Cwrs Cymraeg Y Ddeilen Goch
Cymdeithas Madog
returned to Ottawa Ontario in 2004 for "Cwrs Cymraeg Y Ddeilen Goch" ("The Red Leaf Welsh Course").
The 28th annual Cwrs Cymraeg Welsh language week was held July 18 to 25 on the campus of Carleton University, home
of very successful 1993 Cwrs Cymraeg.
Cymdeithas Madog Presented
Cwrs Cymraeg Y Ddeilen Goch,
Gorffennaf / July 18-25, 2004
Carleton University, Ottawa Ontario
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Cwrs Cymraeg at Carleton University in Canada’s Capital
by Margaret Scharf
The annual Cwrs Cymraeg, sponsored
by Cymdeithas Madog and appropriately titled “Cwrs y Ddeilen Goch” (The Red Leaf course), was held at Carleton
University in Ottawa, Canada, July 1825, 2004. Pawl Birt, a well-known teacher from previous courses, was
Chair of the Local Committee. Other members were Glenson Jones, Stephan Charbonneau , David Roberts, and Jean Howard.
Pawl’s experience showed, as the week seemed to flow along with perfect organization by these and other skilled
professionals behind the scenes. Stephan Charbonneau designed an impressive green t-shirt for the course, incorporating
Y Ddraig Goch and a Maple Leaf.
All 57 course attendees were brought
together by their desire to learn or improve their Welsh, and in some cases, they did so with other family members!
Significantly we had some 9 different family groups participating this year. But, in addition to our band of learners,
the campus was host to several groups during the week, most notably a military ceremonial guard in red uniform
coats and tall beaver hats often seen in marching formation in the early morning hours. Course participants were
surprised at other times by their marching music, bagpipe playing, and kilts. What a delight to exit the cafeteria
from lunch to the tune of John Phillip Sousa’s “Liberty Bell March,” probably better known as the theme from Monty
Python! Young students from Japan and Mexico and a team of kayakers added to the diverse makeup of the campus during
the week.
The course began with a reception,
graciously hosted by the Ottawa Welsh Society. The participants were introduced to their teachers, including lead
teacher Mark Stonelake from Abertawe, a veteran of previous cyrsiau and lead teacher for the second year running.
Also from Wales were Siân Thomas and Robin Campbell. Familiar teachers from North America were Meredith Roberts,
Kara Lewis, Kevin Rottet, and Hefina Phillips.
Welsh classes were held every morning
Monday through Saturday, followed by an afternoon session, except on Wednesday, when participants were taking in
the sights, fresh air, and sunshine of Ottawa, and on Saturday, when last minute plans for the noson lawen were
foremost in the mind.
It was busy enough during the week
with language classes and preparations, but there was still more! Before afternoon classes, we had a treat , with
four interesting and informative lectures given by local experts, invited as guest speakers: Mark Abley on the
battle to save minority languages, David Roberts on his job as an interpreter for the Canadian parliament, Pawl
Birt on saints of Wales, and Charles Fisher on growing up with Dylan Thomas in Swansea. These plenary sessions
stimulated lively discussions about language, Wales, and politics. The excellent speakers brought a broader focus
to our week, reminding us that language and culture are inseparable.
At the end of the afternoons, students
had their pick of workshops: Welsh literature, Welsh folk songs, Welsh folktales, two levels of reading groups
(beginner and advanced), and the always entertaining course paper, which was distributed on Saturday much to everyone’s
delight. The teachers not only motivated and encouraged the participants in learning Welsh, but taught these workshops,
held nightly study hall, and attended all the evening events. Rather than fading into the sunset after such a busy
day, they were often the most spirited at the singalongs, where teacher Meredith’s song-leading and ever-present
smile kept us all going.
Evening activities gave everyone
an opportunity to get away from his or her studies and enjoy a variety of events: dancing at the twmpath dawns
led by Robin Campbell; a quiz led by Quizmaster Siân Thomas with Welsh prizes; a Welsh movie (subtitled).A
special movie, Dal: Yma/Nawr, was also shown, highlighting the centuries of Welsh poetry read by well-known Welsh
personalities, including Ioan Gruffudd at the beach in Los Angeles and some of the poets themselves. The poetry
was juxtaposed with scenes of the Eisteddfod in Ty Ddewi (St. David’s), and for poetry lovers, the words were beautiful.
Of course, no evening activity was ever complete until after the singing of Welsh songs and hymns!
A Friday evening eisteddfod celebrated
the achievements of beginning, intermediate and advanced Welsh learners, with Sarah Stevenson winning the chair
for her short story on the subject “Cymdogion” (neighbors), entitled "Chwedl Ddau Gymydog" (A Tale of
Two Neighbors). Sarah will keep the beautifully carved and engraved wooden chair with her until next year, when
it will be given to a new winner.
A wonderful banquet complete with
Penillion singers, a local Ottawa group called Cantorion Cerdd Dant, preceded our last evening of skits, jokes,
music and laughter, the noson lawen. It is always amazing how creative the groups can be . . . and the laughs never
quit. There were a number of requests for the words to the “Sound of Cymraeg” song, which will teach us once and
for all how to say YES and NO! The final event of the noson lawen was the heavenly sound of the cwrs choir.
Of special note were the participants
who were helped by scholarship support to attend Cwrs Cymraeg 2004. In all, fifteen students of Welsh received
full or partial scholarships to Cwrs y Ddeilen Goch. Generous grants from the National Welsh American Foundation
(NWAF) and the Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association (WNGGA) funded many of those scholarships, and others were
endowed by local Welsh societies—the Ottawa Welsh Society, the Welsh American Society of Northern California, and
the Saint David’s Welsh Society of Georgia. Cymdeithas Madog’s own Scholarship Endowment Fund, contributions from
other Welsh societies such as the Saint David’s Society of Racine and Vicinity, and individual contributors supplemented
the financial aid. By bringing to Ottawa many bright students who otherwise might not have been able to attend
the course, the generosity of those Welsh organizations and individuals enriched the course for everyone who was
there, and they earn the warm thanks of all. Diolch o galon!
It was a great week: beautiful
city, pleasant campus, wonderful weather, dedicated teachers, informative lectures, entertainment, and a celebration
of “all things Welsh." Our deepest thanks to all who helped make it possible.
Next year’s Cwrs Cymraeg is planned
for July 1724 in Rio Grande, Ohio, at the University of Rio Grande and the Madog Center for Welsh Studies.
With help from Sarah Stevenson, Jenny Hubbard Young, and Andrew Welsh
© Cymdeithas Madog
25 Gorffennaf / July 2005
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