I finally commenced my Advanced Level 3 AWSEC course last Tuesday night. The first thing I noticed was the number of people in my class. When I took the Intermediate class, there were at least 30 people, but the class last week had only 15 of us (and would be even less for the Diploma level course, if I get to the Diploma level).
Our instructor gave us a bootcamp disclaimer about his role. He said he was to get us through the exam, not to entertain, so if we found him a bit harsh, then too bad. And we were to read the book, read the book and read the book, because while a lot of people would pop a few caffeine pills 2 nights before the exam and just cram all 50 chapters in their heads, they'd probably be suffering from severe brain damage by the time they'd stepped into the exam hall, so he strongly advised against that. He was quite a funny chap really. I was thoroughly entertained by his dark british humor.
So in all, there are 50 chapters in the Level 3 book, all of which get into much more detail than the Level 2. Where the chapter on France in the Level 2 book had 5,6 odd pages in total breezing on about Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhone region and Loire Valley (was Alsace even mentioned?), we now have the same number of pages talking about each region in fine detail in a much wimpier 8-point font.
I actually bought the book a month before the class started (mid August), after having made some practical calculations: the exam was to be this coming January, which gave me 5 months or so, and taking into the account that my body and mind was probably going to drift off to lala land from end December to early January, I actually had about 4 months. 48 divided by 4 (as some chapters like Portugal and Switzerland are not on the exam as I had just been told), I still have to learn 12 chapters per month, very well.
As of now, I have read through 20 or so chapters but if you asked me what I had learned I'd be petrified. I'm sure I retained some information somewhere, but obviously, I would need to try much harder, if I were to pass Level 3 . This actually means more weekends spent at home and less pool parties + social gatherings after work.
dun dun DUUNNNN.... the pressure's on!
