An ordinary late beginner

Original opinion extract, written for practice.

When I joined the beginners’ class, three people told me I was brave. I had bought a notebook, not crossed an ocean. Their kindness was genuine, but it made sitting beside younger learners feel like an extraordinary public act. I wanted to ask where the materials were kept and whether the first exercise needed finishing at home. Instead I had to accept congratulations for entering the room. Please let an adult beginner be a beginner before making them an inspiration. We may be nervous; we may also be merely interested. A useful explanation and the chance to make a dull first mistake can be more welcoming than a speech about age being no barrier. I shall be delighted if I improve. For now, I would like improvement to remain possible without having to represent a whole generation.

Use your own words to evaluate the writer’s attitude to adults starting to learn. Give details from the extract to justify your answer.