Of course it's quite OK about speaking their language but it's obvious when they switch to Welsh when visitors walk into shops etc.. However, I knew enough to let them know that I was aware that they were talking about me
. Then they would swap back to English
. It is rude to make it quite so obvious. Had I been in the country for longer I would have learned a lot more, but we moved
. Maybe it doesn't happen these days, I lived there in the 1970s. I also worked with a girl who spoke English with me but in a group she would insist on Welsh which was less than inclusive
. I could have been offended but what was the point, we got on well otherwise.
Have tried to learn French since but that went straight over my head
. Italian I love - when I was in Primary School we had an Italian family move into our village, I befriended the girl as no one else spoke to her in the Playground. She would visit my home to learn English - she was quicker at it than I was at learning Italian. Suddenly, the family were gone
and I wonder often where she ended up. I don't even know her name.
It is said that living in a country is the best way to learn languages ......... my anxiety won't let me and I would love to go to the Italian Lakes
.
