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Education

The benefits of lifelong learning

(41 Posts)
Marydoll Wed 04-Nov-20 22:54:16

Lucca , of course there is nothing better than learning from a native speaker. Duolingo was a only suggestion for the present circumstances and it would present an introduction to the language and also an opportunity to decide whether to carry on with it on a more formal basis.
However, I would imagine it would be quite difficult find a class or teacher at the moment.
Or perhaps not! I'm sure someone will enlighten me.

NotSpaghetti Wed 04-Nov-20 22:49:01

Re Welsh, yes, lots of difference between the north and the south apparently. My father spoke both as he came from the south but visited relatives in the north from being very young and later retired there.

He used to tell funny stories about mix-ups with not just pronunciation but some actual word differences too.
I so wish I could still remember them.

Lucca Wed 04-Nov-20 22:44:13

Duolingo is all well and good if you are disciplined.
Also I’d like to learn a new language with other people and a real teacher ! I had started Spanish but found the teacher extremely pleasant but lessons were a bit turgid. When all this finishes I shall try again. A friend who was at university with me is now doing a phD at age 70!

NotSpaghetti Wed 04-Nov-20 22:41:53

I am retirement age though still working LadyH but did an MA just a few years ago.
It was SO exciting.
And an MA is so much cheaper and more personal than a BA so ?

Callistemon Wed 04-Nov-20 22:41:34

I think Welsh varies considerably between north and south.

I do know what cinio means too - a most important word!

Susan56 Wed 04-Nov-20 22:31:04

Callistemon, yes I think I will be araf when it comes to learning Welsh!

When I got home from my first lesson and was proudly reciting the phrases I had learned,DH told me I obviously had a teacher from North Wales.DH is from South Wales and a lot of the words are pronounced differently.

DGD was singing a song in Welsh and DH joined in.She asked him how he knew it and he said I learnt it at school in Wales.She said grandpa I am way more Welsh than you!

Callistemon Wed 04-Nov-20 22:05:04

Diolch, Maridol!

Marydoll Wed 04-Nov-20 21:54:26

You can learn Welsh for free, at your own pace on DUOLINGO

ayse Wed 04-Nov-20 21:52:22

I finished my OU BA Hons in History about 3 years ago. I started it just before I retired. I’d really like to do an MA but the cost is now prohibitive. It’s sad not to be able to continue.

Instead, I’m contenting myself with improving my sewing skills and trying out new crafts such as decoupage. Rag rug making is also on the cards

Charleygirl5 Wed 04-Nov-20 21:34:00

In my case the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. I am in my late 70's now and money would be a problem because it is law which I have fancied studying.

Callistemon Wed 04-Nov-20 21:02:10

Susan56
One word I have learnt is Araf.

I am araf.

LadyHonoriaDedlock Wed 04-Nov-20 20:49:55

When I was little we used to get a programme of silent Charlie Chaplin shorts at the annual Methodist Sunday School Christmas treat. I loved them. It's something later generations have missed.

As late as 1964, and I checked the year with the Radio Times archives because I distinctly remembered it being at some time, the featured Christmas night film on the BBC was Chaplin's 'The Gold Rush'. That would -never- happen now.

Susan56 Wed 04-Nov-20 20:49:33

Callistemon,I am hoping to learn Welsh too.I had my first lesson then lockdown happened.

My husband is a Welsh speaker and two of our grandchildren will learn Welsh at school so don’t want to be left out of the conversations!

Elusivebutterfly Wed 04-Nov-20 20:44:00

I am doing an Open University degree. I have completed five years, which includes an Access course and have one more year after this one. I'm studying Humanities which means two years studying a wide range of subjects, then specialising, which in my case is English Literature and History.
There's a wide age range of students and I'm not the only pensioner.
Before I moved house, I also went to adult education classes for a range of arts and crafts activities and also exercise.

Callistemon Wed 04-Nov-20 20:22:13

I'm thinking of learning Welsh, no reason except for the fact that I could practise the language with my DGC.

However, lessons with U3A are on hold pro tem.

I do remember hoping to go with a DD to a silent film show presented by Paul Merton in Bristol but it was sold out! (We went to AtBristol instead)

LadyHonoriaDedlock Wed 04-Nov-20 20:09:35

Is anybody else here enjoying higher education in their retirement years?

At 66 I'm doing a Masters degree, an MLitt in Film and Television Studies at Glasgow University. Apart from the stress of getting postgrad level assessments in by the deadline, and deadlines come thick and fast, I'm really enjoying it even if nearly all the teaching is conducted by Zoom.

I thought I'd feel left out, being much older than everybody else. All of my classmates are young women in their 20s, except for the one who's a young man in his twenties, but they've all accepted me into the circle. I'd say they were surrogate grandchildren, but it's not that kind of relationship. They welcome me in as one of them and the subject of age never comes up except when I tell them of bygone films and TV shows, especially all the black-and-white films that were staples of Saturday night and Sunday afternoons fifty years ago. Most of those films are now forgotten, which is a great shame.