to think learning to touch-type was one of the best things I've ever done?

[emkana]

Just to start a bit of a pointless thread there

[iggiii]

Yes it means I can MN much faster, and watch tv at the same time
Plus, at school it meant I could get out of PE to go to typing lessons.

[piprabbit]

I agree.
I never learnt properly - just did one of those computer courses one boring summer holiday when I was in the sixth form.
I can still type faster than most people I know .

[NonnoMum]

Paid for a course just after university (wasn't available at my secondary school).

My mum (65) get can't get to grips with computers because clever grammar school girls weren't expected to join the typing pool, but my MiL is a whizz on t'internet being as she was a touch typist...

Can't believe they aren not teaching it in schools as so much is done on a keyboard...

[Bumperlicious]

I still can't. Are there any good online courses?

[peeringintothevoid]

YANBU

Do they not teach it in secondary schools then?

I've been teaching almost-8 yr old DD for the last year; I think it's an essential skill.

[Rocket100]

Completely reasonable to think that. The best bit for me is that I can hold a conversation and type something completely different at the same time, and it doesn't half wind some of my workmates up!

[drfayray]

I agree.

After finishing my A levels and waiting for results, I did a 3 month typing and book-keeping course. We spent the whole day working through the Pitman book. An old building filled with manual typewriters that were bashed by scores of girls.

I am constantly amused by the sight of DH (Professor of IT no less ) using the two finger method of typing: he never learnt.

He is very fast though.

[bluejeans]

My mum told me (mid 80s) I must not learn to type or I'd end up being a secretary...

Am also interested to know of any online courses

I get laughed at at work if anyone sees me type emails etc as it's so bad

Just had to correct at least 6 typos in this post

[bran]

I did a course during the summer between school and university. My parents were really discouraging, I think they were afraid that I would work as a typist rather than getting a degree.

It has stood me in great stead as I temped a quite a bit while at university and I ended up doing statistical analysis which was all computer based and I was much quicker and more accurate than my colleagues.

[peeringintothevoid]

You can start here Bumperlicious

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/
There'll be hundreds of sites to help you learn.

[bran]

Now (25 years on from the typing course) my Mum sometimes gets me to type things up for her on her computer as "you are so much faster than me, it won't take you a minute".

[Desiderata]

I learned when I was eighteen. I now type 102 wpm.

In this day and age the accomplishment is overlooked in the workplace, but it doesn't half impress people when I get going!

[stealthsquiggle]

I agree. It's one of very few things that I can absolutely, genuinely say was my very own idea and I did it properly with a touch-typing tutor programme as a teenager, one holiday, off my own bat.

So many people can't and it must just slow life down so much - and, as others have said, means you can't watch TV at the same time!

My 8yo DS at least understands the concept (from school, interestingly, not from me) and understands that it is a good thing to be able to do (although he is miles off and still very slow ATM).

[CubaCat]

I learnt to touch type at school, on an old fashioned, proper typewriter and everything. I even have GCSE typewriting! Grade A, if you please. It's been the most useful thing I learnt at school.

[Ragwort]

Agree - it is such a great skill, can't bear to see people 'trying' to type on a keyboard. It really should be taught in all schools. My DS asks me to type with my eyes closed just to amuse him .

I learned on manual typewriters - to music !!

[shimmerysilverglitter]

Oh me too. I like carrying on a conversation while looking at the person I am speaking to and continuing to type at the same time (showing off) people always notice and comment.

It is definitely the most useful skill I have.

I am currently teaching ds (7) from a course aimed at kids on the BBC website. He is ASD and has some problems with fine motor skills and writing so I thought this would help.

[Desiderata]

Rag, I learned on a manual, too!

I can remember the process of brainwashing, when every time someone spoke to me, I was unconsciously tapping the letters out with my fingers!

[ttalloo]

YANBU - I wasn't taught to type at school because they weren't educating us to be secretaries (I was at the local grammar, and it was the 80s so nobody imagined that touch typing might turn out to be useful for any other reason), so I didn't learn till I was in my early twenties when I went to evening classes.

And I'm so glad I did it - it would be so hard to do my job, or to enjoy MN or anything else on the internet without being able to touch type. And I find it astonishing that so many people (like DH, who does a slow two-fingered dance on the keyboard that I can't bear to watch) still can't touch type when there are so many courses out there and it's so easy to do.

[PercyPigPie]

My parents paid for me to go on a course when I finished University as my Mum in particular thought it would be useful.

It made me much more efficient at work - while everyone else was waiting for the secretary to type their work having laboriously written it out by hand, I had quickly typed my own and was onto the next piece of work.

I have slowed a bit since I stopped the work, despite using the PC every day though.

[Sinkingfeeling]

I learned on a manual typewriter as well - to music! Taught myself one long, wet summer at secondary school from a Pitman book. Totally agree with OP, it's one of the best things I've ever done and a skill I use every single day.

[WildPansy]

YANBU, I'm so glad I can do this. I also taught myself using a PC programme. I love the way my thoughts just flow straight out of my hands. And also being able to look someone in the face and carry on a conversation at the same time.

[TrappedinSuburbia]

Yip, the look on peoples faces that your typing away whilst talking to them was worth banging away on a manual typewriter for a year at school

[BitOfFun]

Right- this is an experiment- DP is timing how many words a minute I can type because we are frankly astonished at the revelation of 102 wordsw per minute. I expect I shall make several mistakes and I have to






Er- forty words then, with one typo

[muggglewump]

I have no letters on my keys.
I can't type at all unless I look at my fingers.
I have no explanation for it.