Q: I'm interested in antiques and would like to take a fulltime course. What is available? - Dublin reader
A: There is a fulltime course at PLC level at Inchicore Vocational School - phone (01) 453 5358. This course in antiques and antique restoration requires five passes in Leaving Cert or Leaving Cert Applied plus an interview. If you're over 20 years you can still apply. The course covers furnishing, fittings, silver and brassware, paintings, fabrics, instruments, memorabilia, computers and enterprise.
The Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers run a one-yeardiploma in fine and decorative arts. The principal areas covered are the history of 18th and 19th century furniture, the main movements in European art with particular emphasis on Irish art from the 18th to the 19th century, the history of architecture and interiors; the history of silver especially Irish and English silver of the 18th century; and the history of glass with emphasis on Irish and English glass of the 18th and 19th century.
Students visit museums, galleries and historic houses. The fee is £1,950 but students should consider also the cost of books, field trips etc.
You could try to get work in an antiques shop and learn as you go. Visit the many antiques shows and take night classes - many are available in Dublin VEC schools and colleges.
Q: My 10-year-old hates reading. He'd much prefer to watch TV or go on the computer. How can I encourage him to read? Clare mother
A: There's nothing wrong with TV or computers once it's not at the expense of literacy. Some children prefer the visual arts rather than reading. However, as a parent I can understand your concern. Have you considered getting a story similar to the TV programmes he enjoys? So, if he loves science fiction, get a suitable one for his age. If he's really into computer games, encourage him to read magazines or comics associated with them.
Try getting him to read instruction leaflets - by getting involved together on figuring out how things works, he could be encouraged to read more. This would help his confidence.
Could you get him to read to a younger member of the family and then try storytelling as an added dimension? Story-telling increases the creative function and helps both literacy and oral skills. Often, by reading to a younger sibling, a child feels a sense of accomplishment.
Ask his teacher if he has any reading difficulties, although it seems to be more a simple matter of laziness. Teachers can recognise problems quite easily and most of them will be aware of deficiencies which need attention. If necessary, they could advise on remedial help.
Simple tests are available. The Schonell test can will measure reading age over time in comparison with group norms - it's considered more objective than a straight assessment by a teacher.
It's important to help him succeed rather than harp on negative points. If you could interest him in any area, be as consistent as possible in setting up a reading pattern and encourage progress by concentrating on his interests.
Get him to decide on a definite time for reading each day. Find a quiet place in the house, sit beside him and make it a special time for both of you. Make it fun - and not too long. Set reasonable goals and praise progress. Make sure the books are not too sophisticated - sometimes parents buy books which interest them rather than the child.
I would ask the teacher to keep you informed of his general progress and would be guided by the teacher's judgment.
Q: I'dlike to work in the transport industry when I finish school next year. What qualifications do I need? Should I apply for courses? My family has a transport business near Rosslare and I think I could make a good living and enjoy the work. - Rosslare Student
A: You should first contact the Chartered Institute of Transport of Ireland, 1 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2 - phone (01) 676 3188. The institute offers part-time and full-time courses throughout the country. A certificate of professional competence is available from the institute . It offers its own professional qualification (national and international) which in turn leads to membership of the institute, which is linked to the European Society of Transport Institutes (ESTI).
A two-year full-time diploma in transport and logistics management is run at Colaiste Ide, Finglas, Dublin and at Dun Laoghaire Community College - it qualifies you for membership and provides practical experience and professional standards.
Distance learning courses cover all subjects required to become an institute member. You can take this course at your own pace but you shouldnot take more than three subjects in one year.
FAS runs a course in transport management in Loughlinstown, Co Dublin.
DIT runs other full-time courses in two of its faculties. In Bolton Street the engineering faculty runs a cert leading to a diploma in transport engineering technician / motor industry management with the emphasis on the technical side for the first two years and the managerial administrative side in year three. If you complete the certificate and have an aptitude for management you can proceed to diploma in third year. You must spend two to three months each summer in suitable employment, but that's no problem for you because of your family business.
If you complete the diploma in motor industry management you will get full exemptions from the certificate of management exam of the Institute of the Motor Industry and for certain subject exemptions from the exams of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers.
Minimum entry for the course is the same as for the second DIT course, DT306 at the business faculty in Aungier Street. They are five subjects in Leaving Cert to include maths and English or Irish. This two-year certificate course deals with physical distribution management, air and shipping agencies, larger road haulage companies and passenger services.
If you are successful in this certificate, you will get exemptions from a number of subjects of the Chartered Institute of Transport exams and you can become a full member later on by completing further part-time study. There is also an option to learn German in each year - a great asset for international travel.
Questions can be answered only through this column and not by phone or post. Write to Sile Sheehy, Education & Living, The Irish Times, D'Olier Street, Dublin 2 - or by email to education@irish-times.ie
