Time to broaden your horizons

Adults can take courses that they really want to take, just for the joy of it, without any pressure of exams or assignments, and with no real pressure to perform competitively against other students.

Morning, afternoon and evening classes are run on every kind of topic in universities, institutes of technology, VECs, community schools and colleges, outreach centres, and community halls throughout the country.

This gentle introduction to adult learning is the most popular choice for most people. They are driven solely by interest.

Many people pick a new subject each year, adding gradually to their knowledge and skills.

This gentle introduction may encourage some adults to continue on to more serious courses, perhaps even graduating to honours degree level.

Whether you want to brush up your language skills for your forthcoming holiday in France, Italy, Spain or Mexico, learn to write your family memoirs for the benefit of your grandchildren in years to come or attend a cooking course to improve your culinary skills; whether you want to take an introductory course in watercolours or oil painting, learn how to design a web page, take a course in interior design, or an introduction to counselling, pass maths in the Leaving Certificate because you failed it 30 years ago, take a course in Tai Chi or Karate, learn how to service your car, take an introductory course in psychology, take up photography, learn how to lip read, take a course in sports psychology for golfers -- it's all there for you.

Just get up and get out and enrol in something.

It will be fun, it will be stimulating, it will do you good.

As the saying goes, use it -- don't lose it.

Check what's on offer with your local VEC, in the institute of technology, or in the nearest university.

Join the Alliance Francaise or the Goethe Institut for conversation classes or for cultural activities.

The Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) has a particular role in adult education, and its website (www.ivea.ie) can link you to all other VECs.

Phone up your nearest college and ask them to send you out an adult education prospectus.

City Of Dublin VEC has a free phone line at 1800 204080.

Cork City VEC, for example, has a website devoted to adult education at www.corkadulteducation.ie

UCD's adult education programme allows you to choose from courses for which credits are given, which can be used towards the award of an NUI certificate, or courses taken for interest only.

Its website address is: www.ucd.ie/adulted

Check the accompanying list of useful contacts for the adult learner -- our A-Z for the adult learner.