Učimo se angleško

Učenje nikoli ni bilo, oziroma ne bi smelo biti, le kopičenje podatkov, dejstev in podobnih znanj; torej samo sebi namen. Služilo naj bi obogatitvi življenja, spodbudi za duhovno in telesno rast. Malo je ljudi, ki bi se lahko pohvalili, da jim je uspelo doživeti "tretje življenjsko obdobje" brez hujših pretresov; že upokojitev sama lahko pomeni večjo ali manjšo krizo.

Že nekaj kratkih spisov, nastalih kot domače naloge pri učenju angleškega in nemškega jezika, kaže, da učenje tujih jezikov ne služi nujno le nabiranju jezikovnega znanja (čeprav tudi to ni zanemarljivo, sicer sestavkov sploh ne bi bilo), ampak je njegov smisel tudi v uživanju radosti, pogovoru, druženju, "treniranju možganov" in spomina, samodokazovanju. Veselje, smeh in čudenje naj bi bili sestavni del pouka, ali ne? Tisti, ki bo prebral te domače naloge, bo lahko kaj hitro opazil, da so polne dobronamernega spontanega humorja, razmišljanja. Če bi odmislili, da obiskujejo slušatelji/ce univerzo za tretje življenjsko obdobje, bi bilo kaj težko določiti njih starost (razen, ko govorijo o vnukih), kar dokazuje, da je človek star le toliko, kolikor je star po duhu.

In kaj je lepšega kot dokazati sebi in drugim, da smo zmožni izraziti svoje misli in čustva v tujem jeziku, še posebej, če smo se ga začeli učiti šele po petdesetem letu!

Meta Kompoš, prof. nem. in angl.

Začeli smo z angleščino - prva skupina

Angleško:

A New Challenge

I always wished to study English but I didn't have the opportunity to do so. When I got retired, my son said that I had to join an English course. He said that I was gifted for languages.

When the Seniors' University LIPA Domžale was established in 1998, I immediately joined the first English class. I was sixty years old when I began to study. The first lessons were quite difficult for me, but later no more.

It was a new challenge to begin studying at my age. I had to refresh my memory and I needed some brain training, too. That was necessary for me. I needed to prove to myself and the others that I was able to study English. My eldest son has always supported me psychologically. I am grateful to him because he has given me continual stimulation. I have always done my homework alone and nobody has ever helped me.

A good friend of mine, a woman of my age, said to me, 'You must be stupid if you go to Lipa to learn English. Why study now when you are retired. You'd better rest. Didn't you have enough of school?' I replied that to learn English had always been my heartiest wish. Many friends of mine ask me if I profit from that. What a ridiculous question, isn't it? The question is not money or something similar. I am just happy--- 
-- to meet friends
-- to  train the brain
-- to refresh memory
-- to enjoy work
-- to prove that I am able to do it
-- to feel younger, healthier and more flexible
-- to be grateful to good teachers

I am much obliged to all my teachers of English who have taught me a lot. English language is so melodious and gentle.

Marija Križaj

Have You Done Your Homework, Granny?

I like talking to my little granddaughter. It is not just small talk; it's a great and long conversation like this one about hobbies.

Nika: Is cooking a hobby, Granny?
Granny:  It is, but it can also be a profession.
Nika:  Is gardening a hobby, Granny?
Granny:  It is, but it can be a profession too.
Nika:  Is reading a hobby, Granny?
Granny:  Listen, my dear child. Cooking, gardening, reading, writing poems, skiing, skating, knitting, listening to music, playing the piano, violin or any other instrument, painting pictures, making  models, collecting coins, driving a car, travelling, camping, playing  computer games, jogging, fishing, dancing, watching films, going to the theatre, all these are hobbies, you know.
Nika:  You know lots about it. But Granny, which one is the best for you?
Granny:  Maybe it is taking photographs.
Nika:  No, Granny. I think that it is going to your school because every Monday and Tuesday you leave me. And do you remember my question: 'HAVE YOU DONE YOUR HOMEWORK, Granny?' When I asked you about your homework you laughed at me loudly and heartily. And my Mom and Daddy, all of you laughed at me. It was crazy, so I think it must be very funny.
Granny: You are right, my dear. Our school is very amusing and important for our brain training. It's important to have  good memory even though I am over sixty.
Nika:  If it is so funny for you, it will be funny for me, too. I can only  hope that this is true.
Tomorrow I am going to your brain training with you even though I am over three.
Granny:  You are welcome! I'll be very glad to see you in our classroom as my schoolmate.

Stanka Sotlar

If I Were A Piano...

If I were a piano, I would tell a story that happened somewhere:

Young parents and their little daughter lived in a modest flat. I had been there for many years. When Mary was eight, she began her first lessons at the music school. She was searching for the right keys at home, and I was patient. After some weeks the little girl could play short, easy compositions. Her mother and father were happy and proud of their daughter and of me, too. So, the young pianist went on to the second and third class. The pieces became longer and more complex. And for that reason she had to practice nearly every day.   'This is difficult for me. I will stop with this crazy music!' She closed my cover very angrily. I stood there silently for a very long time. One morning Mary came to me. 'Are you disappointed?' she asked. 'You know, it's boring without you, I was stupid'. She sat down and began to play again. Her fingers were more skilful day after day. She became aware of the great personalities of music history; meditative Bach, cheerful Mozart, the human destiny in Beethoven's work, sensitive Chopin, romantic Schubert, Schumann and others.

Years passed and Mary decided to study medicine. She had little time for me now. I remember: one evening she opened the music album and then I sang very sadly. She had tears in her eyes when she caressed me tenderly, 'Dear old piano, I know only you understand me.'
It was a beautiful Sunday and the young woman came into the room with her friend. He shouted, 'Look! You haven't told me about your piano.' He opened my cover and I played some popular music. They were both smiling and I was satisfied.

Mary finished her studies. Her friend became her husband. After their wedding she said to him, 'If you want to buy a new car, we could sell the piano.' The young man embraced his pretty wife and looked at her belly. 'My dear, the piano will not be sold. Perhaps our child will need it.'

So, I am waiting for the story to repeat itself.

Mila Živulović