Have you learned any skills by yourself?
By bravewoman
@bravewoman (153)
Singapore
September 28, 2012 1:25am CST
I'm happy to find that there are more and more education resources around us.But have you ever learned any skills by yourself using these resources.Not going to school, taking traning course or get tutors,just using some free resources,and get a hang of it by practing and thinking.
I'm proud to say I've learned many things by myself though somtimes spent more time than others.
In my country,there is a tendency for elementry school students to reinforce their English and other subjects in cram school after regular hours.Since primary 1,most of my little classmates have reinforced their English in another place after school or on weekends. And they learned math,writings and so on. And it's even more common in middle school. My friends keep busy on weekends learning day and night!And they said they've got used to it!
I was relaxed during my nine-year school time because my parents never force to do like them(And I was quite lazy in primary school). I spent more time doing what I love to do and I learned piano, photoshop, swimming,other language etc by myself.I learned them by heart with great interest,watched many video tutorials and spent many hours practing and thinking,seeking for answers on the Internet.So I did it!
It happy to learn things I love by myself! And what about you?What have you learned by yourself and how did you learn it?
1 person likes this
10 responses
@wilsonburrell (207)
• United States
29 Sep 12
I actually learned a skill at the age of 8. It was how to fix most cassette players. Unfortunately it isn't a skill that can really be used for a job now, but at the time it was a good thing to know.
1 person likes this
@bravewoman (153)
• Singapore
1 Oct 12
Fix cassettle players at such a young age? Great!
Many things we learned can't be used for jobs. I learned swimming only because I want to learn a survival skills and keep in healthy!
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
28 Sep 12
That's nice that you have learnd all of those by yourself. I learned how to swim on my own, too. I'm trying to learn to play the violin on my own. Although it's a bit harder now because I'm older and busier with other things. I am also currently teaching my self how to speak Korean.
@bravewoman (153)
• Singapore
29 Sep 12
Violin?That's cool!If you really like it,transform the concept of learning into relaxing,put your free time to good use.Hope you will play well!
Do you like Korean? Or just learn it for work?
I'm going to learn spanish in my free time during my study in Singapore because I really love it.It sounds nice!
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
29 Sep 12
Oh yes, violin. 
I studied music when I was really young (piano to be exact) and a little bit of drums, and picked up the guitar just by being mentored by my dad and uncles, so I know I have a knack for music. Yes, I really like Korean and other languages. Used to study Japanese, but need to get back to it. Used to self-study Spanish, too, but need to get back to it, too. I really like to study languages. Someday, I hope to learn Mandarin and German or French, too.
I studied music when I was really young (piano to be exact) and a little bit of drums, and picked up the guitar just by being mentored by my dad and uncles, so I know I have a knack for music. Yes, I really like Korean and other languages. Used to study Japanese, but need to get back to it. Used to self-study Spanish, too, but need to get back to it, too. I really like to study languages. Someday, I hope to learn Mandarin and German or French, too.@bravewoman (153)
• Singapore
29 Sep 12
great!
I love music and have a good sense of it. I still remember I could learn a piano piece(not too complex) by listening to it instead of looking at the staff after two-month learning(especially the episodes of animes!).
I'm so happy that you have the same interests like me!We could learn languages together.And I'm glad to hear you want to learn Mandarin.Maybe I could help you on this language!
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
6 Oct 12
Yes, but of course you need to be learning something that genuinely interests you in order to make this approach viable. I acquired a copy of Microsoft Office Small Business Edition many years ago, and installed it onto my computer. I found Microsoft Excel to be a very intriguing, but rather difficult to use. I persevered and used the Help menu in order to create a basic spreadsheet for my finances.
Since then I have become quite passionate about Excel and gradually expanded by knowledge a the various functions available. I have also set myself some interesting challenges, which often required researching on the internet to find out how to accomplish the right result. Despite having no formal education in this field, I honestly consider myself to be very adept at formulating spreadsheets to cover a myriad of diverse and seemingly complex formulae.
Of course, without the desire and interest I would probably have achieved nothing worthwhile.
How many people do you know who never did well at school but have a very in depth knowledge of football or other interests? Once again it is a result of wanting to know.
@bravewoman (153)
• Singapore
7 Oct 12
your experience attracted me a lot!
That's true I learned those things well because I have desire and interest.It's hard for me to do things well if I don't like it.If you are learning with a great passion, the more difficult, the more you wonder, the more you know, the bigger surprise you'll find!
@leeloo (1492)
• Portugal
2 Oct 12
There have always been Do/Learn it yourself courses and books. In many ways in the old days it was the only way to learn as there were few schools and many times only through correspondence or these types of books could someone learn something new. The internet changed that it made it available everywhere to everyone. I have learned various crafts and things online, be it how to make yoghurt at home or a new language. The difference between school learning and doing it yourself it pacing. How many times do we wish teachers would take more time on one topic and find another topic easy and it gets boring after a while having to hear another explanation about the same thing. Then there is the fact that schools give out certifications, even though I learnt a new language on my own, I can never show a document proving my fluency because I learnt it online through help videos. So the advantage is being able to learn basically anything we want, there are universities that have most of their curriculum online so with a little work someone could learn something on their own for fun.
@bravewoman (153)
• Singapore
3 Oct 12
yeah,nowadays it's really convenient for us to learn new things because of internet.My mom have been learning to make some new delicious food online all the afternoon today.Videos showed her detailed making process.That's nice!
@katie0 (5203)
• Japan
3 Oct 12
I think all was by myself cause I was away from my home country too early so I had to learn some of the language of the new place, then I learned English, then webdesign, cooking, I like to study so everytime I feel like mastering in something I need something new cause I feel depressed if not learning.
@bravewoman (153)
• Singapore
3 Oct 12
You have not even reached this language before you went to this new place?
You are a good learner and I sometimes have a similar feeling as you when not learning. I would be satisfied if I'm making progress everytime!
@bluespygirl (2112)
• Philippines
6 Oct 12
I believe in that one should not stop learning! =)
One of the good things that the internet brought us is that we can learn many things that we want or that interest us. Good thing that you learned many things here.
Since resigning from my full time job just days ago, I want to acquire new skills. I want to speed up my typing and I am looking to learning new languages so that if I can find clients as a online english teacher for japanese or koreans, I can understand a little of what they am saying
@bravewoman (153)
• Singapore
6 Oct 12
Internet is so useful that I could learn a language totally online.when other children paid for language lessons and did as the teacher said, I just learnt it online for free and freely.
If I stop learning, I'll feel tired and bored in life instead.
Hope you'll learn well!It's one of my ideal job to teach foreigners chinese online:)
@ajithlal (14716)
• India
29 Sep 12
I learned most of the computer software by reading books and going through different tutorials. I think it is always good to learn new skills in life. I think most times we feel proud when we learn new skills in our lives. I think when we learn something very hard most probably we will not forget it very easily.
@bravewoman (153)
• Singapore
1 Oct 12
yes,I'm very proud of what I have learnt and never forget them because I've learned them very hard.And I'm learning not only new skills but also patience and ability to understand new things.So I think it's really nice to teach myself!
@BigMoney25 (1286)
• Philippines
28 Sep 12
my programming skills is something I learned myself and I am proud of it. Even before I attended University I already know how to use Visual Basic and C# and a little Java programming. But now I can say I have improved even more thanks to the great effort and diligence that I put each day.
@bravewoman (153)
• Singapore
29 Sep 12
No pains no gains,I've put my time and energy on my self-learning skills but I'm proud of it!
Programming skills attract me a lot but it's too difficult and complex.So you are great!In fact I'm still learning it off and on when I accomplish other things.
@kelly_berry79 (23)
• Philippines
1 Oct 12
I've learned how to play the guitar when I was 11. I just asked my Uncle to teach me how to read guitar chords and that's how I started. Until now, I still play the guitar and I'm teaching others now including my son.
A few years ago, I was so amazed by someone who plays the bamboo flute. The sound was very pleasing to my ear. I got so curious so bought one for myself. At first, it was a bit difficult, but when I learned the technique, it became quite easier.
It's really interesting to learn new things by yourself. It tests your patience as well as your understanding. It makes us see things beautiful and interesting. But I think you can never learn anything right if you don't have passion or commitment.
@bravewoman (153)
• Singapore
1 Oct 12
Yeah! I love it so I teach it myself,I love it so it's hard to get tired!Learning new things increase my knowledge,make me more optimistic and patient,more brave and confident.And it makes life colorful!So my friends always envy me that I have so many interests and is good at many things^^
If one have tried self-learning and done it once, he will dare to try something new that seems to be difficult and other people do not want to try.
When talking about guitar, my brother have once said he wanted to learn it. But finally he asked his friend to learn it and teach him then~ What a guy!
@ztuberi (395)
• Philippines
1 Oct 12
Its really possible and you have to be patient. But for me, its easier to learn if somebody is teaching you or guiding you, and you practice at home and additional learning through your own resources. Or maybe have somebody to teach you for the basics and just specialize your skill on your own.
@bravewoman (153)
• Singapore
1 Oct 12
There is many people who can guide you in your life,completely for free!Confucius have said, when walking in the company of other men, there must be one I can learn something from.And seeking for natural teacher in your life can be another form of self-learning sometimes.
Of course, when I study at home, I'll always ask questions online. I'm also seeking for someone to guide me.Thus we can learn in a better way!
