A GRANDMOTHER has proved you’re never too old to learn something new.
Sixty-seven year old Ann Topping was delighted to read in the Examiner about pupils of Netherthong Primary School learning Japanese.
“You are never too young to learn a language but you are never too old to learn either,” said Ann.
“I have been learning Mandarin Chinese with the Open University and last December I received my course and exam results. I passed with distinction, gaining 90% for the diploma. This was for speaking, reading, writing and grammar. I still continue to improve my knowledge of the language and every week I have an hour’s lesson speaking Mandarin with my tutor. When I started I couldn’t read, write or utter a word of Mandarin.”
Ann’s son Richard and his family live in Singapore and her two granddaughters, who are five and seven, learn Mandarin at school.
And on a visit last year Ann was able to help them with their Mandarin homework.
Richard – who was a student of Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Wakefield – speaks French, German and Spanish fluently.
His sister Joanne is a doctor in Newcastle.
Ann, who lives in Almondbury with husband Ian, added: “I decided to exercise my brain and give it a shot! I love this beautiful and complex language and I am so pleased that I can now read, write and speak it.”
Ann is a retired teacher and still does some supply work in Horbury. She also taught woodwork and metalwork at Newsome High School and Sports College.
