Ask Tadanori

Tadanori Ukai grew up in Japan and Indonesia and moved to Birmingham in 2004.

He saw a course to learn Welsh at the city’s Brasshouse Language Centre and started his language journey.

Tad now lives in Swansea and follows an Advanced Learn Welsh course with Learn Welsh Swansea Bay Region.

We had a chat with Tad about his journey learning Welsh.

When did you start learning Welsh?

I started learning Welsh in Birmingham back in 2012.

I didn't know anything about the Welsh language until I moved to the UK and I didn’t know any Welsh until I started the beginners’ course at the Brasshouse Language Centre.

That feels like a long time ago!

Where did you practise your Welsh when you lived in Birmingham?

I used to travel to all parts of England and Wales to be able to speak Welsh!

I went to a Welsh group in Derby once a month - I also went to Welsh groups in Solihull, London, and Birmingham.

And I travelled to Cardiff for a ‘Sadwrn Siarad’ Saturday workshop a few times too!

I moved to Swansea in 2019 to have more opportunity to speak Welsh without having to travel.

What do you like about living in Wales?

I enjoy listening to BBC Radio Cymru and watching S4C. I also like Welsh music and the National Eisteddfod.

I think everything about the Welsh language is very interesting.

How did you find learning Welsh?

I think learning a language can be challenging.

But I enjoy a challenge, and it’s not a problem - that's what's important.

What do you hope to do in the future?

I plan to continue learning Welsh.

I'm also looking forward to visiting the National Eisteddfod in Rhondda Cynon Taf over the summer.