December 21, 2020
What is one thing that you would like to learn?
You want me to narrow this down to only one thing? You don’t ask for much, do you?
I’m one of those people who wants to learn new things constantly. I was in my early 30s when I learned to needlepoint. Computers didn’t enter my life until my late 30s. I got my AS degree in Computer Networking when I was in my 40s. It wasn’t until my late 50s when I decided to start writing fiction and learn how to self-publish.
None of these were plotted far in advance. Like so much of my life, they just happened. So, as I edge closer to retirement, what’s next?
I don’t have any grand plans. The idea of having time to sit back, spend time with my hubby, read, relax, and concentrate on improving my writing sounds good. All those courses that I’ve never had the time to do will become a possibility.
Now, if I could snap my fingers and suddenly have a new skill without needing any practice, that’s a different story. I’ve tried, without much luck, to learn two different languages. (French and Russian.) I learned enough to pass the classes, but not enough to feel proficient in either. If I had choose only one, I’d pick Russian, just for the joy of being different.
If languages are out of the question, I’d like to pick up archery again. That’s another skill I started to learn and never become proficient in. I’d have to start from scratch because it’s been so long since I’ve held a bow.
How about you? What’s one thing you would like to learn? Tell me in the comments.
Now, I’m off to find out what the other authors are talking about.
In the meantime, hope your holidays are happy, and stay safe!
December 21, 2020
What is one thing that you would like to learn?
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I learned French at school, but 45 years later I’ve forgotten most of it. I agree it would be nice to speak another language, but most people speak English anyway!
I made it through four years of French in school (with high grades!), but never felt like I was any good at it.
Let’s not talk about archery and Boy Scout Camp. The extent of my scholastic Spanish was Vamos a nadar in la biblioteca con muy frio taco. Let’s go swimming in the library with a very cold taco. However I learned real Spanish on the fly… Wait that sounds bad. I learned Spanish in situ. I had books, I had classes. Get thrown in the middle of it, learn or die. And then you forget it until you need it again and a couple of days in with a verb reference book and you’re off.
Russian – only speaking. The look of it is too scary.
I was always better with the written form of other languages then the spoken. I couldn’t train my ear to pick up the subtle differences in the way sounds are pronounced.
I managed a few choice phrases in several languages, “hard-a-port” or “full astern” sort of stuff, no use on holiday but handy on the river.
I am not good at languages other than English, Patricia, so I’m quite settled with one language for life. I can get by speaking Afrikaans and can say a little bit in Zulu, but not much. Archery sounds interesting.