I attended the Kildare and Wicklow National FET Learner Forum in October in Athy where I had the chance to share my experience of my course with other learners.
It was my daughter-in-law who encouraged me to take part in this course and I’m so happy that she did. Without her, I would not have known about this programme.
I wasn’t sure about it at first and it felt a little intimidating. When I arrived at the centre I was roaming around outside the door. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go in.
I was thinking, “do I really want to do this?” “Should I cancel?”
I was outside for fifteen minutes. Eventually I walked in and I found Joan and she was so welcoming. From the way she welcomed me, I immediately felt more relaxed. Joan was so nice and went through all of it with me, like filling in the form, and encouraging me. I’m delighted that I met somebody like her.
The course is very interesting and very practical. I learned about internet banking and how to transfer money from account to account. If I want to send money to my son, I can do it easily now. We also learned about online booking and online shopping. We opened Revolut accounts, and learned how to use the Wallet on our phones.
We have done quite a lot so far. We’ve been using WhatsApp, Facebook and Messenger and have also learned how to use Chat GPT. Sometimes we use laptops in the college but most of the time we are using our phones. We learned how to use Google Maps and how to find directions. We’ve learned some really useful life skills so far and they are really handy for me.
Now with these new skills, when I go out shopping, I know how to use the Wallet on my phone. It’s easier to just tap. And with shopping online – I don’t need to rely on other people any more. I can just do my own. I know how to book hotels now, and how to book my own holidays.
My tutor Susan is really brilliant. People ask question after question but she is so patient and just awesome. She is great with the elderly, and with younger people. She is so attentive to each of us. She works one-to-one with all of us which is very good. I personally am so happy to have her as my tutor. I hope in the year to come that I have her again.
She was so welcoming when I joined the class and I felt that she was the right person to teach me this course. If there is a word beyond brilliant to describe her, that’s what I would say.
I have a great relationship with each of my classmates but am particularly close to Katherine. She introduced me to a mini book-swap service in Bray where the local community drop in their used novels or books. Sometimes I can get cook books which I love so much.
I would definitely recommend this course to people. It is very useful and I believe there are so many people out there who would love to learn digital skills but maybe they don’t have the opportunity. I think courses should be better advertised. Lots of information is now online but not everyone is online, or able to find the right websites. You need to know where to look. I would not have known about my course if it wasn’t for my daughter-in-law. I think there are people in my community who are not aware of the range of courses out there.
I think more advertisement is needed. Apart from the websites, sometimes physical posters are helpful, like having information in the local shops.
I would absolutely encourage anyone who was thinking of doing a course like mine. It’s not just Digital Skills – there are a variety of courses taking place out here like English courses, typing or mathematics. There are so many things happening. It depends on people’s personal choices.
I hope there are more grants and more funding so that AONTAS and the ETBs can continue to support people like me.
