If you have kids, you will be glad to get Back to School out of the way. There is always so much to remember, and usually some kind of last minute panic. It’s a relief when the school term actually starts, and everything starts gradually getting back to normal again.
But there’s also something about Back to School that can make you feel as if you’d like a fresh start yourself. The kids might have all their new stuff, ready for a brand new school year, but perhaps this year it’s your turn too? Maybe it’s time to start learning something new this autumn?
Whether you decide to go to evening classes, follow an online course, or study in your own way at your own pace, there are lots of options available!
In this article we take a light-hearted look at ten new things you might want to learn this autumn, and give you a few pointers in the right direction as to how to go about it.
If you have always wanted to speak another language, or perhaps resurrect one you learned years ago at school, now is the time to do it! An easy and convenient way to do it is online at home, from providers such Duolingo or Babbel.
You could either study independently or join an online class. If you get on well with it and enjoy it then perhaps look for a local conversation class or, better still, use it as an excuse for a little trip to a country that speaks the language!
Coding – or computer programming – underpins pretty much every aspect of our lives. Even if it is not something that you need to do at the moment, it’s a great general skill to have, and gives you a better understanding of how IT works.
A fun place to start is Hour of Code. This is used a lot in schools across the world, and is a game-based introduction to the logic behind coding. There are also a wide variety of structured online coding courses available – including popular languages such as Python and Java – on sites such as Codecademy or Khan Academy.
Another great site for coding courses is the government Skills Toolkit which also has a range of free online business courses. And if you are interested in a vocational course, check out Reed UK for a wide range of courses, some of which are free.
As well as specific subject-related courses, you may also want to brush up your general business skills such as communication, interpersonal or problem-solving skills. There are some excellent free online training courses to help you improve these kinds of skills, for example Open Learn’s The Importance of Interpersonal Skills.
If you’re not particularly practical but would like to be, how about improving your practical skills this autumn – for example, DIY skills or car maintenance skills? There are bound to be evening classes near you that could help you to acquire basic skills and confidence in just about any practical area of your choice. Why not take a browse through the Find Courses website to see the range of evening classes available.
Whether you have never played a musical instrument, or used to learn many years ago but gave up, it’s a great time to give it a try. The most effective way to learn is to find someone to give you one to one lessons, but if this is not possible either financially or logistically, there are many online resources available : just Google the instrument you want to learn and browse through what might work best for you.
Whatever learning method you choose, it is also really important to practise regularly. Even just 20 minutes a day will make a huge difference. And once you have gained even a small amount of ability, look for local groups to join that can encourage you to keep going, for example a choir, orchestra, jam session, or band workshop. The more you immerse yourself in music, and take the opportunity to mix and play with other musicians, the faster your skills and confidence will grow.
Whether it’s watercolour painting, jewellery making, silversmithing, sewing, knitting, crochet, flower arranging or any other creative hobby, autumn is a great place to start. You could enrol onto some suitable evening classes this term, just to get you started, then decide from there whether to continue classes or keep going on your own. And just think, you could create your own Christmas gifts this year from the fruits of your labours!
Many areas have local cookery courses, perhaps focused on a particular type of cookery such as baking, pastry or an ethnic cookery course such as Thai, Indian or Italian. Whatever type of food is your favourite, why not try to find a course that will help you to make it just as well as the professionals.
Another option would be to get together with a group of friends to share cooking skills. Perhaps you are really good at making cakes, and another friend always nails a curry. If you share the skills between you, you will all become more proficient chefs without the expense of paying for a course.
If drinking is more your thing, how about learning more about the art of creating drinks. For example, you might want to have a go at brewing your own beer or wine. You can learn to do this from online courses, or you may be able to find a class or session at a local brewery or vineyard.
If you love cocktails, it could be worth spending time learning how to create your own. Many pubs and wine bars run evenings on how to create your own cocktails, or you could organise a private training session for you and a few friends. Some organisations also offer longer mixology courses, or you may be able to find something online.
Whatever your favourite drink, why not make it your own this autumn.
One excellent learning programme that you can fit in this autumn is Couch to 5K (C25K). Many sceptical non-runners have tried the programme and been delighted with their progress.
All you need to do is be prepared to commit half an hour 3 times a week. You will start running for less than a minute at a time, and after 9 weeks should be able to run up to 5 kilometres. So rather than sinking into your couch this autumn, why not set aside this relatively small amount of time to run yourself fit?
It’s so often the case that we can live in an area for years but know very little about it. Whether you live in a city, town or village there is always something to discover. If you enjoy history it would be interesting to find out how the area has developed over the years, why the names of certain streets or buildings were chosen, and whether there have been any notable residents over the years. You can use the internet or your local library to find out some of this information, or make it your mission to talk to people who have lived in the area all their lives.
If you prefer the present day, why not take time to explore the area thoroughly, and get to know parts that you never knew existed. Try to look at the area through fresh eyes : perhaps imagine you are visiting as a tourist, and do all the things that you would do in that case.
We hope that this article has given you some ideas and inspiration for new things to learn this autumn. And if there’s anything we’ve missed, take a look at the Open Learn site for hundreds of free courses on just about every topic you can think of.
We have tried to focus on free courses, but if at any stage you need some extra funds to pay for a course, remember Munzee offers loans over 24 months which could help to spread the cost.
Check back here soon for more lifestyle and financial tips from Munzee Loans.
Is it time to start learning something new this autumn?