Anyone else over 55 using Skritter?

Yes! 57, loving it.

Yes, 59, never too old!

Yes, I'm turning 60 next month. Besides Chinese, I'm just learning a lot of new software technology, which I never used before ( I didn't do any programming after graduating in computer science, which was 30+ years ago). I'm now developing an order and cash-flow management system for my company, using WPF, MVVM pattern (Prism) and enterprise library (validation, authorization and logging). Next step will be a cash forecasting model based on data mining (SQL) or fuzzy logic (F#) - not yet decided. It's a total overkill for the size of business, I'm running, but I love doing it and it keeps my brain running.

We also have a very old poll on this (which isn't so precise about the age ranges):

How old are you?
0-17 : 10%
18-23: 33%
24-32: 32%
33-49: 17%
50+: 7%
1402 votes - asked 03 Jul 2009

http://www.skritter.com/polls?limit=10&offset=140

Well, I´m 66 and eager to learn Chinese. Just returned from my 5th forthnight with my new chinese family since 2006. My 1000 characters helped me, but what I really need is seeing blocks of characters at once, without analyzing, much like one reads one´s own language. I know: It´s reading, reading, reading and listening, listening listening. Thank´s skrittering, I´m now able to start - very slowly - from Chinese Breeze books and street signs but what I really want is to pick up a book or newspaper and read it rapidly "over" the unknown characters and words.

Learning language is not connected to age, it´s connected to the desire of learning a language or languages.

I am 65 going to 66. I started studying Mandarin characters a few months ago, and love it. I used to be a Japanese literature student back in the 70's and therefore have a foundation for leaning the characters. However, the tones and the homonyms in Chinese are new, a major challenge. Wish I could push that off to the side. I'd like to be able to read the literature, but that's a long way off, I know. A child's textbook would be an accomplishment, for now.

You're feeling your age, aren't you, Altaira?

I learnt Chinese from 1969 to 1976, and I used a flashcard system in a similar way. But this time round, I'm taking much more control of my learning.

Margaret (nearly 65)

"Learning language is not connected to age, it´s connected to the desire of learning a language or languages."

I firmly believe that this could be said about learning anything. My great-uncle is 97 and has his own webpage...which he coded by himself in HTML when the Web first became popular (before they had stuff like MS Frontpage - although even using that would be an impressive feat for an octogenarian).

*"You're feeling your age, aren't you, Altaira?"*

Affirmative! ;)


*"Learning language is not connected to age, it´s connected to the desire of learning a language or languages."*

Absolutely! I was just curious to find out if other older folks are using Skritter. (When I read some of the assorted stories over at the "Reviewing The Kanji" site, it appears that the average user there is a male teenager with the usual age-related hyper sex drive.)


*"Sure a lot of old people using Skritter.You guys should ban together and ask for a senior citizen's discount."*

What a great idea! :D

I just became eligible for Medicare.

^^ 看这帖子让我感觉很年轻 :D 还有不到半年的时间我就30了，有点不好受 :/

Well, DaXia, it'll come to you too - if you're lucky!

I noticed at the HSK test in Munich that the examinees were either very young or my age.

I'm 71. Fluent in a few languages. I've found it takes more work to get Chinese to 'stick'. Was going well until I had a break. Had my characters and words up to about 700 but now I am trying to get them back they don't appear frequently enough as there are so many in my queue.

52 but almost there!

I would interested in learning what motivates older people to take up Chinese, particularly non-native speakers. Is it the love of learning new things? A determination to keep the mind active? For a career skill in old age? I treat my learning Chinese as a hobby, a hobby that is inexhaustible. Thanks to tools like Skritter and old-fashioned flash cards by Tuttle, it is possible to do this efficiently.

@ Michael Licato: Why on earth would you need old-fashioned flashcards when you have Skritter?!

To junglegirl, flash cards are a great complementary tool to Skritter. I pick what I can learn in Skritter and carry a few hard-to-memorize cards in my pocket. I have not found a satisfactory electronic equivalent. Tuttle makes a great set.

@Michael Licato: Ok, fair enough.

Grahameh, I like your mnemonics. Once in a while I plagiarize and modify, but hats off to your creative thinking! Also to others from whom I borrow.
Michael Licato: I started out wanting to understand what my inlaws were saying; over the years I have realized it will also keep my brain exercised. Also I just love the beauty of the characters and am pulled by the urge to understand them.

Michael Licato - I'm not yet 55 but I will answer your question anyway. My interest in Chinese began as a gesture to support our daughter's Chinese studies -she's 10, born in China, a native English speaker but now verbally fluent in Mandarin. Then the challenge of acquiring a new skill, keeping my brain active and communicating with Chinese friends took over. I probably won't ever be fluent but I can carry on reasonably interesting conversations with people who are at least a little patient and understanding and I am improving, thanks to Skritter and a good tutor.