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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Film & Media: How to Read Film

Part of the Free to All Summer Taster Courses: Do you like films and are keen to learn more and discuss them with like-minded enthusiasts? Have you wondered “How did they do that?” Or even more so “Why did that film make me feel like this? “Are you thinking about enrolling on one of the WEA’s film studies courses? Then this free taster session is for you. You’ll get equipped with some of the basics of “how to read a film” – the key elements of filmmaking and how they create (different) meanings, emotions and impacts on the viewer, enabling you analyse films with greater confidence.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 17/07/2024 -
Wed 17/07/2024
Times:
4:00pm - 7:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Ruth Mulandi
Course code:
Q00016976
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
0 places remaining
Status:
Waiting list
Fee:
Free

Creative Writing: Writing from the Heart, Exploring Personal Experiences

This course will focus on your personal experiences and how these experiences may form the basis not only for autobiography and memoir, but for autobiographical fiction and poetry. The course will be composed of two workshops, each designed to explore one or more areas of personal writing, through discussion, hands-on writing experiments and guidance on how to improve technical aspects of your prose or poetry. By the conclusion of the course you will have completed the first drafts of two pieces of writing. The course will be mutually supportive, stimulating and a good introduction to further creative writing courses with the popular tutor Stephen Smith.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 15/07/2024 -
Mon 22/07/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
2 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Stephen Smith
Course code:
Q00016651
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
9 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £20.00

Film & Media: FilmAbility - Ipswich Rising: A Community United

This ""Filmability"" course engages students and long-term unemployed individuals in creating a short documentary film about Ipswich Town Football Club's community impact. This innovative project promotes collaboration, planning, literacy, and digital skills through hands-on filmmaking. Participants develop practical skills like resilience, teamwork, research, writing, and technical proficiency over ten days. The course covers identifying topics, scriptwriting, camera operations, filming, and editing. By the end, participants produce a documentary, enhancing their confidence and workplace readiness while celebrating ITFC's return to the Premier League and their own journey towards employment.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 15/07/2024 -
Fri 26/07/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
20 sessions
Location:
Ipswich County Library
Northgate Street
Ipswich
IP1 3DE
Tutor:
James Clarke
Course code:
Q00016757
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £168.00

Art Appreciation: How to Look at Art?

Part of the free Taster courses to All; this Art Appreciation course will show you how to look at Art. Have you ever wondered how to look at a painting or a sculpture, and how to figure out what it means? This session will give you some keys to develop your understanding and appreciation of works of art. This should make your next visits to art galleries even more enjoyable!

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 12/07/2024 -
Fri 12/07/2024
Times:
12:30pm - 3:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00016975
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
0 places remaining
Status:
Fee:
Free

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 Your First Novel: Getting Your Work Published

This course is a follow on to the previous ‘Writing Your First Novel’ courses but is also suitable for newly enrolling students with experience writing fiction and a manuscript that they wish to submit to agents and publishers. 'Writing your first Novel: Getting Published' is all about the various elements that writers need to be aware of when considering their writing work for submission in today’s market. The course is designed to allow student’s work to stand out in the competitive publishing market by ensuring that industry standards are met and maximise their opportunity of being noticed by a literary agent of publisher.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 11/07/2024 -
Thu 01/08/2024
Times:
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Duration:
3 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Craig Rickard
Course code:
Q00015275
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £29.60

Film & Media: 5 BBC Films Revisited

A friendly and accessible exploration boasting a second offering of five more recent cinematic works produced by BBC Film, promoting knowledge, understanding and appreciation and confidence regarding film and cinema, also literacy skills, critical thinking and well-being in general. We examine, discuss and compile a critical journal reviewing a selection works from BBC Film promoting knowledge, understanding and appreciation of film but also critical thinking, literacy skills and well-being, considering running themes and techniques whilst also highlighting specialist language and terminology, advancing literacy, communication skills and confidence in delivering informed feedback.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 10/07/2024 -
Wed 31/07/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
George Cromack
Course code:
Q00015238
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
9 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £29.60

Art Appreciation: Elizabeth Thompson (aka Lady Butler), and other Victorian Women Artists

Part of the Free Taster Courses to All. This course looks at Painter Elizabeth Thompson. As Tate Britain puts on an exhibition about British women artists this summer, it is the perfect occasion to present a significant Victorian painter, who was famous for her battle paintings. As we do so, we will also highlight other Victorian women who became successful professional painters such as Emily Mary Osborn and Evelyn De Morgan. They lived in a society that globally remained hostile to independent career women. We will see how they trained, and how Thompson, and others, balanced the pressure of social norms and their personal ambition.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 10/07/2024 -
Wed 10/07/2024
Times:
12:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00016971
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
0 places remaining
Status:
Fee:
Free

Ways to Wellbeing: Poetry for Wellbeing: reading and writing upbeat poems for improved wellbeing

While different things work for different people, well- being poems can be very comforting when you're having a difficult time, and can help us understand what we're feeling. It can also help to know someone has been where you are and to know you're not alone. On this short course you will be looking at a variety of classic and contemporary poems on positivity and strength to help you develop insight, hope, and a more positive outlook on life. You will also be writing your own poems inspired by what you have read and discussed with others to express your thoughts, emotions and use these to help improve your overall well-being.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 09/07/2024 -
Tue 23/07/2024
Times:
2:30pm - 5:00pm
Duration:
3 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Sarah Wardle
Course code:
Q00017666
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £29.60

Film & Media: Video editing for community organisations

Having a social media presence has become an essential element of attracting group members, funding and as a tool to promote information and awareness of issues important to communities. In a previous course, Washington Support Group for Men filmed footage relating to their organisation and it’s aims. This short course is designed to introduce learners who are involved in this established community group to the process of editing and producing a video. The video can then be shared to an audience in person or online through platforms such as Facebook or YouTube. This may be for promotional purposes, or to provide evidence of activities to potential funders or the wider public.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 08/07/2024 -
Mon 29/07/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
3 sessions
Location:
Washington Millennium Centre (WASHINGTON
The Oval
Concord
WASHINGTON
NE37 2QD
Tutor:
Graham Smith
Course code:
Q00015094
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
8 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.60

Creative Writing: Writing from the Heart

This is a free taster course focusing on your personal experiences and how these experiences may form the basis not only for autobiography and memoir, but for autobiographical fiction and poetry. The course will be composed sections, with a break; each designed to explore one or more areas of personal writing, through discussion, hands-on writing experiments and guidance on how to improve technical aspects of your prose or poetry. By the conclusion of the course you will have completed an introduction to one or two pieces of writing. The course will be mutually supportive, stimulating and a good introduction to further creative writing courses with the popular tutor Stephen Smith.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 08/07/2024 -
Mon 08/07/2024
Times:
10:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Stephen Smith
Course code:
Q00016649
How you'll learn:
Online
Status:
Waiting list
Fee:
Free