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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Foreign Languages: Reading Latin Intermediate

Would you like to further 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. In this intermediate level group you will develop more independence in translation through a mixture of immersive learning through reading Latin and analytical work in consolidating and extending your understanding of the Latin language. Lively discussion and exercises as part of a supportive group in the online sessions will be backed up by plentiful opportunities to work independently between sessions with a range of quizzes and assignments.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 07/03/2025 -
Fri 04/07/2025
Times:
12:00pm - 2:00pm
Duration:
15 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Penelope Fewster
Course code:
Q00018014
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £111.00

Art Appreciation: William Blake and Samuel Palmer

William Blake (1757 – 1827) is simply the greatest poet/pictorial artist Britain has ever seen! His themes are universal and his demand that society recognise the folly and inhumanity that prevailed unfortunately is still relevant. Moulded by the radicalisation of the English Civil War, his words and images are a call to arms to stand up for the vision that Britan could be if the shackles of convention were broken.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 08/03/2025 -
Sat 08/03/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
The Minster (Grimsby)
St James Square
Grimsby
DN31 1EP
Tutor:
Tim Stimson
Course code:
Q00017918
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £10.50

Art Appreciation: Painting in the 21st Century

This course views painting produced in the twenty-first century. The course will include developments of figurative and abstract painting. There will be views of artists already prominent in the twentieth century and newly emerging artists from a wide range of attentions. From those born in the 1930s to those born in the 1980s. The course will attend to direct visual experience of reproduction of the works involved linked to elements of comprehension and understanding through a considerable range of exciting encounters and engagements. This course will put an emphasis on developments of figurative and abstract painting in the twenty-first century. There will be views of artists already prominent in the twentieth century and newly emerging artists from a wide range of attentions. From those born in the 1930's to those born in the 1980's.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 08/04/2025 -
Tue 27/05/2025
Times:
11:15am - 1:15pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Allen Fisher
Course code:
Q00016750
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £59.20

Personal Development: Creative writing

Unlock your inner writer! This 4-week Introduction to Creative Writing course will ignite your imagination and guide you in expressing yourself through the power of words. We'll delve into various writing styles, helping you observe the world around you with fresh eyes and translate those experiences onto the page. Whether you're a complete beginner or have dabbled in writing, this course is designed to unleash your creativity and deepen your enjoyment of the written word.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 23/04/2025 -
Wed 21/05/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
KCU Ltd at Fuller Church (Kettering)
51 Gold Street
Kettering
NN16 8JB
Tutor:
Caroline Smy
Course code:
Q00016754
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.60

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:
£15

Music appreciation, memory and creative writing

This course will explore how listening to music can provide a vital stimulus to creative writing and reading. To this end, you will be encouraged to dig into your own records and CDs to find those tracks which could release the written word. You will also listen to a range of music and see where that mood takes your writing. There will also be the opportunity to study how other writers have use music as a vital creative stimulus.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 28/04/2025 -
Mon 19/05/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
3 sessions
Location:
Krowji (Redruth)
West Park
Redruth
TR15 3AJ
Tutor:
Mark Crees
Course code:
Q00016899
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £25.20

Literature: Ann Radcliffe to Jane Austen - Female Gothic and Literary Homage

This short course will provide the opportunity to study two novels by female authors that are thoughly connected in the minds of many people despite being published 26 years apart by two very different authors. Throughout Northanger Abbey Jane Austen makes many references to Ann Radcliffe’s classic gothic novel The Mysteries of Udolpho. These two novels, then, are connected in the minds of many readers and this course will provide the opportunity of looking at these two novels side-by-side. We will begin with Radcliffe’s 1794 novel The Mysteries of Udolpho and then look at Austen’s much loved Northanger Abbey, published posthumously in 1817.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 29/04/2025 -
Tue 10/06/2025
Times:
2:30pm - 4:30pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Exeter Community Centre (Exeter)
17 St. Davids Hill
Exeter
EX4 3RG
Tutor:
Greta Depledge
Course code:
Q00016876
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

Foreign Languages: Advancing in Italian

Welcome to Term 3 of the Italian Course! This course enhances your Italian with practical topics to boost conversational skills. Learn to confidently order in restaurants, discuss weather conditions, talk about spare time activities, and describe people’s appearances and personalities. Interactive lessons include role-playing, listening exercises, and cultural insights for a comprehensive learning experience. By the end of the term, you’ll navigate restaurant menus, engage in weather conversations, describe hobbies, and portray individuals in Italian. Assessments through participation, quizzes, and assignments track your progress. Join us to deepen your Italian proficiency and cultural appreciation. Buon viaggio!

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 30/04/2025 -
Wed 16/07/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
12 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Giuseppa Perricone
Course code:
Q00016305
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £81.40

Creative Writing: Writing Your First Novel

This course is a follow on to the previous ‘Writing Your First Novel: Next Level’ course, but suitable for newly enrolling students with experience writing fiction. 'Writing your first Novel: Advanced' is all about the deeper craft of creative writing—those elements that will make your work really stand out when you are making your first steps into the world of writing, regardless of whether you are planning on submitting your work, or if you are just writing for fun. Giving you the opportunity to develop an effective creative writing practice, and further personal development, especially if you want to get that first novel out of your head and onto paper.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 01/05/2025 -
Thu 10/07/2025
Times:
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Craig Rickard
Course code:
Q00009233
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00

Music Appreciation: Shakespeare and Verdi

Verdi dominated Italian opera in the 19C with a series of highly dramatic works. He was an avid reader of literature and the great playwrights; most of his operas are derived from their works. His favourite writer was Shakespeare and he took great pride in his operatic settings of Macbeth, Othello and Falstaff. If you are a lover of Shakespeare, then you will learn how an operatic setting with its dramatic music and singing can provide an enhanced experience of these great dramas.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 10/05/2025 -
Sat 10/05/2025
Times:
10:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
The Bradbury Community Centre (Wokingham
Rose Street
Rose Street
Wokingham
RG40 1XS
Tutor:
Robin John
Course code:
Q00017430
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £25.20

Art Appreciation:Five Centuries of Women Sculptors

American art historian Linda Nochlin in 1971 posed the question as to “Why have there been no great women artists?”. Since then the field of art history has increased its focus on women artists. Yet women sculptors have been the most overlooked, overshadowed by their male counterparts, and under-represented in sculptural histories. This course will write them back into art history by focusing on the talented and accomplished women sculptors from the 17th Century to their transition through the centuries into the installation artists of the 21st Century.

Course Information

Dates:
Sun 11/05/2025 -
Sun 15/06/2025
Times:
11:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Jolanta Jagiello
Course code:
Q00017477
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £37.00