You Are Never Too Old To Learn

My lovely Mum used to say if you learn one new thing your day has been a success. My problem is retaining the new info! I'm told the memory has a finite capacity. What pearl would I reject to accommodate new facts? Much too complicated so I've decided to stay somewhat ignorant.

Third time for this thread in the last three years!

I set up my vintage business after I retired from employed work. It involved learning a lot of new skills such as digital photography, how to post online, website design, branding and writing effective marketing descriptions. I am also teaching myself Spanish.

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I completely agree - learning makes me feel more interesting, informed and confident.

I just found this website called The Garden - www.onegarden.com - which is free and they have speakers from all over the world who are mostly academics from top universities. It's not super intellectual and the speakers are amazing but I've learnt so much. They don't feel like lectures but more like having a chat with someone at a cafe.

Aargh! Another old thread ?

One of the advantages of learning something new is that you meet and chat to other people. I’m a member of the WEA (Workers’ Educational Association which is an adult education charity). During lockdown last year, the WEA started to offer short and cheap online courses (everything from astronomy to journalism) which were a great way to meet and talk to people of all ages all over the UK.
You don’t have to belong to the WEA. In January, the WEA is putting on new courses for a Festival of Literature and Heritage. One of the short courses running during the festival is: The Diversity of English through seven lenses (course no. C2423004) which celebrates the English language and explores where our rude, legal and astonishing words come from and how they got here.
Considering how many times England was invaded, it’s amazing that we don’t all speak Danish or French as our mother tongue. Do you think that the English language is a rare bloom that has become a lingua franca; or is it an invasive weed encroaching on other languages?

people study all their lives, so it's a pity that very few people understand this, but nevertheless it is impossible not to do without outside help, especially when it is written pro-papers.com/do-my-homework-for-me .

Thank you for sharing this story! I am also sure that education must be available for all ages. Now I have a lot of free time and want to use it productively. I listen to different online courses, read interesting educational platforms such as Samplius, where I can read a lot of free essay examples, watch videos. By the way, if I need to find new information I always surf the samplius.com/free-essay-examples/health/, it’s very convenient to have so much information in one place. So, there is plenty of ways to get new knowledge, develop yourself even if you are not a young person.

The last I heard about aged people like me learning is we can learn broad ideas better than we can learn facts.

I hate it when ‘old’ threads get resurrected! I didn’t cotton on until I saw GabriellaG54 had posted. At first I thought she had returned to GN. Then I checked the date of the original OP post - May 2019!

So-er, are you experienced ;) Keep on educating yourself in new teachings, cultures, stories, and adventures.

I gained my MSc last year and looking at starting a PhD this year. My classmates were a diverse bunch, mainly from Europe and ranging in age from young women (one just finished the course before having twins) to those in their 40s and 50s. Many of the tutors were younger than me. No one suggested my age was an issue.

Also passed my motorcycle licence last year so I can ride my late husband’s bike. And I’m planning a touring holiday through Europe later this year to catch up with my classmates.

I definitely don’t think the Old dog/New tricks paradigm is held generally any more.

I’m learning French. I can remember the basics from school. I’m really enjoying it.

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Very true that you're never too old - along with that old saying 'Use it or lose it' (applies to the brain as well as the muscles)!

I absolutely agree with you.

I absolutely agree with you! Moreover, we live in a world of new technologies and it’s very easy to get any information, so why not? I am already retired, but nevertheless, I continue to work as a writer. Thanks to this I learn something new every day. Basically, I write brief contents of literary works for an educational site, for example, summarystory.com/a-good-man-is-hard-to-find/, and accordingly, I read a lot. Learning is never too late, yes!|

I did my degree and PGCE around age 40. Loved every minute of it and the career which came from it. I know I could do far more with my retirement than I am doing but there are reasons/excused why I don't. For one thing I am far too lazy. Thoroughly enjoy doing nothing so that's the excuse part of things. Reasons? Mother aged 88 and Mil aged 94 take a bit of time. Like to see/hang out with my grandchildren when I can. Love time walking with my husband and dog. Where does time go? I wish I knew! Maybe this September I'll start that creative writing course ...or the zumba classes...or research my family tree ...or maybe not. I sincerely wish I was doing more ...but back to original excuse ...I'm far too lazy

I agree that you are never too old to learn. However, to just do it ???? it is not that simple.

I divorced at 48 and worked full time as a legal secretary. My son who was in second year uni asked me why I didn’t do a degree course.......

Where to start. Keeping a roof over his head for one, bills and aging parent with Alzheimer’s.

Yep. It’s not always that simple.

On the other hand for those without financial commitments or who have support, or can in some way manage to go for it I applaud you.

Go for it if you can.

Well done Postgrad.

Age is no barrier to learning.
BA hons 1st class at 54, MA at 56, PGCE at 57!

I think there was a time when everyone quoted that old adage 'you cannot teach an old dog new tricks' in a complacent tone when anyone over 40 tried to do something new, but I am sure that period has long gone.

DS is an academic and he says that many universities run some Masters courses where their target audience is retirees coming back to education after retirement - and that has been happening for over 20 years. Locally there are lots of courses for the over 50s.

The papers are full of stories of older people starting businesses, achieving all kinds of successes.

I think the OP is unfortunate in that she still lives somewhere where these oldfashioned attitudes still prevail, so has every reason to pleased with what she has achieved against the odds. So many congratulations!!