11 May 2026 · The Guardian
Learning Welsh: A Personal Journey
Dan Fox shares his experience learning Welsh to connect with his family, highlighting the limitations of language apps like Duolingo.
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Narration includes the headline and summary.
Adapted from The Guardian, 4 May 2026, and rewritten at three levels by Newslish. Newslish is not affiliated with the source. Read the original.
Key vocabulary
extinction
the state of a species no longer existing
“The Welsh language was once violently defended from extinction.”
fluency
the ability to speak a language smoothly and easily
“He hoped to achieve fluency in Welsh.”
conversational
related to informal spoken communication
“He found that Duolingo was not enough for conversational Welsh.”
culture
the ideas, customs, and social behavior of a particular people
“Welsh culture is an important part of daily life.”
connect
to join or link together
“He wanted to connect with his family through language.”
Quick quiz
01What language did Dan Fox learn?
02What tool did Dan Fox initially use to learn Welsh?
03Who did Dan Fox practice speaking Welsh with?
04Why is Welsh important in daily life?
Discussion
How do personal connections influence language learning?