by Christine Smith
Going back to school for a class or two is a great way to learn a new skill or tone up an old one. Whether you’ve always wanted to tear up the dance floor or spruce up your house, there’s a Long Island college that can teach you how to do it.
• Language is the key to communication, so why not learn a new one? Enroll in Farmingdale’s Introductory Italian class and learn to speak, read, write, and understand basic Italian.
• Improve your writing skills with a basic composition or writing class like the creative writing class offered by the English Department at Molloy College.
• If you’re not computer savvy, don’t worry—you can be! Molloy College also offers an Introduction to the Personal Computer class, as well as introductory classes for Word, PowerPoint and other Microsoft programs.
• If you like writing out notes and addressing envelopes, why not learn how to write in calligraphy? The Art Department at Long Island University’s C.W. Post campus offers calligraphy classes to improve your penmanship.
• If you’ve always been a fan of the infamous pottery scene in Ghost, consider enrolling in Suffolk County Community College’s Introductory Ceramics class, which introduces students to the pottery wheel and the art of clay and pottery making. If you love to plant, enrich your gardening experience with hand-made pots!
• If you consider yourself a shutterbug, try enhancing and expanding your photography skills. The State University of New York at Old Westbury offers an Introduction to Photography class, which will educate you on the ins and outs of taking pictures and give you an introduction to the basics of the dark room.
• Jeff Lewis could fix up a house in his sleep, but decorating isn’t as easy as it looks. Learn more about interior design with Nassau Community College’s interior design program. Their Interior Design Studio class is introductory level and will give you the skills you need to decorate your own home.
• Dancing is not just for weddings! Get your groove on in a dance class at your local college or university. Dancing is not only fun, it’s also good for you. It’s great exercise, especially for those who don’t like the standard gym class. C.W. Post offers tap, ballet and jazz instruction.
• Acting is a great class to pick up for those who embrace their dramatic side. Nassau Community College has intro to acting classes that will have you rehearsing lines and performing monologues before you know it.
• Love to sing in the car, but scared to roll down the windows? Pick up a class that can teach you how to carry those basic tones and melodies, like the ones at Molloy College.