazing opportunity for beginners and advanced speakers alike to interact and learn the Welsh language in an immersive environment. It is also quite reasonably priced, and an excellent value for the range of experiences it provides. Through a combination of classroom instruction and related activities such as singing, dancing, films, and a Noson Lawen/Talent Night, the course enables students from all over North America to meet other Welsh learners in a supportive and fun environment.
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