Doing the IT course led to Denise buying a computer for home. This is used by
herself, her husband and the children. The children play educational games and use
dictionaries and encyclopaedias. They work on it with Denise. They use the Internet
together.
“If they hit a problem, Ifeel more confident about what to do [as a result of the
course]. ”
One of Catherine’s motivations to learn came through seeing her own children
advance beyond her own learning:
“I’m doing an English course because I’m not up to the standard that my
children are, amazing as it can be. ”
Similarly, Hermione started with a computer course:
“ because it was embarrassing that my kids knew more than I did. ”
By taking learning seriously, adults offer a good ‘learner’ role model for children. For
example, Cliff’s children are proud that he and his wife are “going to school”; they
seem to be setting them a good example:
“ We told them we passed our exams; they were so happy for us and it was kind
of a motivation for them also to do the same. ”
Kashani’s own studying enables her to act as a role model for her daughter, in good
family learning style:
“ It’s a good effect of my learning because I keep telling her Tve got an
assignment to do and I’ve got to get on with my homework’ ... and it’s like You
carry on with your assignment, I’m carrying on with mine.’ It’s a positive effect
- it’s like a role model as well because she sees her mum doing it. ”
In some impressive cases, the whole family learns together. Annabel’s family learns
together from the computer and CD-ROMs. They also set aside time each day when
everyone is quiet, doing homework, college work or reading:
“ ... when they see me seated and reading it makes them concentrate more...the
atmosphere looks easier for you to learn. That’s what we’ve trained them to do.
At least when, because my learning time starts at 6 o’clock to 8 o’clock so from
6 o’clock to 8 o’clock everyone is quiet, there is no noise, all the doors are
closed, everyone is seated so it makes it easier for them as well as us. ”
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