Read a magazine article about one of Sheffield’s most senior students who proves that technology isn’t just for the younger generations. Find out what course she has enrolled on and why.

‘It’s never too late to learn!’

At a time in life when most people are slowing down the pace a little, retired book-keeper Irene Bennet has never been busier. Proving that it’s never too late to learn something new, the 90-year-old has just discovered the joys of computers and is taking part in a new course to learn the art of desktop publishing.

“I thought it was about time I learned how to use a computer,” laughed Irene, who has got to be one of the oldest students in Sheffield. “Before last year I had never touched a computer but my daughter Pam got a new computer and gave me her old one to play with. I had not typed for ages, let alone touched a computer before, and so I thought I ought to learn how to use it”.

The great-grandmother spotted a course at the Lowedges Community Wing’s learning centre and decided instantly to enroll to learn how to create posters and cards on a computer. She admits that some members of her family—she has two sons, a daughter, five granddaughters and six great-grandchildren—laughed when she started the computer course. However many were not surprised. Her active social life includes teaching a tap-dancing class for the over 50-s. She also enjoys playing the piano.

“I have never wanted to be someone who stays at home watching TV. I like to fill my life and if I had to stay at home I would hate it,” she said. “I didn’t know a thing about computers before joining the course but our teacher Krista Joel was very patient. I learned about the basics and I enjoyed it. It whets my appetite and I wanted to learn more. It’s good to learn new things, whatever your age. It’s never too late.” She is a big believer that technology isn’t just for the younger generation and says that age should not be a barrier to learning. Technology, however, is not something that Irene has ever been afraid of and admits that these days she would be lost without her mobile phone as she keeps in constant touch with her family via regular text messages.

Irene whose husband died twenty years ago has lived in the area since she was six-years-old when her family moved from Spalding in Lincolnshire to Sheffield and her heart remains very much in the city. It is one of the reasons why she has recently enrolled as a volunteer for BBC Radio Sheffield. Her voluntary work involves collecting stories from local people of their memories of the Second World War. Her new role does not only keep her busy but is something that interests her.

“Some people are afraid of trying something new but they shouldn’t be. Age shouldn’t be a thing to stop people. Age isn’t an issue for me. I like a challenge and just get on with it”.

Read the text again and decide if the following sentences are true or false.  

1) Irene Bennett lives in Lincolnshire.

2) She works as a book-keeper.

3) She decided to enroll on a computer course because her daughter advised her to do this.

4) She loves learning and enjoys finding out how things work.

5) Technology is something that Irene has never been scared of.

6) Irene is involved in working with elderly people.

7) She is a typical 90-year-old. 

 

Read the following statements and say whether you agree or disagree with them. Explain your point of view.

1) It is never too late to learn.

2) Age is a barrier to learning.

3) Voluntary work is very important.

4) Computers are so fascinating.

A. Project. What courses do you know (learning foreign languages, Website Construction, etc.)? Make a list of 5 courses and discuss in group of three which is the most interesting and in demand.

B. Choose one course and prepare its presentation in pairs. Pay attention to the following items:

- new and with good prospects;

- useful learning experience;

- convenient time and place of study, etc.

UNIT 7. PLACES TO VISIT

Section I Speaking

Read and translate the following words and expressions:

to have a lovely holiday, to go away, to arrive home, to enjoy a nice Christmas, to take smb away to a secret location, to visit a city, to stay in a hotel; to invite smb, to travel by car, to buy souvenirs, to have a perfect break, to have a foreign trip, to cross the Channel by ferry, to spend time at a summer house

Which of these can you use to describe your last holiday?

Read these emails from the English family to their friends in Russia. Think of a subject for each of them.

Email 1

Hello to you all - and thanks for your Christmas email.

We were on holiday in Lanzarote before Christmas, arriving home at night on Christmas Eve. It was a good time to go away because there was much snow and ice in England but in Lanzarote the temperature reached 25 degrees! We stayed in a hotel there and had a lovely holiday and have also enjoyed a nice Christmas at home.

Although it is still a holiday over here I have called in at work to check that everything is ok.

We hope you have a lovely New Year and that 2018 is a good year for you all.

Best wishes from Andrew, Margaret and Olivia.

Email 2

Hello!

I'm so glad the email reached you safely.

Thanks for your birthday greetings.

I had a very special birthday this year. Margaret and Olivia took me away to a secret location. It turned out to be a town called Darlington - just along the coast from Scarborough and Robin Hood's Bay - where I went to college many years ago. I showed them the house I lived in, the pubs I used to visit and also the college. We stayed in a hotel there for two nights and also visited a beautiful city called Durham.

How is Volgograd? Has it been a cold winter? On TV this week was a major documentary about the Battle of Stalingrad and it also showed lots of images of Volgograd today.

Well, must go as I have to meet someone in Chesterfield.

Andrew xxx (and Margaret, Olivia).

Email 3

Hello!

How are you?

Olivia is growing up very quickly. We received her first school report yesterday and the teacher had lots of excellent things to say about her and how she is learning.

We spent a few days in Germany at the end of June for a street festival in a town called Sindelfingen. The town is 'twinned' with Dronfield and we were invited by the town's Mayor to visit it. The street festival itself was amazing with hundreds of stalls lining the streets of Sindelfingen selling food, beer, jewellery, sweets and many more things.

At the end of August we’ll be travelling by car to France. A friend of ours has a house at place called Descartes in the Loire Valley. We’ll cross the Channel by ferry and we’ll take Olivia to Disneyland Paris for three days before driving down to the house.

Do you have any travel plans this year or are you going to spend lots of time at your beautiful summer house? And how was the birthday party?

Well, I must get some more work done. Please pass on our fondest regards to everyone over there.

Lots of love

Margaret xxx