Page last updated at 11:32 GMT, Wednesday, 5 August 2009 12:32 UKE-mail this to a friend Printable versionFour up for Welsh learner awardZoe Morag Pettinger, Meggan Lloyd Prys, John Burton and Dominic GilbertThe four finalists - left to right Zoe Morgan Pettinger, Meggan Lloyd Prys, John Burton and Dominic GilbertThree English people and an American are waiting to see if they have been crowned the 2009 Welsh Learner of the Year at the National Eisteddfod.They include a self-taught law student from Manchester and an Ohio-born classroom assistant, who took her marriage vows in Welsh, a month after arriving in Wales.The winner will be announced in Bala, Gwynedd, on Wednesday evening.A panel of three judges will award the 26th Welsh Learner of the Year title.Last year, the prize was won by Madison Tazu, who was born in England but has an Irish family.The winner will receive 300 and a trophy in memory of author Marged Jones, from Bala, who died at the beginning of the year.The runners up will each receive 100, and all finalists receive subscriptions to Welsh magazines.The four finalists are:JOHN BURTONBorn in Crewe, CheshireJohn moved to Penmachno, Conwy in 2007. The following year, he met his wife, Iona, and since moving to Wales has been learning Welsh in the Eagles pub in Penmachno, taught by Gerwyn Edwards from Bala. John worked for the National Trust on the Ysbyty Estate near penmachno, and also does some forestry and farm work.He said: "I love to work outside. My main interests are fixing engines and working on the farm."Iona, his wife, is a Welsh speaker and she helps him by putting stickers on things around the house with their Welsh names..John enjoys music and says: "I learned Welsh listening to Gwyneth Glyn and Gruff Rhys."He still goes to Welsh classes in the pub, and John and Iona's home is now a Welsh-speaking home.ZOE MORGAN PETTINGERBorn in Fareham, Hampshire.Zoe moved to Aberystwyth in 1992 to study drama and English. While there, she had a job as a dancer in a show that was mainly in Welsh. This had a huge impact on her and she decided to learn the language.After university she went travelling, but returned to Wales in 2005 to live in Trisant, near Aberystwyth, with her partner. In October 2005 she started Welsh lessons in Aberystwyth, then went on to study a higher education diploma in Welsh studies in Lampeter.She also completed an Wlpan course. In 2006, she won the Dan Lynn James scholarship which helped her to continue her Welsh studies, and in that year she decided to become a Welsh tutor herself. She now teaches adults Welsh at Trinity College, Carmarthen, and continues to use Welsh through drama and dance for children and adults.MEGGAN LLOYD PRYSBorn in Ohio, USA.The only overseas competitor, teacher Meggan now lives in Rhiwlas, near Bangor. She first started learning Welsh at summer school in 2006. She now works as a primary school classroom assistant in Llanfair PG, Anglesey, and also teaches Welsh to adults.In 2005, she was studying an MA in Ohio, where she met her husband Cynog on the same course. A year after completing their studies, the pair married. She started learning Welsh on the day she arrived in Wales three years ago. A month after arriving here, she took her marriage vows in Welsh.DOMINIC GILBERTBorn in ManchesterIn 2005, Dominic went to Aberystwyth University, where he heard the Welsh language everywhere he went. He became interested in the language after hearing it spoken in pubs and clubs, and by reading subtitles on S4C. He says people in Aberystwyth encouraged him to learn, and began to speak Welsh to him.He is a self-taught Welsh speaker, now living in Beaumaris, Anglesey, and has just finished a post-graduate law course in Bangor. He decided to move to north Wales to be with more Welsh speakers and to embrace Welsh language and culture. He is a pianist with the Cofnod choir in Caernarfon.He said: "Speaking Welsh gives me a thrill. I would like to come back to Wales after working in Manchester for a while, and become a solicitor for the Welsh Assembly."Bookmark with:* Delicious* Digg* reddit* Facebook* StumbleUponWhat are these?E-mail this to a friend Printable versionAdvertisementBBC graphic South East WalesFind out more about what is going on across the regionSEE ALSOMobile phone for Welsh-speakers04 Aug 09 | Mid WalesCommentary to open up Eisteddfod01 Aug 09 | WalesPrize awards Welsh language leap07 Aug 08 | WalesLearner prize for city teenager28 May 08 | North West WalesHaving a maes time at Welsh fest06 Aug 08 | WalesEisteddfod returns to the capital02 Aug 08 | WalesRELATED BBC LINKSNational Eisteddfod 2009National Eisteddfod - North West WalesRELATED INTERNET LINKSNational EisteddfodThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sitesTOP WALES STORIESCase witness names sent in errorCall to end all OAPs' free busesMissing girl in car was stabbedNews feeds| News feeds