Love to learn with the WEA

Our languages and culture courses span the length and breadth of England and Scotland, with the option to study online or in person at a time that suits you. Whether you’re looking to learn a new language and immerse yourself in another country, or you simply wish to indulge in your love and fascination of film, we have the course for you. 

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Our creative writing courses will nourish your inner writer, providing you with a platform to develop your love of poetry, non-fiction or script development. If literature courses are more your kind of thing, then you’re in luck too, as there are a wide range of topics to choose from.  

Literary greats and great periods in history

Our language courses offer you the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in a completely new culture, developing your skills so that you can speak confidently in countries right across the world. German, Italian and Greek are just a few examples of the language courses we have to offer, with many others taking place throughout the year.  

As you’d expect, literary greats such as Agatha Christie and Shakespeare feature regularly. There’s also the option to examine other time periods in English literature too, helping you develop your critical reading and analysis skills - perfect whether you’re a beginner or more experienced in the subject.  

If you prefer history then you’ve got a choice too, from courses on subjects you’d expect such as the first world war, or art history and studying the works of iconic painters such as Salvador Dali. 

Support and guidance

Whatever course you choose, you'll learn in a supportive environment where the class sizes are small, ensuring you get the attention you deserve, with an experienced and qualified tutor on-hand to guide you through your learning too.  

A lot of our cultural learning is delivered by our branch network: learn more here.

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Literature: Reading Poetry - Yorkshire Poets

In this online, 5-week course, you will read, explore and enjoy some key works by a selection of significant contemporary poets from Yorkshire. You will discuss and evaluate five key poets, spending a week with each, with scope to include a variety of individual poems by others and create some links between these. Alongside close reading of poems, you will learn to discuss literary criticism on each poet, British/English poetry and poetics generally, as well as exploring the backgrounds of each writer, their lives and their unique approach to the art of poetry; through this we will also look to understand how a particular sense of identity and place has been created through the work. This unaccredited course with a supportive tutor will bring you into the worlds of Yorkshire poetry and you may take your new-found analytical skills back to your community in a volunteering role. No experience is needed, just bring yourself and your enthusiasm!

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 22/11/2023 -
Wed 20/12/2023
Times:
2:45pm - 4:45pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Tutor:
Simon Haworth
Course code:
Q00012558
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
In progress
Fee range
Free to £37.00

Film & Media: First Look - Latin American Cinema

An introduction to the rich cinema of Latin America from the 1950s to now This half-day course gives you an opportunity to shift focus from American and home-grown cinema to the many other equally rich film industries of Latin America Not only do they offer many hidden gems, but their influence on world cinema is bigger than you may have thought and despite decades of political turmoil, in some cases heavy censorship, and the influence of its Northern neighbour, Hollywood. Despite this Latin America has produced key figures and movements in film history and some of its most original and thought-provoking works. We will cover examples like Cuban revolutionary cinema and Brazilian Cinema Nuova and works from the 1990s onwards.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 30/11/2023 -
Thu 30/11/2023
Times:
5:00pm - 8:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Tutor:
Ruth Mulandi
Course code:
Q00011978
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
2 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £11.10

Care 2: Sign Christmas Carols

On this one-off fun session at the Reading Rooms in Billericay, Essex, we will be signing and singing along to a couple of Christmas carols; using British Sign Language to introduce you to this interesting language used by the deaf community. You do not need to be able to sign or sing, just have an open mind and a willingness to start to learn a new language. Wear a Christmas jumper and bring a mince pie if you want to. We will end our session with a little 'performance' of our songs.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 05/12/2023 -
Tue 05/12/2023
Times:
2:00pm - 3:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Billericay Reading Rooms (Billericay)
73 High Street
Billericay
CM12 9AS
Tutor:
Deborah Young
Course code:
Q00011762
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Film & Media: First Look - Eastern European Cinema

An introduction to the rich cinema of Eastern Europe from the 1950s to now This half-day course gives you an opportunity to shift focus from American and home-grown cinema to the many other equally rich film industries of Eastern Europe. Not only do they offer many hidden gems, but their influence on world cinema is bigger than you may have thought and despite its many decades under Socialist regimes that imposed certain styles and themes and heavy censorship. Despite this Eastern Europe has produced key figures and movements in film history and some of its most original and thought-provoking works. We will cover examples like New Polish Cinema and the Czechoslovak New Wave as well as works since the 1990s.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 05/12/2023 -
Tue 05/12/2023
Times:
5:00pm - 8:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Tutor:
Ruth Mulandi
Course code:
Q00011977
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
7 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £11.10

WEA Membership

For just £15 a year, you can:

  • Join our popular, award-winning weekly lecture series,
  • Access an archive of over 100 past lectures,
  • Get priority online and phone booking for autumn courses (England only),
  • Receive our Highway magazine and access back issues,
  • Attend our members’ annual conference.

Just add us to your basket to sign up today!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
WEA Membership

Creative Writing: Writing Christmas Short Stories

Intrested in creating a piece of writing that can be gifted to loved ones? Then this is the course for you. This short course is all about giving. Whether for Christmas, Eid, Vaisakhi, Hannukah or even a birthday, you will be taught how to write personal poems and short stories as gifts for loved ones.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 06/12/2023 -
Wed 13/12/2023
Times:
9:30am - 11:30am
Duration:
2 sessions
Tutor:
Vanwy Arif
Course code:
Q00010996
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £14.80

Art Appreciation: Albrecht Durer - Painter, Engraver and Intellectual of the Renaissance

This one-off session is an introduction to one of the greatest artistic minds of the Renaissance period, Albrecht Durer (1471 - 1528). Our experienced tutor will take you on a journey through the life and art of this brilliant German painter and printmaker. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss this emblematic figure of the Renaissance in Northern Europe. This session is suitable for beginners who want to discover Durer's work for the first time and more experienced art-lovers who would like the opportunity to discover Durer's lesser-known works in the company of an expert and like-minded people.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 06/12/2023 -
Wed 06/12/2023
Times:
9:30am - 11:30am
Duration:
1 sessions
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00011969
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
0 places remaining
Status:
Fee range
Free to £7.40

History: Oh yes it is! A short history of Panto

It's behind you. Oh no it isn't! Oh yes it is! Do you love Panto and wonder where it all began? Why are there traditions that only appear in panto and not other plays? As part of the Christmas festival of courses, we present this one-off session where we will take a look at a brief history of the pantomime, from its original roots to the present day - with some bad panto jokes thrown in along the way.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 08/12/2023 -
Fri 08/12/2023
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Tutor:
Alison Warren
Course code:
Q00012379
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £7.40

Art Appreciation: The Louvre - A History of the World's Most Visited Museum

From its beginning as a medieval castle to the addition of the glass pyramid in the 1980s, the Louvre is an iconic building and art collection. This art history will discuss the key moments of the Louvre's history and understand why it is the most visited museum in the world. This course is ideal for both art lovers and those interested in historical architecture. Come along and join the class as you learn something new, all from the comfort of your own home.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 09/12/2023 -
Sat 09/12/2023
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00009778
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
0 places remaining
Status:
Fee range
Free to £7.40

Literature: The Man who banned Christmas - how Christmas was banned under Oliver Cromwell

It’s popularly believed that Oliver Cromwell and his period of rule known as the Protectorate banned Christmas. This one off course will seek to investigate this belief and consider what truly occurred in the period of the English Civil War and the years after. Our discussions will focus on the following questions and issues: • the nature of the Stuart Christmas. • the religious background during the early seventeenth century which contributes to the ‘banning’ of Christmas. • how Christmas was argued over in print and art. • how society in a broad sense reacted to the threat to centuries of tradition that such a banning of Christmas implied. • Why the banning of Christmas proved ineffective.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 09/12/2023 -
Sat 09/12/2023
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Tutor:
Stephen Smith
Course code:
Q00011980
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
0 places remaining
Status:
Fee range
Free to £7.40

Creative Writing: Script to stage: What does a director do? And the rest of the team?

This course is intended to give you a background knowledge of all the processes that go into the production of a piece of live theatre. The course is intended to help improve the knowledge of regular theatre audience members and, hopefully, inspire those of you don’t go to take the plunge. If you go to the theatre regularly and you pick up a programme you may be baffled by the list of all the different roles that you see listed as part of the creation of the show that is being produced. So, if you’ve ever wondered what on earth a dramaturg might be, or what does a stage manager actually manage, this course is ideal for you.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 02/01/2024 -
Tue 12/03/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 2:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Tutor:
Alison Warren
Course code:
Q00012510
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £55.50