The Value of Continuous Learning

Hey folks,

It’s been a little while since I put up any recent posts. Here are my thoughts on Continuous Learning, how I perceive it’s value, and some observations I want to share with those reading.

During my recent, prolonged job search, I decided to try to improve my lot in life by enrolling in a course at a community college. For most, we improve our dispositions by building our physiques (working out), or improving our looks (cosmetic procedures, makeup, etc.) or wardrobe (buying new or vintage clothes), or posture (through Miss Manners training, etc.), or financial standing (finding new jobs or sideline activities to earn more money).

For me, I decided to enroll in an Introductory Spanish class at De Anza College.

Originally, I had three reasons for taking this class:

1) Since marrying into a Mexican family (my wife is of Mexican descent, with both parents being born in Mexico, and her, her parents, her siblings and other relatives being able to speak reasonably fluent Spanish), I sometimes feel out of place. It’s not that I don’t understand what they say, either to each other, to friends, or what they watch on TV, as much as I feel I do not have my mind focused on thinking in the same terms, and sharing the same perspective. With formal classroom instruction, I can focus on learning to strengthen my spoken and written Spanish skills in an environment that I perceive to be non-threatening, and more objective. In the classroom, I can focus on learning Spanish, as opposed to being concerned that I am not “getting it right” in front of my wife’s family.

2) As a volunteer staff member for a community Employment Center based in East San Jose, I realize that the majority of my potential clients (more than half) are Spanish-speaking, making this skill invaluable in the delivery of services. Currently, I rely heavily on my wife to translate Spanish to English for me, but I am interested in providing a level of service that appropriately compliments the people I service.

3) For quite a while, I have had a fear of going back to school. Though somewhat irrational, I sometimes feel that I may not be up to par with the rigors of completing courses with students that may be close to half my age. At times, I feel hampered by the reality of being in my mid-thirties and participating in classes with folks that do not and will not share many of my experiences, perspectives, and beliefs. It has been a struggle to overcome, but as long as I stick with the material and do not dwell on it too long, I can usually focus past the generational differences and persevere. One of the advantages to being in the class is that I also get to learn about others and their diverse backgrounds, histories, and experiences.

After being in this course for three weeks, and speaking with other students who are returning to the classroom after prolonged absences in the working world, I have realized that continuing education yields other value than addressing those specific points listed above:

1) Being in the classroom again allows me to interact with others in a cordial atmosphere that you don’t find at home or at work. Here, I get to engage with others to learn about their lives, their experiences, their likes, dislikes, and general dispositions.

I am exposed to other people’s backgrounds and can learn from them in both subtle and obvious ways, whether it’s about their favorite courses, the difficulties of work, to how great or how boring other classes might be. I also learn from body language and how they interact with each other. Personal space plays a part of the decisions people make. Also people’s particular style of speaking and reacting influence others.

2) Aside from human interaction, I find value in following a daily routine. In many cases, With daily deadlines for assignments, group and individual exercises, I find myself forced to concentrate, to make an effort to succeed, as well as work with and encourage others to excel. This stimulates the mind and conditions me to handle the rigors of an ongoing course-load, something I have not had to do in a formal setting since my regular college days.

3) Classroom work allows me to learn new things, to brush up on what I have already learned, and to share those experiences with others. In the case of the Spanish class, much of the vocabulary I had learned from my high school Spanish classes I am just now starting to remember. I distinctly remember those early days of having to learn numbers, colors, and various vocabulary terms, which helps me to navigate the lessons, without the extensive frustration I would most likely have if I was completely raw.

For the working individual, I can say this:

Continuing education provides you the opportunity to improve and contemporize your existing knowledge and experience, to expand your perspective by allowing for the diversity of others to contrast against your own experiences and understanding. This compelled interaction refreshes your mind to the rigors of learning from and relating to others.

If local to the Silicon Valley, and interested in learning about what community colleges and vocational schools have to offer, I have provided links to both below that might help. Please keep in mind that due to the current budget crisis, the CSU system is no longer taking new students for the current year.

Please note that this partial list is provided as an informational resource and should not be construed as an endorsement of any of these institutions. As with any other consumable good, service, or offering, I recommend that you thoroughly research any choice and make an intelligent and informed decision before commiting to taking classes at any school.

De Anza College (Cupertino)

http://www.deanza.edu/

Foothill College (Los Altos Hills)

http://www.foothill.edu/

San Jose City College

http://www.sjcc.edu/

Evergreen Valley College (San Jose)

http://www.evc.edu/

Mission College (Santa Clara)

http://www.missioncollege.org/

West Valley Community College (Saratoga)

http://westvalley.edu/