I want to learn to touch type

[StillMedusa]

I type well enough to potter on MN , do emails and other stuff, but my typing is of the two main fingers variety; my job doesn't involve any typewritten/computer work.
However I am only working part time now, and would really like to gain some different skills as I'd like a change of job.
I'd like to be able to apply for call handler type jobs ( I have a proven track record of being able to handle difficult situations but not while typing at the same time!)

Can anyoe recommend a typing course? Preferable an online one, although I'd be open to attending an 'in person' one too.
Thanks!

I’m afraid I can’t recommend a course but I learned to touch type 20 years ago or so following a very simple method. I imagine it hasn’t changed much! Have your four left fingers on the keys asdf. Four right fingers on jkl: These are your ‘base’. All typing should be done by going up & down, hardly moving left to right at all. That’s the basic gist of touch typing. You may find you’ll get the hang just by starting off and practising!

Touch typing is a brilliant skill - taught myself with Mavis Beacon at university many moons ago and am so glad I did.

DD had a go with BBC Dance Mat in lockdown that seemed ok (and free).

The quick brown fox jumps quickly over the lazy dog

This uses every letter in the alphabet. Build your speed up typing this and keep bring your fingers back to:
Left hand - a s d f
Right hand - l k j h

Mavis Beacon

I can touch type to an extent (enough to impress my patients as I type while talking to them!) but not 'properly' as my fingers aren't quite in the right positions and I make a fair few mistakes.
I used to use an online game/programme where you touch type along with it and it would tell you your typing speed.

And don't look at the keyboard whilst you are typing. I used to put a sheet of paper over my hands to block the view.

I haven't done a course but when I was about 14 I took my sister's word processor and some random book and just started typing it out. Using the little bumps in the key of the G and H as a guide to find the centre of the keyboard without having to look and trying not to move my hands too much so all fingers were used.
It was surprisingly quick to pick it up and have been quite fast ever since. Have no idea of an official speed or how many mistakes I make but its been good enough that I've had comments on using all fingers and being fast.

I bet there's YouTube videos on what to do properly.

A million years ago I also used Mavis Beacon - I think you can get software to run on your computer now!

I had lessons 35 years back in the 80s and this is how we were taught too. It's stood me in good stead.

I learned online for free about ten years ago. There's bound to be loads of stuff online. Typing exercises that gradually teach you where the keys are which you then practice to build up your speed. It's so worth it. Such a time saver.

Another Mavis beacon learner here after I left uni. I am still a fast typist now and it is useful.

It's the numbers I find hard! Any tips?

Use the number pad on the right with numlock turned on.

Mavis taught me too 😂😂

Another shout out for Mavis

Typing of the dead for me!

I can do it, but not when I think about it!

Mavis Beacon here as well

Use your thumbs for the space bar. Always start & keep your fingers over the four left and four right, middle pad. Move your index finger in left or right side to do the middle letters. The little fingers are used least, so the less common letters are more at the far left, right up and down on the keyboard.
I have to check for the numbers if using the top of the keyboard, but a year at Tesco before scanning means I can do a number keypad without looking.
There will be free stuff online.
At college I started typing aaaaa
Then adadadad to get your fingers used to the right keys, and so on. It's memory for the fingers and mind.
Same with the right hand.
Can type 75 wpm or more without looking. Would love to know how the machines in courts work!

I am a fast touch typist. I learned age 16, when I was VERY bored at a boyfriend's house and he had a CD Rom aimed at 6 to 9 year olds, to teach them to type. It was like a video game, where if you typed certain sequences/words you got a fountain to go up high or your character successfully swam across something-very basic educational technology! I wish I could remember what it was called but alas I cannot. Wonder if there's anything like that about now?

Learned at school many years ago on old manual type writers.

A fabulous skill which means I can look up, hold a conversation with a colleague, whilst holding a sentence in my head and continue typing.

One colleague asked “HOW do you do that?”

It’s so natural to me and is a wonderful skill. I can accurately type almost, almost, as fast as some people talk.
Just takes practice, practice, practice.

There is a website called typing club and I get all my students to use it. A couple are super fast now

I was taught which fingers to use for which keys (google it), then I sat down with a favourite book and typed it out. By about halfway through my fingers had mastered it. That was nearly 40 years ago (on a massive old office typewriter!) and it's the most useful thing I've ever done.

Mavis Beacon! I learnt in the 90s on a CD Rom. And I got very fast. I'm sure Mavis will have an app these days.

My class use and like typingclub. Free and effective.

Yay to Mavis! I learnt aged about 14 way back in about 1994 from a floppy disc of Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing! It had the car racing game and game with a booklet of letters you had to type out as quickly and as accurately as possible without looking at your fingers. And the shopping game for typing numbers on the number keypad! 😆