Where can I learn how to type?

[Bleacher Creature]

I'm in my early-30s and never learned how to type without looking at the keyboard. It's always gotten me by -- I'm basically a really fast hunt and pecker -- but enough is enough.

Suggestions??

[oregonjen]

1. I guess it's called "keyboarding" now.

I'm in my late thirties and thankfully, in 7th grade, took typing class. Have you tried your local community college? Library?

[MidwestMomma]

2. Buy "Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing" software

They have it at Best Buy.

That how my daughter learned to type and she can type 80 words a minute.

Good luck!!!

[Onlooker]

3. Just get a typing program

Mavis Beacon Typing used to be considered a good one and probably still is. There are many typing programs available. Takes about 2 weeks of commitment to learn to touch type, but once you can touch type you'll find it easy and get faster over time.

[LastKnight]

4. its nothing official, but it doesnt really need to be.

find a children's book, something with really simple sentences and small to medium sized words... place your fingers on the keyboard... the right hand with your index finger at j, your pinky at ; and let the two in the middle fall on the k and l keeys respectivley. do the same for your left hand... except the index finger on the f key and pinky on the a... place both thumbs on the space bar. look at the book, attempt to start typing the sentences. look at the keyboard only when absolutley needed. and try not to look at the monitor, either. dont do that until youve finished with a page or two.

you kinda see where this is going. its nothing official but its the skill that matters, not like anyone coming out of middle and highschool typing classes these days are certified in anything... really.

ive seen a few people suggest some programs... basically thier just gonna have you dictate stuff and tell you if youre right or wrong. which you could do yourself. so if you dont wanna drop 30 bucks for that... try this idea.

-LK

[Aristus]

7. Ah, the "home" keys.

I remember that from my high school typing class.

Can't touch-type worth a darn these days.

[LastKnight]

8. indeed. the home keys...

which really mean nothing when you get into the one handed typing stuff

thats hard... gotta think about which hand youre using and train each hand individually. takes a few weeks practice with each before you stop sucking at it.

-LK

[Aristus]

9. Sounds like you're doing a lot of one-handed typing there, LastKnight.....

Just exactly what kind of websites do you visit? :evilgrin:

[LastKnight]

10. hahahaha. funny, real funny.

i know what yer thinkin, but your wrong... thats 1 handed mouse operation... which is a completley different beast.

(this is a joke...)

-LK

[ClintonTyree]

5. I was going to suggest.....

Mavis Beacon as well, but I see I've already been beaten to it....twice. I guess it works! :shrug:

[libodem]

6. yea! another one like me

i can't type either. I thought it would save me from becoming a secretary. How dumb. I thought avoiding the computer would keep me out of the twenty first century, too. Now i can't use the computer efficiently or type. thanks alot...self!

[BikeWriter]

11. I've typed a third million words on my books by Hunt & Peck method.

[sam sarrha]

12. there are CD ROM programs that teach you to type with games..very good

like missle command.. the missles are letters..really fun

[catmandu57]

13. There was a free program called letter chase

I don't know if it's still available, I'd plug in letter chase in a search engine and see what comes back.

[NorthernSpy]

14. I kind of taught myself...

I started out the way you did, and as I became more familiar with the positions of the keys, I made myself resist the temptation to look down at the keyboard. It wasn't entirely easy for me, because I kept forgetting which hand was which (stupid as that sounds).

Never clocked myself, but my typing seems fairly swift nowadays.