Life Long Learning: Donegal Daily in conjunction with Donegal ETB will be profiling a number of individuals who have successfully completed one of the many training programmes Donegal ETB have to offer.
As Letterkenny Training Centre take applications for their current evening course term, Donegal Daily spoke with Patricia Fitzpatrick who completed an evening course, Training and Development last May with Letterkenny Training Centre and received QQI Level 6 certification.
Patricia is employed with Gartan Outdoor Centre and enrolled on this course last January after finally overcoming a fear.
“I thought about doing it a number of times, but I chickened out,” Patricia said.
“I even went as far as getting the application form filled in twice, but I put them in the bin. I said this time that I’d feel the fear, but that I’d just do it anyway. I was thinking about career development and thinking about working with adults with literacy difficulties.”
“It was a confidence building thing at the start, just to break that barrier. I’d have had a real problem with any kind of public speaking, so that was a fear I had. I just bit the bullet.”
Patricia praised her tutor, Barbara Corkery, who she said really aided the class.
“The experience was excellent. Barbara was brilliant.
“Learning is so different as an adult. It is a completely different ball game. It’s daunting going back into education. At times, we really undermine our own capabilities. You think maybe that you won’t stick at it or that you won’t last, but you meet people who are in that same space and you help each other.
“The tutor was brilliant for us. Barbara provided the right environment. She honed in on our strengths. It brought real enjoyment to the experience.
“You get real energy from doing a course like this.”
Patricia completed of the course with flying colours – obtaining a distinction in both her modules. Also she really overcame her public speaking fears.
She said: “At the end, we had to do a skills demonstration. We were all rooting for each other. I was amazed at how I was able to do that.”
The certification that Patricia completed is a former FETAC Level 6 certificate, now known as QQI Level 6. QQI, Quality & Qualifications Ireland is the state agency responsible for further education and training qualifications in Ireland. QQI set the standards and award certification over the ten levels in the national framework of qualifications.
Patricia said: “I was so pleased that I finally did it and completed it, it was brilliant. The most rewarding part for me, was submitting the assignments. It is very fulfilling. I couldn’t say enough how empowering this education is. The confidence you get from this is invaluable.”
For further information on these programs and others contact Julie on 074-9120527 or 074 9120500.
Email: eveningcoursesltc@donegaletb.ie
Visit: www.donegaletb.ie
Click here for further details on the course.
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