Touch-typing

[rachelmanija]

Where would one normally learn to touch-type, other than high school?

I taught myself to type and don't use all my fingers, and think that maybe changing my technique would help my RSI. (The occupational therapist thought it was worth a try.)

I am having a google fail moment, as various permutations of "touch typing class" "typing class" etc, and my location are not producing anything useful.

Comments

[octopedingenue]

I learned off actual typewriters in middle school, one of probably the last generation to do so. I'm still bad at typing numbers and using the correct opposite-hand shift key to Capitalize Things, but I got the home keys pretty much. Hmmm, things that helped me...

Typing games, but only if they're fun and/or you reward yourself for playing them; if they're deadly boring you'll never play/practice. Classes with an instructor/typewriter are nice in that there's someone to smack your hands if they catch you looking at your finger instead of the typing cards.

Speaking of: maybe pick up a set of typing practice cards, bound to be dead cheap in used bookstores these days or available at a library. They start you off transcribing pages of asdfjkl; and introduce one or two new letters at a time (e and c! YOU WERE MY BANE) until you get to The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog and such. They are deadly boring but maybe more useful for touch-typing than an onscreen typing game in that you can prop the book up somewhere awkward so that you cannot sneak peeks at your fingers/screen while you're reading what to type. (Blindfolding helps too.)

It's also a good idea to practice on several different types of keyboard, though you should get most comfortable with the one you use most often. I use a split ergonomic computer keyboard at home, which has been more comfortable for me after the forever it took to learn. But now on normal straight keyboards, my typing wobbles all over the place. I wonder how people using international or multilingual keyboards learn to type. (And where did the ¢ go from US keyboards? I miss the ¢!)

Gems of knowledge from typing class 10 years ago that may/not still be accurate: Stewardesses is the longest single word you can type with only your left hand, and lollipop/lollypop is the longest you can type with only your right.

[slashpile.livejournal.com]

Typing games, but only if they're fun
This is the thing. I took a class and practiced endlessly from a book, but ultimately learned from Typing Tutor software because it had a game where you had to type letters to keep the aliens from nuking your cities. I would do the lessons and practice sessions, but the reason I kept putting my butt in the chair was to kill the aliens.

I tried Mavis Beacon, but still prefer the most up-to-date Typing Tutor. It also lets you choose practice text from a sampling of books, and other stuff.

I *still* practice every time I feel myself getting sloppy, or if I'm daydreaming about switching jobs and having to go on an interview (I'm a secretary). But my favourite game now is Typer Shark (free, the delux version is paid, both available online), which makes me insanely competitive. Like, KILL THE SHARK, FIND THE SHIP, GET THE BARRACUDAS AND THE JELLYFISH AND FIND THE PEARLS IN THE BED OF SHELLS AAAARRRGGHH.

Um. Possibly this is more than you needed to know *g*