Have any of you done any structured learning recently.

Nannylovesshopping

StarDreamer I study Portuguese with Duolingo online, brilliant and free!

Thank you.

As a result of seeing your post I am now learning Welsh with Duolingo.

I have started a thread in case anybody else is and would like to chat in Welsh at the very basic level of the early parts of the course please.

www.gransnet.com/forums/culture_arts/1313124-Prynhawn-da

Witzend

I did an OU degree (BA Open) in my 50s, just subjects I was interested in - classical studies inc. Latin and Greek, but level 3 courses were Eng Lit - the 19thC novel and Shakespeare - 10 plays. Enjoyed all those courses - final two were a lot of work though.
Had previously studied only modern languages at degree level.

I did Greek and Roman Myth and Approaching Literature for my final two level 3 OU courses. Myth had an externally marked project ( I did mine on Persephone and the Patriarchy) and Literature had a 3 hour written exam.

I joined DuoLingo (free) 930 days go to learn Spanish!. It takes about 15 mins a day. I’m loving it and can now read the language quite well now.

Great to read these! I have a background which includes lots of OU, including a BA (Hons), and other study alongside various professional qualifications. During lockdown I enjoyed OpenLearn and FutureLearn courses (all free online) which included several on social history. This led me to apply (age 70) to Oxford University and I have just finished their Advanced Diploma in Local History. It has been challenging but really worthwhile. I hope it goes well for you DaisyAnne and anyone else thinking of returning to study. My advice if you are looking at structured study leading to a qualification would be to look at something where you can build on credits (such as OU). While waiting for that to start maybe a FutureLearn course in a chosen subject from a respected university - I found Strathclyde very good - could be a good start.

I've completed several academic courses as an adult but when I retired I realised I had completely neglected my creative side, tbh I wasn't even sure I had one! I've followed a number of art courses, just finished one on painting landscapes in watercolour and currently doing a drawing course. I've plans to do a course on making silver jewellery later in the year. Structured learning doesn't have to be academic or lead to a qualification.

That's interesting foxie. I specifically called it structured learning for that reason. I think all learning is interesting (and amazing) but it could be for many reasons.

I chose to do extra mural classes. Loads of subjects from Poetry to Geology to Egyptology to Genealogy. Everyone else was doing them out of interest, not looking for another degree.

I got hooked on Egyptology and am still very interested in it. As for genealogy, it has become a bit obsessional.

If you don’t use your brain it atrophies.

Good point foxie48. So easy to ignore our creative side. My best course ever was called 'Art and the Environment' and involved lots of creative activities such as drawing, photography, journals, music and knitting! I learned so much about myself and how I learn from that course.

When I retired I bought myself a keyboard with touch-sensitive keys so I could improve my piano skills (neglected for 60-odd years). I play Baroque music mostly and make myself tackle music that's difficult. So it's structured in a way. I'm currently tackling a Grade 7 sight reading test I found in a charity shop. I only got as far as Grade 3 as a child. I love the challenge and enjoy seeing how much better I play now.

I did a degree in paramedic science and qualified aged 50. I still get a thrill out of saying I’m a paramedic when people ask what I do.

Mizuna, I took up the piano again after retiring - a 50 odd year gap and I’d only ever passed grade 2. Worked on my own for about a year before joining a group class, but that was a few years ago now. About grade 5 standard now, or at least that’s the level of pieces I play - piano is a bit neglected now though - 3 grandchildren arrived after I got back to the piano!

Just started Welsh with Duolingo. I’m not Welsh but I’ve always loved the sound of it.

I did a part-time education Masters in my 40s while working full-time, and intended doing a doctorate. I eventually found one that was a good fit and started in my 50s. However, partway through I deferred (a combination of reasons) until I retired, but in my early 60s, I realised I was not retaining information the way I had when I started, and it was not to be. A shame.
Moral? Don't wait, do it now!