LostInTheWoods

A new school term brings a new lesson. For an hour and a quarter each week, us non-swedish speaking folks are taught how to use a computer. Now, I made a living from knowing (although self-taught) stuff about computers, so learning how to open MS Word again is a bit simple. So I was prepared to skip these lessons, thinking I would not miss out on much. But to show willing I thought I would give the first lesson a go.

But, this morning, it quickly became apparent that the lessons are pitched at the right level for most of the people in my class. Today we covered the keys on the keyboard, and I found myself explaining to the women next to me how to use the mouse and the “Start” menu.

I think those of us used to podcasts, blogs, homepages, mp3s, e-commerce, we forget that there are billions of computer illiterates in the world, by no fault of their own.

My tuition of the women I sat next to, which I had to conduct in our newly found common tongue (Swedish), continued until the end of the class. I found this a valuable experience, helping someone who had never sat in front of a computer before and introduce concepts that are exceptionally familiar to me.

The teacher thanked me for my help as the class finished, and complimented me on my Swedish language skills, which was nice. I think I will continue to go to these lessons, so I can help my fellow students, learn more Swedish computer terminology (space bar is “mellanslag”!?), and having to really engage my brain explaining the familiar.

Just goes to show, things are not always what you think they will be....

That is all.

LostInTheWoods