Civil engineer Jess Li is hoping to become quadrilingual through learning Welsh

Jessica Li learned Hakka and Cantonese as a child and is now studying French and Spanish on Duolingo, as well as preparing for Welsh exams. Although she learned a bit of Welsh at school, it wasn’t until around her 30th birthday that Jess really fell in love with the language.

Karen Cherrett decided to learn Welsh when she moved back to Wales

Six hours of Welsh lessons a week, three trips to the swimming pool, plus work with two charities – Karen Cherrett is keeping busy in retirement. She learned some Welsh at school, but decided to give the language another try when she moved back to Wales after living in England for 20 years.

Retired teacher Bev Parrish is learning Welsh to help her four-year-old grandson

After working as a teacher for more than 30 years, Bev Parrish decided to become a student again to learn Welsh and help her grandson. Bev taught French and German and is now studying Welsh to help four-year Leo, who will be starting at Welsh-medium primary school next year.

Mum-of-two Abby Burridge is learning Welsh at the same time as her children

When lockdown first hit, Abby Burridge didn’t know how to help her children with their Welsh homework. But after starting an intensive course, she began to feel confident – even talking to their teachers in Welsh on Zoom. Abby, Max and Grace now help each other with their homework.

Social worker Galina Shires is learning Welsh after moving to Cardiff from Moldova

Social worker Galina Granici was working for a charity in Moldova when she met Welsh doctor Carwyn Shires, who was there as a volunteer. Fast-forward several years and they are now married, living in Cardiff, with Galina learning Welsh while expecting their first child in the summer.

Laura Caen Lee is learning Welsh alongside signs and symbols language Makaton

French, German, Latin, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish – Laura Caen Lee has learnt a lot of languages. She is now learning Makaton signs and symbols to communicate with her son Edmund, who has cerebral palsy, and decided to take up Welsh when her twins began classes at school.

Mum-of-three Mandy Lewis decided to learn Welsh during lockdown

She plays the cello, clarinet, flute, oboe, saxophone, trumpet and violin, as well as running her own craft business, but mum-of-three Mandy Lewis decided to learn another skill. She started Welsh on Duolingo during lockdown in the summer and is now on an intensive course.