Ms. Regula Friedli is preparing for the Matura at AKAD College's Saturday school while working. She is in her fifth semester and still has three semesters to go until her baccalaureate. We spoke to her:
I am a musician, married and the mother of two children. I studied music - back then I didn't need a school-leaving certificate - and specialized in violin and singing. Until six years ago, I gave violin lessons and played in several orchestras.
It all started when I was looking for a suitable grammar school for my son and saw the offers from AKAD for a second-chance Matura. This awakened old dreams in me. In my youth, I had dreamed of studying medicine. Today I'm more interested in biomedicine. With the second-chance Matura, I'm opening the doors to university and biomedical studies. I'm doing something for my own sake and for my son's, because I can also help him for grammar school and later on.
AKAD offers three models for preparing for the Matura: Half-day school, Saturday school and self-study. So I was able to see which model best suited my situation and other commitments. That was the Saturday school.
I think the combination of self-study at home and lessons at AKAD is very good. It's also good that I've had the timetable with all the topics and teaching materials in front of me from the start of my studies until I graduate. Thanks to this overview, I am always aware of where I stand and what the next steps and learning content are. I also like the breadth of topics that the Matura preparation entails.
The self-study learning model places high demands on self-discipline. In the beginning, it wasn't easy for me to set aside the time I needed to study. Now I'm good at it: I make a study plan for each week, which I then stick to strictly. Without a talent for self-organization, the course would be impossible.
I plan 20-25 hours of study time per week. For me, it's good if I can study in blocks of about three hours without interruption or distraction. After the three hours, I finish and make time for other things.
I think it's very good that the teachers always respond to us and to the needs of individuals. I also enjoy talking to my classmates.
The atmosphere at our Saturday school is good, but sometimes a little impersonal. This is probably due to the fact that the A-levels are the main focus for some colleagues and the interaction in the class means less to them. The class spirit is stronger in the half-day class [MV1].
Yes, I have learned to work towards a goal in a structured way. I can use this everywhere in life, just as well as the many new skills. When I look at the composition of food today, for example, I know what I'm eating. I also understand the connections between historical events much better now.
You have to be aware from the outset that this course requires three and a half years of self-discipline and structured learning. If you are prepared to do this, you will be very well served by this course.
Linda, deine Weiterbildungsfinderin
