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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This course is available for WEA members only until 10 am on Wednesday 3rd July.

British Novels in the 70s and 80s (Part 1)

This course will consider and analyse the following authors and their texts. These are: Magnus - George Mackay Brown. Border Country - Raymond Williams. They - Kay Dick. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy - John Le Carre. Waterland - Graham Swift. These texts will provide a window into the different regions of Britain during two decades of major change in the social fabric and political nature of Britain, though several of our texts will trace these changes back to the earlier part of the twentieth century, and in doing so, we will encounter themes of identity, class and the decline of Empire. There will be much to prompt discussion and challenge our assumptions.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 25/09/2024 -
Wed 04/12/2024
Times:
2:15pm - 4:15pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Rose House (London)
70 Barnes High Street
London
SW13 9LD
Tutor:
Stephen Smith
Course code:
Q00017363
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £100.00

This course is available for WEA members only until 10 am on Wednesday 3rd July.

Art Appreciation: Art and Society in 18th Century Britain

Discuss a range of works of art from the eighteenth century, linking them to their social, political and historical contexts, and investigating their role in recording and shaping contemporary debates.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 25/09/2024 -
Wed 11/12/2024
Times:
9:30am - 11:30am
Duration:
11 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Prasannajit De Silva
Course code:
Q00009792
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00

This course is available for WEA members only until 10 am on Wednesday 3rd July.

Creative Writing: Creating and Developing Characters

Practice techniques for creating short stories, true or untrue. We'll apply the principles of short fiction to our writing, with the focus this term on creating and developing character. There will be writing exercises, discussions, an optional weekly homework task and feedback. Guidance on feedback techniques will be provided. The course content has flexibility, and will be adapted to suit the needs of the group. Suitable for improvers.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 26/09/2024 -
Thu 05/12/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
11 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Catherine Humphris
Course code:
Q00009200
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00

This course is available for WEA members only until 10 am on Wednesday 3rd July.

Beginners Latin

Latin is more alive than ever. It is often called a “dead” language, yet it is all around us. This online Latin course is ideal for language and history enthusiasts alike. Whether you are interested in language learning, botany, law, medicine, or even family history, you will find Latin everywhere. This beginner’s Latin course will teach you the essential grammar and syntax to start reading and understanding Latin. Learn to translate basic sentences into English. Learning Latin will give you transferable knowledge to apply to any language learning. This fascinating language is considered the blueprint for modern languages. Understand the etymology of various European languages, including French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 26/09/2024 -
Thu 06/02/2025
Times:
9:30am - 11:30am
Duration:
15 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Penelope Fewster
Course code:
Q00017596
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £111.00

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

This course is available for WEA members only until 10 am on Wednesday 3rd July.

Literature: Detective Fiction in Society and Culture

In these lectures Stephen Wilkinson will introduce students to the history of the detective genre and discuss its relationship to the development of capitalism, urbanisation and consumerist commodity culture. Students will be encouraged to read detective fiction as a prism through which societies, their anxieties and underlying psycho-political natures can be understood. Using the examples from the UK, US and Cuba students will gain an insight into the ways in which popular literature gives shape and form to our lives.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 26/09/2024 -
Thu 17/10/2024
Times:
6:30pm - 8:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00017701
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £7.40

This course is available for WEA members only until 10 am on Wednesday 3rd July.

Creative Writing: Creating Characters

Practice techniques for creating short stories, true or untrue. We'll apply the principles of short fiction to our writing, with the focus this term on character creation. There will be writing exercises, discussions, an optional weekly homework task and feedback. Guidance on feedback techniques will be provided. The course content has flexibility, and will be adapted to suit the needs of the group. Suitable for improvers.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 27/09/2024 -
Fri 01/11/2024
Times:
11:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Catherine Humphris
Course code:
Q00009209
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £44.40

This course is available for WEA members only until 10 am on Wednesday 3rd July.

Literature: Book of the Month

In this course we will read a specified book each month and come together to share our reactions to the writing. We will examine amongst other features the plots, the characters, the context and the over all message intended by the authors. The books chosen for the course will offer a rage of genres and styles. Students will be required to purchase one book on the reading list, the others will be provided free of charge by Arnold Library. All views are valid in this course and you will not need to have any prior experience of discussing writing

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 27/09/2024 -
Fri 28/03/2025
Location:
Arnold Library (Nottingham)
Front Street
Arnold
Nottingham
NG5 7EE
Course code:
Q00016274
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £58.80

This course is available for WEA members only until 10 am on Wednesday 3rd July.

Foreign Languages: Reading Latin for Beginners

Would you like to take your Latin beyond GCSE level and develop your ability to read and enjoy Latin literature? You will use the Latin you have already learnt to translate, discuss and analyse original Latin literature, both verse and prose. Through online activities such as quizzes and assignments and group work in the online sessions, you will discover the enduring fascination and importance of some of the greatest literature ever written whilst consolidating and extending your knowledge and understanding of Latin grammar.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 27/09/2024 -
Fri 07/02/2025
Times:
12:00pm - 2:00pm
Duration:
15 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Penelope Fewster
Course code:
Q00012454
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £111.00

This course is available for WEA members only until 10 am on Wednesday 3rd July.

Art Appreciation: Painters of the Venetian Renaissance

In five short weeks we will look at and talk about the outpouring of talent which happened over a few years, one talent encouraging another. Venice was the most powerful city state in Italy. It was the richest city and the premier port because its position dictated its links to the vast trading wealth of the East. The power this wealth gave them and their privileged access to trade goods also led to an extremely stable political system which lasted for 1,000 years and it was known as “La Serenissima”.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 30/09/2024 -
Mon 28/10/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Kate Phillips
Course code:
Q00017437
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £37.00

This course is available for WEA members only until 10 am on Wednesday 3rd July.

Literature: Reading Boris Pastenak and Helen Dunmore - Doctor Zhivago and Zennor in Darkness

During this course, we will begin our discussion with a Russian classic, Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak. This 1957 novel was first published in Italy. It was not published in Russia until 1988. We will be thinking about the way Boris Paternak presents the political and societal events of his lifetime. Do these scenes and ideas resonate in only a historical sense? Later on in the course we willmove on to Zennor in Darkness, Helen Dunmore’s 1996 Orange Prize winning novel to think about her portrayal of World War one Cornwall and DH Lawrence, as we continue our discussion about the way fiction translates the past.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 30/09/2024 -
Mon 09/12/2024
Times:
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Duration:
11 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Catherine Humphris
Course code:
Q00016882
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00