This morning was my first day of Summer School and I was like a little kid.

I did all my morning chores and even went into the garage to pump up my bike tyres. I hadn’t cycled in years but as the University of the Third Age in nearby, it seemed wrong to use the car for such a short distance. Normally I would have walked but as it’s 37 degrees, it’s really hot and awful to be out in the sun. The bike would have been quicker.

In my excitement, it was a whole process to get ready. I decided what top and shorts to wear then donned my sneakers and straw hat. This has been my uniform during summer.

I selected a notebook that could be my note pad for the semester – and a new pen, that I put into a pencil case. I then rode over to the school, was given my lanyard with my name and course enrolment details and entered the old classroom with the ceiling fan circulating air around the room.

I met Louise our teacher and there were seven participants today. It’s 2 sessions – this week and next week – before the real semester of 9 weeks begins in February.

I decided to join the University of the Third Age which is for people who are 50+, semi or fully retired. I signed up for French and Ukulele to see how I go and if I enjoy it. I’ve also been thinking of joining U3A Melbourne as they have a larger selection of courses but I’m mindful of not filling up my days too much. I was looking into doing some literature, politics or philosophy courses but one thing at a time….

If they ever ask me to teach at the U3A, I have a few ideas and there’s one line of thought that I’ve been reflecting on for a while. It’s a program to help people out of the workforce (semi retired and my age) to help build out a plan for what to learn – “a Lifelong Learning Plan for Recent Ex-Workers”. What is it that they want to Do, Be or Become and how to structure a plan to do this. Integrate my own “Personal Learning Plan” and tactics I’ve written about on this blog ad nauseum but now apply it to people in the 45+ age group who only have known about working all their life.

Anyway, it’s an idea that’s been stewing. I’d offer it for free through this voluntary organisation as a community service.

Failing that I can run something like a monthly book club (but I’ll run it with themes around lifelong learning again – and it’ll incorporate elements of food, wine, experiences too. Anything to get people OFF their screens and talking and experiencing their world around them.

Today during our French class, we learned about the Summer Camps that French people send their kids on every year. We learned the following song complete with phonetics and pronunciation.

The reason why I decided to go through U3A for French is that I liked the “old fashioned” approach to learning. I did a trial last year and the lessons were blended with reading, grammar, phonetics, team and individual learning with practice, feedback and constant iteration and reiteration. There was even orthography!

So now, every Tuesday until April, I will be in a classroom for two hours. Also, I will have a French conversation group at the local cafe for an hour with another group plus my weekly chats with my friend Renee. That’s about 5 hours of French a week.

I’m excited to be a student again. This morning preparing for the day ahead, I’ve been my most excited I’ve been in a while. It reminded me of the first day of the school year starting and it had the same buzz about it with people connecting again and sharing what they got up to during their holidays. We had to recount what we did during our holidays in French and be corrected for our pronunciation. I loved every single aspect of today. Even the notice board at the back of the room with the dated dog eared tourist photos and maps of France.

It just reminded me of “school”. Something I knew, which gave me comfort but most of all EXCITED ME because of the expectation of learning and meeting new people.

I’m going to be in a CLASS OF PEOPLE! For a semester!! Maybe for the rest of the year!!

No Zoom. No keyboards. No screens. No mute buttons.