Nia Parry Crwydro

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-My guest today is Nia Parry,

-the well-known tutor and presenter.

-Nia's taking me for a walk

-in the Llandrillo-yn-Rhos area.

-It's hard to escape

-the noise of traffic around here.

-But there are plenty

-of quiet nooks and crannies.

-As usual the company

-and the views are marvellous!

-Did you come up to Trwyn y Fuwch

-when you were a child?

-Did you come up to Trwyn y Fuwch

-when you were a child?

-

-We moved here when I was five.

-I'm originally from Anglesey.

-I used to come here with Taid

-and a group of friends.

-Llandudno and Rhos are nearby...

-..but it's so peaceful here,

-especially on a day like this.

-Isn't it nice?

-Isn't it nice?

-

-It's windy!

-We start here on Trwyn y Fuwch.

-Little Orme to those who live here!

-Little Orme to those who live here!

-

-Great Orme's little brother!

-Where are you taking me?

-We'll go for a walk along the prom.

-Down that way?

-Yes, along the sea.

-The sea's very important to me.

-We finish up at Bryn Euryn,

-which is just behind my home.

-I used to go walking there a lot

-when I was young.

-Is Bryn Euryn that mound over there?

-The small one.

-You said

-you didn't want to walk much!

-Did you walk a lot

-when you were younger?

-Did you walk a lot

-when you were younger?

-

-Not that much.

-I did some walking with the school.

-I used to go horse riding

-every weekend.

-I worked at stables

-down there near Bryn Pydew.

-We'd ride over this way

-to go swimming in the sea.

-Do you still ride?

-Occasionally, but it's hard to find

-the time, and I live in Cardiff.

-It's just not practical.

-You must know this area very well.

-Yes, quite well.

-We used to come here

-on Friday nights.

-You know, that age

-when you start misbehaving!

-This is what we want - gossip!

-I'm spilling the beans already!

-We'd come here

-as a group of friends.

-There's nowhere else to go

-when you're 15.

-There's nowhere else to go

-when you're 15.

-

-You can't drive or anything.

-It's getting steep.

-We're getting blown away!

-Just as well I didn't do my hair!

-Just as well I didn't do my hair!

-

-Not much point!

-Goodness gracious!

-This is nice!

-Give it a kiss!

-Not like that?

-Not like that?

-

-No!

-You don't know who's been there!

-You don't know who's been there!

-

-Let's find shelter.

-You were very happy

-living in this area.

-But you went to university

-at the other end of Wales.

-By the sea, again - Swansea.

-I had a great time there.

-I really enjoyed myself.

-What did you do?

-What did you do?

-

-I did a degree in Welsh...

-..with Spanish and psychology

-in my first year.

-I graduated in Welsh.

-Then I travelled for a while.

-You visited the Welsh colony

-in Patagonia.

-That's right. I was about 17 then.

-Mam must have been mad!

-She was worried

-about me going there on my own.

-I was in my first year at college.

-It was lovely.

-It was lovely.

-

-Why did you go?

-Why travel all that way

-when you were only 17?

-All my other friends were going off

-to work with Camp America...

-..that kind of thing,

-over the summer.

-I wanted to go away somewhere...

-..but where could I go

-where people spoke Welsh?

-Not much choice!

-Anglesey or the Welsh colony!

-This is quite a quarry.

-Great, isn't it?

-Great, isn't it?

-

-A lime quarry.

-I was hoping you wouldn't ask me

-about the history of this quarry!

-We were talking about Patagonia.

-You went back there recently

-to film 'Welsh In A Week'.

-Had the place changed?

-I was only there for about a week,

-so I didn't have much chance.

-It was nice to see old friends.

-But they eat so much lamb out there

-and I'm vegetarian!

-You go to 'asados' - where they

-stick half a lamb on a spit.

-I just ask for salad!

-I bet that doesn't go down too well!

-I bet that doesn't go down too well!

-

-I try to be polite!

-This quarry

-is bigger than I thought.

-There's another big level

-down by the sea.

-There's another big level

-down by the sea.

-

-It's huge.

-Look at how close those houses are.

-Oh, yes.

-Straight from countryside to town.

-You had a taste for travel

-when you went to Patagonia.

-You were soon off again.

-You were soon off again.

-

-After I graduated from Swansea...

-..I had no idea

-what work I wanted to do.

-It was a good excuse

-to go travelling.

-I went to India and Nepal.

-My friend's parents lived in India.

-I travelled around for two months,

-then went to see them.

-Then I went walking

-in the Himalayas.

-It's one of the toughest things

-I've ever done...

-..both psychologically

-and physically.

-It's a constant battle

-with yourself.

-I had to reach the next tea station,

-as they were called...

-..before it got dark, or

-I'd be stuck on the mountainside...

-..or in the middle of a jungle.

-Character building,

-I think, is the term.

-And then you worked your way back.

-The idea was to return

-through Europe and get to Spain.

-I knew I'd run out of money

-along the way.

-I hoped it would be in Spain.

-Then I'd get a nice little job on

-the beach and practise my Spanish.

-But I ran out of money in February

-in Istanbul, when it was snowing!

-I had no money

-and I didn't know what to do.

-It was a nightmare.

-I was too proud

-to phone Mam and Dad.

-I would, now!

-I would, now!

-

-"Mam, I'm alright, honest!"

-That's what I said

-each time I phoned!

-"The hotel's lovely!"

-Though really, I was camping...

-..sleeping in a tent under a bridge

-next to a rubbish heap!

-It was a nightmare!

-But I find that when you really

-need something, it turns up.

-You're wondering what to do next

-and something just happens.

-I went into this cafe one day -

-I had a little money left.

-This guy, Nihat, came up to me.

-He was so sweet.

-He said he had a daughter the same

-age as me and we started talking.

-He asked where I was staying

-and I told him.

-He was so paternal.

-Every night he brought me

-a doggy bag from the cafe!

-Every night he brought me

-a doggy bag from the cafe!

-

-You must have looked a mess!

-"Give the poor girl a doggy bag!"

-That's so terrible!

-I look back with shame!

-I used to practise English

-with him every afternoon...

-..to pay him back,

-because I had no money.

-That was lovely.

-Then he said,

-"Come with me to my school,"...

-..the language school

-where he was learning English.

-Have you been

-to these really busy bazaars...

-..with boys

-trying to sell you carpets?

-They sell you carpets

-and tell you you've got nice eyes!

-They don't know

-what a noun or a verb is!

-Within one afternoon,

-I was teaching English.

-The headmaster gave me work.

-I stayed there for nine months.

-That's when I decided

-I wanted to teach.

-I thought, if I can teach English

-in Istanbul...

-..I could to teach Welsh in Wales.

-..I could to teach Welsh in Wales.

-

-So one of the worst periods

-of your life...

-..led to something very positive.

-That often happens.

-Sitting here is very nice

-but we'd better move on.

-We've had our little break.

-Ready to go now.

-This is the first time I've done

-a programme walking on a pavement!

-This is a walk through town.

-An urban jaunt!

-Through a concrete jungle!

-When you returned from Turkey,

-you knew you wanted to be a teacher.

-Definitely.

-But I didn't know

-how to go about it.

-I sent a fax from a cafe

-in Istanbul...

-..to Cardiff University, pleading

-for a place on an M Phil course.

-I decided to do an M Phil course

-before I did teacher training.

-The course covered the methodology

-of teaching a second language.

-I learnt how the brain

-processes information.

-I was a full-time student

-for a year.

-I'd learn a little bit more

-every week.

-I learned a lot on that course.

-Are good teachers born

-or are they made?

-I have to say...

-..to be a good teacher, especially

-if you're teaching adults...

-..you have to be a social person.

-You have to like people.

-I love it - I just talk

-to people all day long.

-And you enjoy talking!

-You're well-known as a presenter.

-Do you still think of yourself

-as a teacher?

-Definitely.

-My background is in education.

-I've come from the world

-of education.

-Education excites me.

-The opportunity to work on

-'Welsh in a Week' was a challenge.

-I knew a little about

-some aspects of the programme...

-..but the rest of it

-was completely new to me.

-I've learnt so much

-in the past year to eighteen months.

-It's the perfect job for me.

-It's great.

-There's nothing better

-than teaching a crowd of people...

-..over a period of two years.

-In the first lesson, they can

-hardly say "Good morning" in Welsh.

-Within two or three years,

-they're fluent.

-They come to a class after being to

-a Welsh-medium parents' evening...

-..and they send their children

-to Welsh-medium schools.

-That's the pleasure I get

-from the whole experience.

-It's a wonderful feeling.

-Welsh learners are integral

-to keeping the language alive.

-Yes, they are.

-20,000 learners sign up

-for courses each year.

-A lot of non-Welsh speakers

-want to learn Welsh.

-We, as Welsh-speakers, should

-encourage them at every opportunity.

-That's so important.

-Is Bryn Euryn far?

-Is Bryn Euryn far?

-

-No - it's only over there.

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-I knew it would rain

-before we reached Bryn Euryn.

-It's time to wear a hat.

-My parents live on this street.

-Any chance of a cuppa?

-After we reach the top of the hill.

-A cuppa would be nice

-right about now.

-Here we are - Bryn Euryn.

-Bryn Euryn Nature Reserve.

-There's a car coming down.

-Traffic in the middle

-of the countryside.

-They've built some new steps here.

-It used to be such a struggle

-to walk up here.

-It's very clean here.

-Very nice.

-We're climbing all the way.

-This is Llys Euryn.

-It's changed so much

-since I lived here.

-Do you know anything

-about its history?

-It was the court

-of Euryn and Ednyfed Fychan.

-Ednyfed Fychan was a servant

-to Llywelyn, Prince of Wales...

-..in the 13th Century.

-This was his court.

-It must have been a huge building.

-That's an enormous fireplace.

-You can imagine the fires

-that used to burn there.

-Roasting a deer over an open fire.

-The smell would fill

-the whole building.

-Imagine them preparing for battle.

-They've placed pieces of wood

-to clearly define...

-..where each room used to be.

-This must have been

-a big banqueting hall.

-When I was younger,

-the grass would grow this high.

-I didn't realise at the time

-that it was this size.

-I'd fight my way through the

-undergrowth to reach the walls.

-After you -

-we'll go around the back.

-You'd need a big window

-to fill that gap.

-People recognise you

-as the presenter...

-..of 'Cariad @ Iaith'

-and 'Welsh in a Week'.

-How did you get into presenting?

-How did you get into presenting?

-

-It all happened so quickly.

-I saw an advertisement

-in the paper for a presenter.

-I tried for it

-but I wasn't expecting anything.

-I was completely happy

-in my teaching job at the time.

-I had an interview, a second

-interview and then a screen test.

-The screen test

-was quite an experience.

-I knew they were looking for

-a presenter for 'Welsh in a Week'.

-It was a great opportunity

-for me to teach...

-..and learn how to become

-a presenter at the same time.

-The screen test must have been

-quite frightening for you.

-I had no problems standing in

-front of a class of 80 learners...

-..but sitting in front

-of a camera for the first time...

-..made me so nervous.

-My stomach was doing somersaults.

-My stomach was doing somersaults.

-

-I couldn't do it.

-Let's sit here for a short while.

-It's time we had a break.

-Quite a nice view,

-despite the weather.

-What a pity.

-People sometimes look back

-and identify a particular teacher...

-..who had an influence

-on their early years.

-Did you have

-any influential teachers?

-There was a teacher at my school -

-Beryl Jones - she was wonderful.

-I think she came

-from Liverpool originally.

-She'd learnt Welsh and that was

-an inspiration to others.

-She was so enthusiastic

-about her subject.

-She really enjoyed teaching.

-You'd always enjoy yourself

-in her classes - she was wonderful.

-Was it easier for her,

-a Welsh learner...

-..to teach the subject to others?

-Definitely - especially

-when teaching adults.

-Many tutors learn the language

-in the first place.

-Learners can empathise

-with their tutor.

-It gives them hope that they

-can learn the language, too.

-What makes a good teacher?

-I genuinely believe

-that enthusiasm...

-..is the most important

-characteristic.

-When you start teaching

-a new group of learners...

-..you have to really believe that

-they can all learn the language.

-If you're enthusiastic

-when you teach...

-..they'll pick up

-on your enthusiasm.

-You have to believe in your pupils.

-You must have a few teaching tricks.

-I have trouble remembering names.

-I see people, I know who they are,

-but I can't remember their names.

-What can I do to improve my memory?

-I'm Nia - you remember that I hope!

-There are lots of little tricks.

-It's important for teachers

-to be aware of these tricks.

-Many people remember a word...

-..by associating it

-with a personal experience.

-I remember one lady,

-she had a parrot.

-She couldn't remember the words

-for 'arian parod' (cash).

-I told her to associate cash

-with her parrot.

-She kept on saying "arian parrot"

-after that.

-When you have a picture of it

-in your mind...

-..it makes it easier

-for you to remember the word.

-You just need the cues

-to remember that word.

-Well, Sian,

-let's head for the summit.

-OK, Dafydd! Off we go!

-You've taught me so much.

-Your jokes are really bad!

-We were talking earlier

-about influential people.

-When I left school,

-I went to Swansea University.

-Hywel Teifi Edwards

-was one of the lecturers.

-He was superb.

-His lectures

-were a theatre performance.

-We never took notes

-but we could remember everything...

-..because his lectures

-were so lively.

-I taught in Cardiff

-after leaving university.

-I worked with Helen Prosser there -

-she was superb.

-I'd read up on theories and

-methodologies in all the books...

-..but I learnt far more by working

-with her in the classroom...

-..especially practical and useful

-things when working with learners.

-She was a huge influence on me -

-and still is.

-You're a very talented person -

-you also write poetry.

-I'd never call myself a poet.

-It's something I like doing.

-It's something I do when I'm out

-walking or just sitting in bed.

-When I go away on holiday...

-..I always take my diary

-and a notebook.

-I write a few lines

-every now and then.

-How far is the summit?

-How far is the summit?

-

-It's not far now.

-It's horrible now!

-It's such a pity -

-we can't see into the distance.

-The Carneddau and Penmaenmawr

-are over there somewhere.

-It's wonderful here on a clear day.

-But today's not a clear day!

-You left this area

-to pursue your career.

-You're living in Cardiff now.

-Would you ever return to live here?

-There's still something that draws

-me back to north Wales.

-To be honest, I wouldn't return

-to live in Llandudno.

-Most of my friends

-have left the area.

-I am fond of north Wales -

-I'd like to live in Caernarfon.

-It's nice to retrace

-your childhood footsteps...

-..and call on your parents

-for a cuppa.

-And that's where we're going now!

-You've been looking forward

-to this cuppa all day!

-Let's go!

-S4C subtitles by

-TROSOL Cyf.