learning

OLC user Paddy O’Connor was awarded a Léargas Language Learner of the Year Award at a ceremony at All Hallows College on September 26th, which was the tenth anniversary of the European Day of Languages. Four European Language Label Awards were presented to projects promoting language learning as well as four Language Learner of the Year Awards. The purpose of this award was to recognise outstanding achievement by individual language learners. Paddy was nominated by the Open Learning Centre. Read more »

Walk away the Winter blues!

Have you overindulged over the festive season. Do you feel lethargic and tired? Are you afraid to step up on the scales. Has Operation Transformation (TV Programme) frightened you into keeping fit? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, fear not! Dublin Public Libraries can help!

Dublin City Public Libraries have a very comprehensive collection of maps and guides with interesting walks, hikes, and trails contained within: encouraged yet to venture out in the fresh air, and explore and enjoy the countryside?

Suss out any of our 21 library service points spread across the city and checkout these walks. Included are: 

• Best Walks in Ireland by David Marshall (2006)
• Glasnevin Cemetery: A historic Walk (1997)
• Leisure Walks Near Dublin by Joss Lynam (2004)
• Literary Walking Tours of Gothic Dublin by Brian J Showers (2006)
• Lonely Planet Hill Walking in Ireland (2010)
• Secret Dublin. 25 original walks exploring the hidden city by Pat Liddy (2001)
• Walks Around Medieval Dublin by Dublin City Council (2004)
• A Walk Across Ireland from Coast to Coast including the Royal Canal Way by John Mulligan (2006)

Autumn’s coming up, and with it starts the rounds of evening classes and part-time study. Alongside individual college brochures, each library branch holds guides to fulltime, parttime, and online day and evening courses to help you choose one that suits. Returning to study can be rewarding – learning a new skill, a language, obtaining a qualification. It can also be daunting, particularly if it’s a long time since you were last in a classroom;  but there are lots of good guides available to help get you up and running, and freshen up your study skills. Read more »

If you are currently learning a language or want to maintain your speaking skills in a particular language,  then come along to one of our conversation exchange sessions in the Central Library.

We have eight such sessions in the following languages: Italian, Spanish, French, German, Irish, Japanese, Russian and a multilingual session for any language not included here. Read more »

Just to let you know that the Open Learning Centre won a Star Award in the "learning for work" category at the recent award ceremony. These awards are organised by Aontas (the voice of adult learning) to "outstanding learner-centred adult and community education projects." This year there were 84 nominations in various categories of Adult learning organisations, community and voluntary groups, the business sector and statutory bodies. Read more »

Want to learn a new language or just brush up on your school French? Or would you like to improve your computer skills or acquire new ones? If so, we at the Open Learning Centre can help you. We're located in the Central Library in the Ilac Centre and provide free self-learning courses in both language and computer skills.

You can learn 112 languages here on Cd-Rom format including Arabic, Cornish, Irish, Esperanto, Greek, Lithuanian and Zulu! Read more »