Introduction to the Digital Office
Learners who would like to work in an office environment and looking for a way to brush up on their digital skills before taking the leap can join our friendly tutors and update their digital skills. This includes:

• Using Artificial Intelligence in the workplace
• Cloud culture and MS 365
• Video call etiquette
• Intro to Excel
• Digital scheduling tools on Outlook and the internet

Bespoke Digital Skills courses
It can be tricky to identify exactly what digital skills groups and individuals need to work on, especially in the ever-evolving world of cloud and app-based computing. Often, off-the-shelf courses waste time covering learning that is irrelevant to learners. Our tutors are experienced in working together with learners to identify learning needs, and developing bespoke courses in response to learner needs and desires. Courses can include the following elements:

• Basic MS 365 skills, including Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams
• Video calls for work, learning and fun
• Introduction to the Online Learning and the Virtual Learning Environment (we use Canvas, which is used by many colleges and universities in Scotland, including City of Glasgow College, Glasgow Clyde College, Queen Margaret University, Herriot Watt and Stirling University).
• Intro to tablets
• Apps for everyday life: exploring apps for utilities, shopping, health etc.

Our Partners
We’ve run numeracy, literacy and ICT workshops and courses in workplaces, such as Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries (RSBi), with community groups such as the Glasgow Disability Alliance, North West Recovery Communities, and Home-Start, and in partnership with Jobcentre Plus. We’ve also worked in partnership with Local Authorities in the Borders and Edinburgh to deliver practitioners’ courses and courses for adult learners.

If you struggle with sums, you're not alone. Numeracy skills in the UK are getting worse. Almost 8 out of 10 adults struggle with maths. Developing skills with numbers can help learners improve their health, get a better job and find a good deal. 

Our courses can be run online or in-person, at times and places to suit groups or individuals. Course length can be adapted to suit learner needs and we’re always happy to organise tasters or workshops so that learners can dip their toes in the water before diving into a full course.

We offer free online maths courses up to SCQF Core Skills Level 5, which is equal to a maths Nat 5 (grade C+). Courses can be accredited or unaccredited.

We also offer Multiply courses - learn more at our Multiply pages.

Communication is essential to everyday life. It helps learners build relationships and understand the world we live in. Improving your communication skills allows learners to connect with other people, access learning pathways, and to progress in their workplace.  Learning with the WEA is not like school. It’s learning made for adults, and you’ll be taught by supportive tutors. 

English
Learners can boost their English skills and get a better understanding of grammar. Improve their spelling and gain confidence in reading. We also provide the opportunity to learn the basics and build the skills to gain an SQA Core Skills Award in Communications at SCQF Level 2 - 4. Improving your reading and writing as an adult is not as hard as you might think.

Communicating Confidently
This communication skills course can help learners feel more comfortable in conversations, meetings, or when speaking in public. If you struggle to find your voice or get your point across, this communication skills course can help you feel more comfortable in conversation. By learning effective tools and techniques to improve communication skills our courses will help learners gain confidence whether they want to feel more comfortable meeting new people, holding union meetings or participating in community discussions.

Creative courses
Please see our Creative Literacies page, where communication skills are embedded in creative courses such as creative writing, poetry, songwriting and journalling for wellbeing.

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We offer a range of ESOL courses and can tailor our delivery to suit specific learner groups. We can also provide English language-level testing. We work with learners from literacy level up to intermediate level. Our courses can be delivered in person or online. We have worked in partnership with the Scottish Refugee Council, the British Red Cross, a range of Housing Associations, and many more.

Our tutors use a learner-focused social practice approach incorporating materials which best suit our learners’ needs.

Some of our current courses include:

• Everyday English: Covering real-life topics (e.g. health, travel, form-filling) and providing practical English that learners can use in their daily lives. Aimed at lower-level learners.
• Charity Counts: For learners who are interested in improving ESOL and numeracy skills with practical training for charity shop volunteers.
• ESOL for Construction: Providing learners with the skills to progress on their journey to employment and learn about the Construction Skills Certificate scheme.
• ESOL Digital Skills: Develop basic digital skills and learn about online security, social media and Office 365.
• ESOL for Driving: Build skills, confidence, and vocabulary needed to pass the Driving Theory part of the UK Car driver's test.
• ESOL for Employability: Learn about applying for jobs, developing work and digital skills, and working in a team. 
• ESOL for Entrepreneurship: Gain knowledge of employability in Scotland, learn about working in a variety of industries, health and safety, rights and responsibilities, and management style.

We can provide accredited courses offering the following qualifications:

ESOL for Everyday Life SQA Level 2 and 3, ESOL in Context SQA Level 2 and 3

Employability is a huge focus of our offer here in Scotland. It covers everything from building confidence and motivation all the way through to writing CVs and cover letters, interviews and of course, the first days at work. Our staff and tutors take a holistic attitude to employability, which is a strengths-based focused approach ensuring that we are helping the learners become the best that they can be and not just funnelling them into short-term jobs. 

Our employability courses are centred on educational attainment, and we work in partnership with several different providers all over Scotland. We pride ourselves on our community relationships and work collaboratively with our partners to help learners move through their journey into their chosen career or course. 

Our holistic attitude to employability means we are person-centred and reach across all boundaries of provision. The WEA has an inclusive and ethical approach to adult education, and we offer a range of qualifications and courses across Scotland that lead to both accreditation and self-improvement. 

Some of the courses we offer are:

SQA Employability Skills; SQA Communications; SQA ICT; SQA Numeracy; SQA Working with Others; Health and Social Care; Customer Service; Introduction to Working as Pupil Support Staff

We can also offer short courses in interview skills, application forms, and writing cover letters. 

What do our learners say?

“The WEA tutor managed to source me a tablet which has helped me no end! It has bucked me up, and lifted my spirits. Helped me while away long hours. I now have access to a tablet to look for work whereas before I had no way at all of looking. I have now applied for a job which I would not even have known about.” 

“I would definitely say working with the WEA has made a really positive impact on my life as she was able to provide me with support and help that I couldn't really get through the job centre which took a lot of stress and worry off of me. She was always there to help with whatever I needed, be it with an application or answering random questions I was always sure I could just ask.”

“I needed additional support with figuring out my possible job options/ how to re-enter the education system. It took a huge amount of pressure and stress off of me being able to talk to someone who knew how to navigate the complicated job and education system, and who was able to provide insight into the most practical path for me. It has taken pressure off my parents knowing that I’m happy, and confident with the direction I’m going in. I personally found it very helpful, and definitely wouldn’t be where I am right now without the help and support, I received from my WEA contact. I would highly recommend working with the WEA.”

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Complete the form below and one of our friendly team will be back in touch!

Our popular Creative Writing workshops and courses are facilitated by a range of writers who can create the right course for your group. We have worked with a range of partners including trade unions, Scottish prison services, local voluntary organisations including Sunny Govan, the NHS, Platform and many more. Read more below, and if you need more information, reach out via the 'Contact Us' form below.

Through working on their own stories, poems, plays and creative non-fiction pieces, learners build confidence and pleasure in telling stories and communicating what they want to communicate in the way they want to communicate it. Sessions are relaxed and fun, but embedded literacy skills include:

Grammar
As Stephen King said, “Grammar is…the pole you grab to get your thoughts up on their feet and walking”. WEA Tutors favour a rhetorical grammar approach, focusing on how grammatical forms might contribute to the intended meaning of their writing. This approach helps learners to become aware of grammar and syntax as what Salvatore calls “a set of tools, rather than a set of rules.” We also look at grammar by listening to the rhythms of our character’s voices and figuring out how to get that down on the page.

Spelling and Vocabulary
How do you spell words the way that you say them? Can you use words in stories that are not in the dictionary? What’s an apologetic apostrophe? What vocabulary did your grandparents use that is no longer popular? What words do your children use that are new to you? How might exploring the vocabulary, voices and rhythms around us shape how we write?

Critical thinking
Groups read and discuss texts by writers from around the world, including James Kelman, Muriel Rukeyser, Janice Galloway, Tillie Olsen, Bhanu Kapil, Aurora Levins Morales and Anne Boyer. Participants read and discuss each other’s writing, as well as sharing favourite poems, short stories, plays, television programmes and films.

Public Speaking/self-confidence
Participants learn new ways of reading their work aloud, building the skills and confidence to speak in their own voice.

Page layout
Can we come to the blank page as a writer comes to a blank canvas? Think of the shape of Tom Leonard’s poems or rhythm in the work of James Kelman. Writers are encouraged to move their text about on the page, to draft and redraft, to play, listen and find ways of representing, recreating or reinventing the world around them on the page.

Visual Journalling
Learn about the benefits of visual journaling! This visual journalling course will introduce different techniques to create a visual journal and introduce mark making, collage and experimental drawing. Absolutely no experience is necessary, and neither are art supplies as learners can use materials from around their home.  Sessions can focus on the benefits of journalling; materials and mark making; drawing techniques and creative prompts; collage and scrapbooking; found poems and visual words.

Journalling for Well-being
Journalling can be as simple as taking 5 minutes each day (or as often as you can) to note down thoughts and feelings. There are many techniques learners can use to get the most out of journalling to help improve well-being. Our courses incorporate exercises and tools that can help keep journalling practice fresh and creative. An example of topics covered in our Journalling for Well-being courses include types of journals; automatic writing; chronicling; unsent letters; safe journalling; and safe sharing.

Where do these groups take place?
In-person workshops and courses of all shapes and sizes, online, at a venue of your choice, indoors or outside – it's up to you!

SQA Core Skills Awards
We are an SQA-approved centre and can embed SQA Core Skills awards in Communication and/or ICT in our creative writing programmes.

What do our learners say:
“Helped me read, write and enjoy poetry—excellent experience” 
“Amazing experience learning and exploring poetry, connecting with nature and the world around me, learning about Renga Poetry and enjoying writing”
“I really enjoyed writing poetry in a group setting with a tutor who made the experience interesting and broke down barriers”
“Enjoyable and sociable. Just being part of a group of learners/friends was great.” 
“I really liked meeting new people and the sessions were really open”

Want to learn more? Can we help you?
Complete the form below and one of our friendly team will be back in touch!