Courses to improve communication skills  

Communication is essential to everyday life. It helps you builds relationships, and understand the world around you. We can communicate in many ways, from writing to speaking to using sign language. Improving your communication skills helps you connect with other people.  

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Find your voice

Find your voice with one of our adult education courses. From British Sign Languages courses to adult literacy classes - build your skills. Find fun and helpful courses to help reach your goals.  Learning with the WEA is not like school. It’s learning made for adults and you’ll be taught by supportive tutors. 

Boost your literacy

Boost your English skills, and get a better understanding of grammar. Learn the basics to move onto to a Functional English Skills course. Improve your spelling and gain confidence in reading, with an adult literacy course. Improving your reading and writing as an adult is not as hard as you might think.  

Hearing loss and signing

If you are losing your hearing or you know someone who is hearing impaired, you might need to find new ways to communicate. Develop lip-reading skills and find a supportive class to manage hearing loss. Find BSL signing courses for beginners. Learn to sign basic words then build your sign language skills to have conversations.  Whether you want to learn British Sign Language for yourself or so you can talk to others, take a course with us.  

Makaton signing is different to BSL. It is a way to communicate with people with speech difficulties or SEN. Over 100,000 children and adults use Makaton to communicate. It is very useful if you want to work with people with learning difficulties or you are a carer for a child with special needs. Our Makaton courses help reach people who need you most. If you want to learn Makaton signing, sign up for one of our courses today. 

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Makaton

Ever heard of Makaton? It's a unique language programme, and over 100,000 people are using it to communicate in the UK today. It combines symbols, signs, and speech to make conversation easier for people who have communication difficulties. This Makaton course is ideal for you if you want to learn an inclusive communication tool. It can help you interact with people who have speech, hearing, or learning difficulties. This Makaton sign language course covers the essentials of hand signals, fingerspelling, and signing. Learn to introduce yourself. Develop knowledge to be able to sign about basic topics such as numbers and colours.
View details

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 09/05/2024 -
Thu 20/06/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Heart on the Terrace
8 Woods Terrace
Murton
North East
SR7 9AA
Tutor:
Maria Hambley
Course code:
Q00014118
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
7 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

Personal Development: Introduction to Equality and Inclusivity through Deaf Awareness

This online course will be taught by an experienced Pre-Level 6 tutor. Learners will engage in a lesson through Zoom with the intention to develop a deepened understanding of how to communicate with someone who is deaf. This course focusses on learning for education and also learning that engages and builds communities. Learners will take part in activities that will help them to gain more insight and knowledge into the daily struggles of their deaf peers.
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Course Information

Dates:
Wed 15/05/2024 -
Wed 15/05/2024
Times:
4:00pm - 7:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Cleghorn
Course code:
Q00014677
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £11.10

Communicating Confidently

Would you like to feel more confident in conversations, meetings, or 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. Improving your communication skills can go a long way towards boosting your confidence in these situations. Learn effective tools and techniques to improve your communication skills. Whether you want to feel more comfortable meeting new people, holding union meetings or participating in community discussions, these confidence-building exercises can help you.
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Course Information

Dates:
Thu 16/05/2024 -
Thu 16/05/2024
Times:
9:30am - 12:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Riverside Community Health Project (Newc
Carnegie Building
Atkinson Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 8XS
Tutor:
Rupa Marwaha
Course code:
Q00014983
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
4 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £10.50

Beginners British Sign Language (BSL): Signing in the Workplace

This TEAMS workshop has been created to celebrate Learning at Work Week. Knowing how to sign can make your communication more inclusive for everyone you interact with. In this useful, introductory workshop you will learn some of the basics of British Sign language with a view to applying it in a workplace setting. Skills such as fingerspelling and numbers, some greetings and useful signs for the workplace will be covered. Expand your awareness of hearing impairment and gain some useful skills to use at work and in your community.
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Course Information

Dates:
Thu 16/05/2024 -
Thu 16/05/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Joanne Liddle
Course code:
Q00015341
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

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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),
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Just add us to your basket to sign up today!

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Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
WEA Membership

Communicating Confidently

Would you like to feel more confident in conversations, meetings, or 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. Improving your communication skills can go a long way towards boosting your confidence in these situations. Learn effective tools and techniques to improve your communication skills. Whether you want to feel more comfortable meeting new people, holding union meetings or participating in community discussions, these confidence-building exercises can help you.
View details

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 21/05/2024 -
Tue 21/05/2024
Times:
12:30pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Health Resource Centre (Newcastle upon T
Adelaide Terrace
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 8BE
Tutor:
Maryam Knowles
Course code:
Q00015221
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
0 places remaining
Status:
Waiting list (Join waiting list)
Fee range
Free to £10.50

Makaton

Ever heard of Makaton? It's a unique language programme, and over 100,000 people are using it to communicate in the UK today. It combines symbols, signs, and speech to make conversation easier for people who have communication difficulties. This Makaton course is ideal for you if you want to learn an inclusive communication tool. It can help you interact with people who have speech, hearing, or learning difficulties. This Makaton sign language course covers the essentials of hand signals, fingerspelling, and signing. Learn to introduce yourself. Develop knowledge to be able to sign about basic topics such as numbers and colours.
View details

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 22/05/2024 -
Wed 19/06/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Trimdon Grange Community Centre (Trimdon
Kielder Drive
Trimdon Grange
Trimdon Station
TS29 6PB
Tutor:
Maria Hambley
Course code:
Q00015202
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
7 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.60

Personal Development: Hearing World Vs Deaf World

Did you know that approximately 1 in 6 people in the UK suffer from hearing loss to some extent? Join us in this important and exciting learning journey designed to develop an understanding of the barriers deaf people face. This online course will be taught by an experienced Pre-Level 6 British Sign Language tutor with the intention for learning for education and learning that engages and builds communities. The course will compare differences for people born into the deaf and hearing world and will give a deeper insight into deaf culture and the challenges they face in everyday living.
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Course Information

Dates:
Thu 23/05/2024 -
Thu 23/05/2024
Times:
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Cleghorn
Course code:
Q00014697
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £7.40

Practical BSL for Use in Everyday Situations

This exciting and innovative programme of online BSL courses for beginners and improvers will unlock and introduce you to British Sign Language for use in a variety of everyday situations. You will establish a clear and solid foundation of BSL vocabulary and conversational techniques that will unlock your ability to communicate and converse with other BSL users. Learning BSL is an enriching and rewarding opportunity to not only learn a new language but to foster an understanding of the Deaf community and the importance of access, inclusion and equality for all. Utilising a rich variety of online resources and interactive activities, this course will equip you with the skills to confidently communicate with other BSL users and bridge the divide between the hearing and the Deaf. The total fee for the 3 courses will be £22.20 and the sessions will be at 12pm for 2 hours.
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Course Information

Dates:
Mon 03/06/2024 -
Mon 17/06/2024
Location:
Online
Course code:
P00000064
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available

Beginners British Sign Language (BSL)

If you have contact with deaf people in your day-to-day life, you may want to take a British Sign Language course. Knowing how to sign can make your communication more inclusive for everyone you interact with. This BSL course is suitable for you if you need to communicate with deaf people in a voluntary or community role, or simply through social interactions. This course is aimed at complete beginners. You will start from scratch to learn foundational BSL skills.
View details

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 03/06/2024 -
Mon 24/06/2024
Times:
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Cleghorn
Course code:
Q00014698
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
6 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £29.60

Makaton

Ever heard of Makaton? It's a unique language programme, and over 100,000 people are using it to communicate in the UK today. It combines symbols, signs, and speech to make conversation easier for people who have communication difficulties. This Makaton course is ideal for you if you want to learn an inclusive communication tool. It can help you interact with people who have speech, hearing, or learning difficulties. This Makaton sign language course covers the essentials of hand signals, fingerspelling, and signing. Learn to introduce yourself. Develop knowledge to be able to sign about basic topics such as numbers and colours.
View details

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 05/06/2024 -
Wed 19/06/2024
Times:
1:30pm - 3:30pm
Duration:
3 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Maria Hambley
Course code:
Q00014360
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £22.20