| Description | Track 1 [00:47:25] [Session one:8th March 2017] Sheila Betts [SB] born in Dunfermline, Fife, 1941. [00:00:33] SB mentions move to London from Fife and meeting husband at the Civil Service. Discusses move to Swansea in 1970 after set up of DVLC [Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre, now Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Agency]. [00:01:24] SB discusses education and the reasons why she did not go to University. [00:02:11] SB mentions studying French via DACE [Department of Adult Continuing Education Department] in 1972, and talks about teacher Mary Francis Avenou [sp], and classes in Swansea Berick [sp] House, Uplands and the Keir Hardie Building, Singleton Campus. [00:07:06] Mentions obtaining a diploma in French from The Open University. [00:07:26] Discusses the benefits of having French friends when learning French. [00:08:04] Describes parents’ mastery of the French language. [00:09:20] Mentions that French classes were cancelled due to reduced funds at DACE, had to continue classes privately. [00:10:30] SB describes fellow students in the French classes, generally middle class. [00:11:46] SB discusses impressions of Swansea University and continues to describe French classes, and the mastery of idioms in another language. [00:13:57] First impressions of DACE were very positive and talks about her involvement. [00:15:35] SB describes archaeology digs undertaken in the 1980’s on the Gower and talks about the archaeology course and trips. [00:21:31] SB speaks about her like for learning and the costs involved. [00:23:45] SB describes a trip to Egypt and the Egyptology course she attended. [00:27:30] SB attended Spanish classes in College and talks about the languages she can speak and mentions the differences between College and University learning. [00:30:02] SB explains starting to learn Italian in early 2000 at the University and then again in 2012 at the Miners Library and compares the differences between learning in the 1970’s and 2000. [00:33:18] Describes friendships made from attending the different classes and the demographic of the classes today. [00:36:44] SB tells her opinions about Adult and Continuing Education. [00:37:48] SB mentions a history course she is attending “The Victorian World” at the HA (Historical Association), she is a member of U3A (University of the Third Age) and the different groups available to the community that provide learning opportunities. [00:39:27] SB discusses her opinion on education and about the referendum of Brexit 2016. [00:40:11] Briefly speaks about passing her Degree in 2007 with The Open University in European Studies and the formal study of A’ Level Spanish. SB tells an anecdote of when she went to her Oral exam. [00:41:53] Describes, how learning has affected her as a person and gives examples. SB speaks about French Politics and European news. [00:44:56] SB describes how she wishes more people could have the opportunity of attending classes, talks about council cutbacks and future council plans. |