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| |  | Ann Evans
Born: 7 February 1931
Lives: Bala, Gwynedd
Time lived in area: More than 10 years
Occupation: Manager of the village cafe for over 40 years |
Ann describes the sense of loss she felt on entering higher education, because of her lack of the English language.
Language of interview: Welsh
Duration: 01:08 (mins/secs)
The participants were asked to describe how they spoke in their own words.
How do you describe your accent: "Accent of Denbighshire area."
Have there been other influences on the way you speak: Not Given
Do you have skills in languages other than English?: Yes
Other languages: Welsh
(NB This is a translation, not a transcript) ANN: Hearing you saying that the erm, we didn't get English at 'tan-y-fron' school, and I'll tell you, I'm as much a Welsh person as anybody, but it was a great loss when I went to Llysfasi college after being at 'tan-y-fron' school until I was 14. Went to work then in a shop for two years, then to Llysfasi, and everything - we were taught English there. Everything through English. "Food is the fuel that keeps the fire of life burning" on the board - the first thing we'd learn every day. And everything in English. CERI: How did it make you feel? ANN: Mmm? CERI: How did it make you feel? ANN: Well it was, it was a loss to me, because I was learning, learning and understanding the language as it were isn't it? But when it came to exams, I'd be at the bottom, had I not known how to make jam, how to wash, and how to milk cows, and how to pluck chickens, and how to muck out, that's how I came to the half way point. Say that there were about 18, there were, I was somewhere near the middle when it came to exams. But it was a great loss to me not to have had English.
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