How did u learn to type?

Now, one thread called "How fast can you type?" got me thinking and wondering.. So I decided to post this and see what u guys have to say.


How did u guys learn to type?

I remmy I learned in middle school from this OLD CRANKY teacher who I HATED but now am soo THANKFUL for..

He had those OLD MANUAL TYPEWRITERS with LONG keys that u had to press down on HARD to get it working and he started us all on that. Boy, it was TOUGH for me to reach all keys cuz my hands are SMALL but he REFUSED to allow us to use 1-2 fingers to type- he DEMANDED that we all use all our fingers with our palms placed on the bottom of the keyboard AND NOT STARE AT THE KEYBOARD. We had to memorize where the keys were also.

After the 1st-2nd weeks of struggling with this, he then "promoted" us to regular electronic typewriters where it was a lot easier to type and by then we were used to typing fast and knew which keys to hit.

Now, when I look back, I am THANKFUL for that since it has helped me be a lot more productive at work and in school since I have the ability of typing pretty fast and accurately....

I know my daddy types a word SLOWLY using one finger at a time.. Often when I visit home and he has to type up a presentation, he'd ask me to type the sections he highlighted from books, etc to save his time.

What about u guys?

I learned to type on an old electric typewriter... and we actually still HAD typewriters (and typing class) back in the mid 80's. People in Toronto were probably learning on computers by then, but I was living in small town Southern Alberta, so we didn't have the technological edge.

Learning to type was a requirement in 6th grade. By the time I got to 8th grade, the school decided to switch learning to type to the 8th grade. So....... I got to learn twice!! In high school, I needed a credit and took a typing class because it was relatively easy credit!!

Originally Posted by vespacat

I learned to type on an old electric typewriter... and we actually still HAD typewriters (and typing class) back in the mid 80's. People in Toronto were probably learning on computers by then, but I was living in small town Southern Alberta, so we didn't have the technological edge.

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Same here! That's one reason why I asked this- to see how many ppl started on typewriters compared to computers.

I had a computer in my house since I was about 4 or 5. I kept an electronic diary from a very young age on my commodore 64 hehe. I didn't know any different, it was just something I've always done. Now as far as typing w/o looking, a lot of that came from typing class in highschool but most of it came from my current job where I type a lot and don't have the time to look at my fingers.

I actually answered this on the other thread, but I'll copy/paste with a bit of editing here:

I actually taught myself to type out of my mom's old 20th Century Typewriting book. I used to joke that it was barely 20th century as I guess she would've been taking typing sometime in the '30's and it was a used book . I was into creative writing at the time and she got tired of hearing me hunt and peck on our old (antique ca. 1925) Remington. The keys on that thing were stiff! As a result of that I got to where I really banged down on the keys, and still probably have a much heavier touch than I really need.

Cindy

Originally Posted by RoseHawke

I actually answered this on the other thread, but I'll copy/paste with a bit of editing here:

I actually taught myself to type out of my mom's old 20th Century Typewriting book. I used to joke that it was barely 20th century as I guess she would've been taking typing sometime in the '30's and it was a used book

. I was into creative writing at the time and she got tired of hearing me hunt and peck on our old (antique ca. 1925) Remington. The keys on that thing were stiff! As a result of that I got to where I really banged down on the keys, and still probably have a much heavier touch than I really need.

Cindy

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OHHH I didn't know that u posted about how u learned to type. I started to ask on ur thread but didn't want to hijack ur thread so that's why I started this thread. Hope u didn't mind?
Pamela

I learned to type in typing class in high school... on those manual typewriters with round keys that were on a simple lever. No electricity for me!

Originally Posted by Pamela

OHHH I didn't know that u posted about how u learned to type. I started to ask on ur thread but didn't want to hijack ur thread so that's why I started this thread. Hope u didn't mind?
Pamela

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Nah, quite all right; this is fine! It was just taking me a while to answer on the other thread 'cause Narsil was draped over my arm at the time !

Cindy

I took a business course in the early 60's and typing was naturally a requirement. We had to learn on the old standard typewriters with no lettering on the keys at all. We had to memorize where the letters, numbers and symbols were and practice, practice, practice, etc. The keys had to be pressed very firmly and were stiff as others have mentioned.

Only after we had successfully completed a typing test at 50 wpm were we allowed to use an electric typewriter. Well then it was off to the races. My typing speed is between 110 and 120 wpm with 98% accuracy. In fact, my current boss usually comes to my desk and dictates his letters to me while I type them.

I was taking a test a couple years ago at an agency when I was looking for new employment and the lady testing me told me I was the fastest typist she had ever tested.

Part of that is the fact that I love typing I'm sure.

Whenever my husband or daughter need anything typed quickly they call "mom".

Originally Posted by Yosemite

...Part of that is the fact that I love typing I'm sure....

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I do too! I absolutely love to type! Probably one reason why I never had any ambition beyond being a Data Entry clerk LOL.

Cindy

Originally Posted by RoseHawke

I do too! I absolutely love to type! Probably one reason why I never had any ambition beyond being a Data Entry clerk LOL.

Cindy

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I hear ya! As someone once told me, we can't all be PHd's.

I learned in high school. We had typing class; Typing 1 and Typing 2. So after 2 yrs of that and then wasting 2 yrs working with kids, I've been at a computer ever since. Small wonder I have carpal tunnel from he!!.

I learned how to properly type by taking a keyboarding class in highschool. At the time I could do 80wpm, I'm a bit out of practice now!

We had typing class in grade school on old electric typewriters. Always looked forward to it because, at least to me, it was more fun than some of the other subjects - like math or spelling.

Originally Posted by Pamela

I remmy I learned in middle school from this OLD CRANKY teacher who I HATED but now am soo THANKFUL for..

He had those OLD MANUAL TYPEWRITERS with LONG keys that u had to press down on HARD to get it working and he started us all on that. Boy, it was TOUGH for me to reach all keys cuz my hands are SMALL but he REFUSED to allow us to use 1-2 fingers to type- he DEMANDED that we all use all our fingers with our palms placed on the bottom of the keyboard AND NOT STARE AT THE KEYBOARD. We had to memorize where the keys were also.

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I also learned in middle school on a real typewriter and I think I had the female equivalent of your teacher

I got a computer when i was 11, then i started using the internet at 12 so i learned how to type from that. I DO type with two hands but not like how they teach you at school.
I can type with out looking at the keyboard. I once was watching my teacher while typing and she freaked but pleased... lol! she said i could get an excellent job with my typing skills.

I learned to type in 6th or 7th grade - I don't remember which. Back then, mechanical typewriters were the norm, and the teacher (track coach) basically got the job because he could operate a stopwatch. Some of you may know his name - Vince Papale, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles, after he gave up teaching.

I'm one of the "oldies" who took typing in high school. I don't remember if we started out on manual typewriters or not. But yes we still have one typewriter in the office and it is used daily by various people to type checks or certain forms!!! (I find this quite funny for being a Fortune 10 company!!)