Testimonials / Course Reviews -

I am still recovering from a serious illness, but have now managed to get into a routine studying and am really enjoying it. My second folder arrived at the end of the week and it looks as though I will be broadening my horizons. I have passed all my TMAs so far scoring between 90 and 100% each time. After my illness I thought I'd be scraping through on them, so I am so pleased. My sons' school has already asked me to go into the school to help some of the students with things I have learned re: websites/web design. I have also been asked if I would volunteer at a centre that teaches adults and children how to use computers and the internet. I wouldn't have been able to do anything like that without this course. Thank you so much. I now get up each day looking forward to learning more with your help.

SkillsTrain courses studied: Web Designer (CIW) |

I believe that this last month in particular has been one of great achievement for myself, I am studying this course whilst running a full time high street Travel business with my wife. This occupies six full days a week plus bookwork time at home, we do this whilst coping with a severly mentally disabled son who is 12 years old and a lot of hard work, subsequently most of my study is done between the hours of 10pm and 1am, I am partucularly proud of myself this last month as it is our busiest time of the year in the shop, I have stepped up my study time to make quicker progress and I have managed to achieve two 100% marks for assignments. Therefore, after coming into this from a completely non-computer literate background I am giving myself a bit of a pat on the back. And the great thing is, dispite the time of night that I start studying, I cannot wait to get on with the next bit....one word of warning though, never buy a holiday off me first thing in the morning!!

SkillsTrain courses studied: Web Designer (CIW) |

After a completely crazy, hectic year and a half combining a full-time job, my wedding, moving house and doing the CIW course, last week I received the mark for my last exam: hurray! Although I will take a break before preparing for the exam to be CIW certified, I already have a job for a company doing websites and helping on the e-learning section (can I insert a smiley here ;>?). Today, I finished my first website for the company and I shall take my very patient friends out for a meal they very much deserve for being there every time I needed them.

I moved to the UK where my skills in my native language weren't of much use and I had to completely rethink my career: now I can work with the language of computers, which is common throughout the world. At the beginning the amount of information on the course seemed overwhelming – there was so much to learn! I felt lost and clumsy, but the way all the information is linked makes learning like completing a puzzle, where you start with a couple of pieces and can't even tell if they are upside down, to reach a global view of how everything works. I like the way it is light enough to make reading easy but also keeps pointing at all the areas that can be further investigated, specially the programming languages. The first months the hours seemed to shrink, and by the time I started to understand what I was reading, the alarm would go on to say that it was time to go to work, or to look for flats, or to check on the bridesmaids dresses! I was exhausted, and sitting in front of the book with the computer rather than crawling to the sofa didn't sound like a brilliant idea, but I wanted to have something to look forward after the wedding. The best present I could offer my husband was a more confident wife: I wanted to be able to contribute more to our future family. As soon as the course started with the interactive activities, where you can actually see how the code and the programming can make things happen, learning started to be much easier and very enjoyable, and I felt tempted to go down all the new paths the course was pointing at.

As a note, the wedding was fantastic (what can I say? we are in love!) and it was very rewarding seeing everyone we care for sharing that evening with us – although we still have some Thank You cards to write. We have also moved into the new flat: there are still some doors to sand and the kitchen and another room to paint, but it is starting to look like “home”. Today we are celebrating that the missed hours of sleep, the rushing and the weekends studying were very much worth the effort. To everyone that is still studying: you are almost there!

SkillsTrain courses studied: Web Designer (CIW) |

I m a diplomat holder in Computer Operations however, I have never being so confident and was looking for other marketable professions. Frankly, some of my friends who decided to go with the training are now earning more than me which did not discourage me at all. Because, sooner after starting my course, things began to change for me and I m determined to complete it.

This is because, I m now confident and excited than ever and very soon I expect to be a certified Web Designer which will open doors of carreer opportunities for me.

I still have a lot of work to do though especially as a full timer and a family man. The good news is that I have started enjoying the benefits of my studies. Forexample, I repair, maintain and download free programs which are relevant to my studies and which could have cost me a lot if I were to buy them in shops.

One thing I have always wondered about is how sophisticated programs for retailer, shops etc.. are created given the fact that the hold this huge amount of information without any conflict and how people could communicate using web technologies? Well its over in fact, I look forward to creating my first applet programs and web sites and more shortly after completing my studies.
Thanks to all my relentless Tutors and Skills Train.

SkillsTrain courses studied: Web Designer (CIW) |

I am currently a househusband to my wife who has been suffering with a personally emotionional illness now for the last six years, I attend to all the housework, shopping and gardening ect.
we have four children a 21yr old daughter and working mother with her own family life, a 18yr old son sharing a house and working, a 17yr old son who is still at home, and still looking for work since leaving school in September 2006.
and finally a 13 yr old daughter still in high school.
I took on this training course in an effort to attain the qualifications that will greatly improve the cances of me getting me back into a first class job, to hopefully work from home and still be able to support my wife emotionally.
and finally to improve our lifestyle financially in the process.

I had no previous experience of Web Technology, Web Design or other computer skills before I started this course, I had only used a pc to surf the web or play games on. During this course I have gained the knowledge and experience which has helped me to resolve a lot of problems with my pc such as virus attacks, lock ups, and system failures.
I have also had the oppertunity to assist a friend who's Pc suffered a virus attack, I was able to instruct on how to firstly rid the virus and then advise the best ways to protect his system in the future, to which he was most gratefull.

Finaly I would like to share with everyone that I gave up smoking as of October 28th 2006 with NO patches or other aid just shear will power, and I have not smoked since.

SkillsTrain courses studied: Web Designer (CIW) |

Despite not having a computer and Access to the internet at the start of my course, I feel I have achieved quite a lot in my short time with skills train.
I have successfully completed my first two assignments and have just submitted my 3rd, all in the space of ten days.
With limited facilities at home and at work, I feel I have juggled everything pretty well and made full use of time management.(Work/travelling/rugby/household chores, etc)

I am really determined to succeed in this industry and this training will get me to my chosen goal. If I dont succeed, I only have myself to blame.
With good results so far, and hopefully number 3 will follow in the same fold.

SkillsTrain courses studied: Web Designer (CIW) |

I have been studying (many evenings into the early hours)as a complete novice at the start of the course ,it has really bitten me now.I love the design work and in my spare time I like to paraglide.At a club meeting recently I mentioned to the club director that the club site was looking not too good and I said if he liked I would put a rough draught together.He said he would like me to have a go.So I actually redesigned the club logo did all the art work,redrew the site maps did the animation,and relevent pages,with html,javascript and perl and gave him a copy on disk.Last week I received an email telling me to check out the club website.Their old website had gone and been completely replaced by mine and also I have received so many emails from people telling me how much they like the site so I am very very happy,now I have all the server codes and am now the club webmaster.The previous webmaster of their old site is also a club member and a proffessional 'webmaster' and he was very pleased with the site I put together that completely replaced his.I am a happy man.

SkillsTrain courses studied: Web Designer (CIW) |

I've only just started my course and have settled down quite well. However there have been a few moments already.
When I first started my course my partner and I was expected a baby but unfortunatly on new years eve I had a baby girl born 20 weeks early and she just couldn't survive. I lost alot of time on my studying nothing really mattered and I thought the world was against me, but together and with two good families we got through it and I had to get back on my feet and studying again because is the future my future! And after some long hours and some head scratching I'm starting to back into it again!

SkillsTrain courses studied: Web Designer (CIW) |

Its been hard over the last few months to study with settling in a new job and paying bills etc. But I realised I cant afford to lose sight of my goal to improve life for me and my family. So this month I've really knuckled down and spent as much time as possible studying. Ive also started using the online classroom and its helped me alot. Im really enjoying the course and spend all my free time learning. Hopefully I'll have done 2 more TMAs before the end of the month and bring my target for the future a little closer.

SkillsTrain courses studied: Web Designer (CIW) |

Ive recently taken up Netball, playing with friends, colleagues from work and local residents. I have talked about my course while socialising and they have recently asked me to design and create their new web site. They are aware Im not yet qualified and May not be the best person for the job, but are giving me a chance anyway. They have even offered to pay which would be nice, as I recently also got married and not had the funds for a honeymoon. My wife, as an art student is looking forward to assisting with the graphical part of the design and would love a new computer to work alongside me at home.

SkillsTrain courses studied: Web Designer (CIW) |