Learn A New Skill Through These 7 Unconventional Online Courses

Representational Image (Image source: The Space Talk)
Representational Image (Image source: The Space Talk)

A routine, a stable job and being independent, isn’t that what an ideal life is? Well normally, yes. But what about the doctor who has dreamt of travelling the world and learn different tongues, the fresh-out-of-college 20 something who is struggling to stick to a budget, the successful banker with a green thumb or someone who just wants to fix the tap that won’t ever stop leaking. The fast paced lives, that everyone voluntarily or involuntarily has given in to, come at a cost. While trying to inevitably keep up with the rat race and make the most of our limited time, a lot of us end up burying our curiosities, interests, hobbies or just usual everyday skills that we’ve always wanted to learn in some corner of our minds — never to be addressed again.

One of the first words that comes to our minds when we think of this hurried, new-age lifestyle is the internet. A lot has been said about how the internet negatively affects social interaction, mental health, physical health et al — the list could go on and on. But just when we were about to set off on a rant and blame the internet, it stepped in and pleasantly surprised us, leaving us to yet again sheepishly succumb to the force that is the world wide web.

Homegrown scoured the internet and curated a list of online courses — some unusual, some super handy, but all extremely useful. So dive in and this time, don’t complain about how the internet is eating up all your time.

If you’re one who loves being the centre of attention at parties or someone who loves making heads turn and jaws drop then this online course is ideal for you. Skillshare lets you attend virtual magic classes that will equip you with truck loads of magic tricks that are sure to get more than a few “ooohs” and “aaah”. A series of 19 videos, The Magical Experience: Learn how to Perform Sleight of Hand Magic will teach you everything sleight-of-hand.

Click here to know more about the course.

Everyone has at some time or another stood in their bathrooms with folded hands and prayed in the hope that this time, just this one time the toilet threatening to overflow, won’t. Moreover, we’ve all faced plumbing issues for which we have had to pay more than we deemed fit. “With Alison’s free, online plumbing courses, students will gain an understanding of the skills needed to compete in the plumbing trade. Alison’s free plumbing classes include an Introduction to Plumbing, detailed courses on plumbing pipes and fixtures, plumbing tools and drawings as well as an understanding of drainage and water distribution systems. Alison courses are designed to teach mastery of fundamental plumbing skills, from tools to fixtures, and from drafting to drainage systems. The in-depth Diploma in Plumbing Studies course will provide students plumber training that includes an introduction to plumbing and a working knowledge of safety practices, hazard communication and much more,” reads the course description.

Click here to know more about the course.

If you’re one who understands the rationale behind not just pink toys for girls and not just cars for boys then this course is right up your alley. With the fashion industry’s shift from androgynous to unisex, debates about equal pay and masses understanding the need for inclusivity in all aspects of life, what remains a tad bit difficult is to do away with the gender differentiation that seems to be intrinsic to the societal structure, especially merchandise. This course can change that. Let your creative juices flow and let this Skillshare course help you create a product that defies all archaic gender norms.

Click here to know more about the course.

My 13-year-old niece when asked about what she wants to become when she grows up, promptly responded a “YouTuber”, a thought that was so new to the adults in the room that they laughed and did not even consider the possibility of it not being a joke. With professions such as social media influencers seeping into the market as viable and extremely profitable options, it is important to know about what goes into building an online presence.

Click here to know more about the course.

An M.B.B.S. to become a doctor and an L.L.B. for law, but what is the process if you want to conceptualise and publish feminist zines or maybe a range of organic stationery made with seed paper? With creativity finally getting it’s well deserved due, this course is all for fuelling the entrepreneur in you and will help you kick-start the creative venture you’ve always dreamed of.

Click here to know more about the course.

The thought of building yourself a four-post bed might seem a little far fetched, but you can always fix the edge of the table that inevitably bruises you every time you walk past it. Maybe even go the Geppetto way and make yourself a Pinocchio? These woodwork and carpentry courses not only help you unleash your creativity but also equip you with a skill-set that can come in handy more often than you’d think.

Click here to know more about the course.

One morning, while scrolling through Instagram I found myself being transported to an alternate reality. In this world, just like my food heroes, I walked into my massive backyard and started filling the basket I was holding with fresh ripe tomatoes, clippings of basil, cloves of garlic and then, with a deafening sound I was jolted back to reality by my alarm (which by that point had been snoozed at least seven times). As I bolted out of my room to get dressed for work, I caught a glimpse of all the concrete structures outside my window and realised how unrealistic my daydream was, especially when living in a city like Mumbai, where a new high rise sprouts up every time you blink. But as it turns out, I was wrong. Maybe the idea of having a massive garden is a little far-fetched, but being able to grow your own produce is not. Enrol in Introduction to growing organic food sustainably and put your green thumbs to work.

Click here to know more about the course.

Research by Praghya Awasthi.

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