69ÈÈÊÓƵ

…Sara Lynch is not alone in wanting to brush up her second-language skills, according to Carolynn Rafman, coordinator for 69ÈÈÊÓƵ's Institute for Learning in Retirement (MILR). "French conversation and music, history and literature seem to be the most popular," she said, "and film studies and computer skills are gaining." More than 800 people now actively participate in what are called study groups rather than courses. Each non-credit session is conducted more like a seminar and they're given by moderators who volunteer their expertise. It's more about personal enrichment than credit or degrees, Rafman said. The average age of MILR students is 72; three-quarters of those students are women and most have at least a bachelor's degree.