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Step 1
Audit classes for little or no charge. Many colleges and universities allow seniors to enroll in classes if space is available. Some colleges even permit seniors to take advantage of online classes at no cost. Auditors are not graded and earn no college credits, but all assignments and tests are made available to them, and they are welcome to participate in class discussions.
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Step 2
Study a foreign language, whether in a traditional classroom setting or by teaching yourself. All kinds of materials are available, including audiotapes and grammar guides. If you enroll in a beginner class, no prerequisite may be required. You can always progress on to intermediate and higher-level courses. Most entry-level language courses focus on learning more about the culture in addition to making simple conversation. Although you will not become fluent by taking a few basic courses, you can learn to read a language fairly well in a shorter time. Learning another language also can help you to speak and write your own language better.
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Step 3
Find out if there are any book clubs in your area, and sign up. Many public libraries, church groups and other community organizations coordinate reading discussion groups. This is one way to improve public speaking skills. Book clubs give individuals the opportunity to benefit from the knowledge and viewpoints of others as well. You can learn more about history or the philosophies of other cultures by reading different types of books, allowing you to develop a deeper appreciation for the world around you.
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Step 4
Register for a mini course in your areas of interest. These non-credit courses are inexpensive yet can be personally rewarding. Most classes run for an hour and a half each lesson and are generally held once a week for about six to eight weeks. Classes are usually scheduled for weekday evenings or on weekends.
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Step 5
Become a member of a card or chess club. Playing bridge, pinochle, rummy or chess can strengthen your ability to think logically and strategically. The results of a 2003 study published in an issue of the New England Journal of Medicine suggest that mental activities like playing cards can improve cognition and reduce the risk of dementia in older adults. Thinking strategically encourages you to examine issues from a broader perspective as, drawing also on personal experience, you learn how to integrate analytical and creative thinking.
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Step 6
Compete in a spelling bee for seniors. Exercise your mind and win prizes at the same time. A spelling bee is both competitive and challenging. If you are a person who loves to learn about the origin of words and understands the value of language as a building block for knowledge, this may be the thing for you. Preparing for a spelling bee involves learning root words, multiple definitions, and pronunciations, and years of reading makes people better spellers as they get older. Contestants must be 50 years old or older in order to compete in a senior spelling bee.
