Glynda
TUG Member
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2005
- Messages
- 3,783
- Reaction score
- 2,554
- Points
- 599
- Location
- Charleston, SC
- Resorts Owned
-
Bluegreen Points Lodge Alley Inn.
Brewster Green (two weeks).
For a couple of years I took an Italian class at a local senior center. While I did learn some helpful Italian, our instructor, a lovely 82 year old woman, who volunteered her time, is now too ill to continue.
I really want to learn Italian. Not just by memorizing travel phrases to get by while in Italy. I want to understand its structure. I want to be able to converse as well as read Italian publications. I have three main reasons for wanting to do this at this stage of life.
1. Hubby and I have the dream of someday spending months at a time in Italy, in a smaller village, near a train station to major cities and attractions.
2. While my mother continues to live with us, extensive travel is not possible so I have the opportunity to prepare for the future and get out of the house for short time periods of time and do something for myself.
3. The most important is that I have been DNA tested and of a pair, I carry one of the worst alleles/variants for late stage Alzheimers. The other of the pair is the most common and of average risk. So I am at greater risk though it's not as bad as it could be. Studies have shown that memorization, including exercise involving memorization, seems to help. I have been taking line dance lessons for exercise and memorization of the steps for about 4 years, twice a week, at the Senior Center for the same purpose.
Yes, I could be, and have been, listing to audio instruction on Italian for three years. I have the Italian for Dummies book. However, I know myself. I can be a procrastinator and I have not been, nor would I be, diligent enough on my own to achieve my goal. I need structure and a competitive environment.
South Carolina is one of many states that has a 60+tuition exemption program at publicly supported colleges and universities for senior citizens. All that is involved is the application process, the instructor's permission, a small fee of $85 and the price of the textbook, in this case $330!!
So, I am now officially enrolled at The College of Charleston for the fall semester taking Italian 101. For the past month, it's been the instructor, three young bachelor degreed music students from Chicago studying opera, 18 freshmen, and me... the old lady. I absolutely love it though studying has consumed my life. I probably average four hours or more hours a day studying. I have spent eight hours studying prior to each quiz. This stuff just doesn't stick like it used to. I was never a natural at French which I took a total of four years between high school and college.
College has changed quite a bit since I got my master's in 1975. It's quite an experience! I enjoy the comparisons. An added bonus is that I'm engaging with young people my granddaughters age and gaining insight.
I'm afraid I'm going to jinx it by saying this, but I am proud to report that so far, my grade average is 100%. We've had three quizzes in class, lots of homework which is done online along with the online listening and recording language lab, and are also graded on classroom participation. There will be a mid-term and a final exam. Most frightening is that there will be two oral presentations. Possible topics will be provided but the instructor chooses the topic on the spot. No notes allowed. The first is in her office but the last is to be done in front of the class. .
So here I am, a College of Charleston cougar. Pun intended as the mascot is the animal, the cougar.
I really want to learn Italian. Not just by memorizing travel phrases to get by while in Italy. I want to understand its structure. I want to be able to converse as well as read Italian publications. I have three main reasons for wanting to do this at this stage of life.
1. Hubby and I have the dream of someday spending months at a time in Italy, in a smaller village, near a train station to major cities and attractions.
2. While my mother continues to live with us, extensive travel is not possible so I have the opportunity to prepare for the future and get out of the house for short time periods of time and do something for myself.
3. The most important is that I have been DNA tested and of a pair, I carry one of the worst alleles/variants for late stage Alzheimers. The other of the pair is the most common and of average risk. So I am at greater risk though it's not as bad as it could be. Studies have shown that memorization, including exercise involving memorization, seems to help. I have been taking line dance lessons for exercise and memorization of the steps for about 4 years, twice a week, at the Senior Center for the same purpose.
Yes, I could be, and have been, listing to audio instruction on Italian for three years. I have the Italian for Dummies book. However, I know myself. I can be a procrastinator and I have not been, nor would I be, diligent enough on my own to achieve my goal. I need structure and a competitive environment.
South Carolina is one of many states that has a 60+tuition exemption program at publicly supported colleges and universities for senior citizens. All that is involved is the application process, the instructor's permission, a small fee of $85 and the price of the textbook, in this case $330!!
So, I am now officially enrolled at The College of Charleston for the fall semester taking Italian 101. For the past month, it's been the instructor, three young bachelor degreed music students from Chicago studying opera, 18 freshmen, and me... the old lady. I absolutely love it though studying has consumed my life. I probably average four hours or more hours a day studying. I have spent eight hours studying prior to each quiz. This stuff just doesn't stick like it used to. I was never a natural at French which I took a total of four years between high school and college.
College has changed quite a bit since I got my master's in 1975. It's quite an experience! I enjoy the comparisons. An added bonus is that I'm engaging with young people my granddaughters age and gaining insight.
I'm afraid I'm going to jinx it by saying this, but I am proud to report that so far, my grade average is 100%. We've had three quizzes in class, lots of homework which is done online along with the online listening and recording language lab, and are also graded on classroom participation. There will be a mid-term and a final exam. Most frightening is that there will be two oral presentations. Possible topics will be provided but the instructor chooses the topic on the spot. No notes allowed. The first is in her office but the last is to be done in front of the class. .
So here I am, a College of Charleston cougar. Pun intended as the mascot is the animal, the cougar.