From learning Mandarin to photography: how a short course can be life-changing

When Lin Chen was an office worker in her 20s, each workday seemed to bleed into the next. So, to escape the daily grind and inject extra oomph into her life, she decided to do a short course in drama.

Being a “creative soul” working in a “rather regimented” environment, she thrived on how good it felt to let loose in the drama program. “That sense of freedom and expression was amazing,” she says.

That short course kick-started a life of learning for the now 41-year-old medical marketing director.
Over the years, Chen has completed short courses on many things, from Italian and Mandarin for beginners through to photography, cake baking and public speaking. She even did a two-day course learning to ride a motorbike (“I got a licence out of that,” Chen notes).

Sometimes she simply wants to know more about a topic or to gain certain skills – that’s what spurred her on to do a one-day course on kintsugi (the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery using lacquer and gold). At others, she chooses a course that aligns with a mood she’s trying to cultivate.

Loading

Regardless of the course she is enrolled in, Chen loves immersing herself in learning. When mastering a new skill, she gets a “euphoric burst of dopamine”.

Doing a short course can certainly add some much-needed joie de vivre to our everyday lives, says psychologist Jocelyn Brewer. Mastering new skills in a casual environment also takes the pressure off having to excel in a new activity as it puts us in a “low-stakes learning gear”. And, in short courses, we don’t have to commit a huge chunk of time to the endeavour, either.

As Chen discovered, we’re also likely to feel invigorated by the experience. Brewer says learning new skills can expand our sense of self and challenge our thinking, helping us clear out the “mental cobwebs” that accumulate when we’re stuck in the daily grind.

Meeting like-minded people can also be a great opportunity to strike up new friendships, Brewer adds. Chen can attest to that, saying she’s met some “amazing” people through the courses she’s done.