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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Art Appreciation: Highlights of Tate Britain

Discover for the first time, or re-visit an old favourite, this course will introduce you to a wide range of artworks from the national collection of Tate Britain in London. We explore specific works by historical, modern and contemporary artists in relation to wider cultural and social contexts. The aim of the course is to develop confidence and visual literacy skills when looking at and discussing art in London’s galleries. On this course, we examine work by prominent artists as diverse as Anthony Van Dyck, Joan Carlile, William Blake, JMW Turner, the Pre-Raphaelites, Gwen John, Sarah Lucas and Lubaina Himid.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 14/01/2025 -
Tue 11/02/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
St John's United Reform Church Orpington
Lynwood Grove
Orpington
BR6 0BG
Tutor:
Chantal Condron
Course code:
Q00019206
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.00

Foreign Languages: Learning More Italian

Welcome to Term 2 of Learning Italian! This 10-week course builds on your foundational skills, focusing on practical situations. You’ll learn to book a hotel room, navigate train and bus stations, and shop at markets. Through interactive lessons, role-playing, and listening activities, you’ll gain confidence in handling common scenarios. Topics include making reservations, understanding schedules, purchasing tickets, and shopping for goods. Cultural insights will deepen your appreciation of Italian traditions. By the end of the course, you’ll be comfortable using Italian in various everyday contexts. Join us to continue your Italian language journey! Buon viaggio!

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 15/01/2025 -
Wed 02/04/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
12 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Giuseppa Perricone
Course code:
Q00016302
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £81.40

Creative Writing: Show and Tell

This workshop will re-examine the golden rule in creative writing “Show don’t tell.” With published extracts from a variety of genres, both fiction and creative non- fiction, you will see what is meant by effective showing. How emotions, thoughts, reactions are described rather than explained to make the story so much more engaging. You’ll learn how to apply this to your work with great effect. Rather than ‘don’t tell’ you’ll learn where telling and summary are essential for pace and plot. This course is intended for those who have some experience of creative writing. This course is funded by the Education Skills and Funding Agency.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 15/01/2025 -
Wed 29/01/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
3 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Nicola Torode
Course code:
Q00019789
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £22.20

Literature: Contemporary British Fiction

This course will consider and analyse the following authors and their texts. These are: The Stranger’s Child - Alan Hollinghurst. The Blue Flower - Penelope Fitzgerald. A Pale View of Hills - Kazuo Ishiguro. Last Orders - Graham Swift. On Chesil Beach - Ian McEwan. These texts will provide a window into the different regions of Britain during the last fifty years, 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. This course is funded by Greater London Combined Authority.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 15/01/2025 -
Wed 26/03/2025
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Duke Street Church
Quadrant Road
Richmond
TW9 1DH
Tutor:
Stephen Smith
Course code:
Q00019812
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
4 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £100.00

WEA Membership

WEA membership is changing: more information is coming soon!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

Creative Writing: Creative Writing Workshop – Fiction, Poetry and Memoirs

We will cover all forms of writing – fiction, including novels, short stories and plays, also poetry, autobiography and memoirs. The aim is to help develop and channel your writing ability, whether as a hobby or for publication. We will discuss many aspects of writing, foster the use of imagination, and read your work in a constructive and friendly setting. The emphasis is on individual development. This course is suitable for improvers and beginners. All you need is an interest in developing and enjoying your writing skills.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 15/01/2025 -
Wed 19/03/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Stella Stocker
Course code:
Q00018502
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
9 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00

Foreign Languages: Everyday Greek for Improvers (Intermediate Term 5)

Can you take part in conversations in Greek? Would you like to increase your fluency and your accuracy? This face-to-face course will refresh and expand some of the Greek you have learnt in the past and it will increase your confidence in communicating with the locals when in Greece or Cyprus. It will also give you a deeper insight into the Greek lifestyle and culture. The course is taught by a well-qualified and experienced native speaker with many years’ teaching experience. Learning a foreign language for holiday or leisure is a great way to keep your brain active, explore a different culture, meet people with a common interest, increase your confidence and enhance your wellbeing. Take advantage of this unique opportunity today.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 15/01/2025 -
Wed 26/03/2025
Times:
11:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
The Barn, Manor Farm (Tadcaster)
St. Joseph's Street
Tadcaster
LS24 9HA
Tutor:
Eleni Vezyri
Course code:
Q00020067
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £84.00

Foreign Languages: Modern Greek Conversation for Improvers (lower intermediate Term 5)

Can you take part in brief conversations in Greek in a wide range of situations? Would you like to boost your existing Greek language skills, be able to communicate in more detail and gain a deeper insight into the Greek culture? This online course aims to expand the Greek you have already learnt and increase your confidence in using the language to communicate with the locals when in Greece or Cyprus. It will also give you a further insight into the Greek lifestyle and culture. The course is taught by a well-qualified and experienced native speaker with many years’ teaching experience. Learning a foreign language for holiday or leisure is a great way to keep your brain active, explore a different culture, meet people with a common interest, increase your confidence and enhance your wellbeing. Take advantage of this unique opportunity today.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 15/01/2025 -
Wed 26/03/2025
Times:
7:15pm - 9:15pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Eleni Vezyri
Course code:
Q00020068
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00

Art Apprecation: British art of the twentieth century

British art of the twentieth century is outstanding for its range of interest, style and inherent individualism. This course explores the richness and diversity of the fascinating work of a range of artists including Paul Nash, L.S. Lowry, Graham Sutherland, Ben Nicholson, Henry Moore and Lucian Freud. We also discover how a modernist approach emerged from the British art of the Great War.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 15/01/2025 -
Wed 05/03/2025
Times:
1:30pm - 3:30pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Rutland Adult Learning & Skills (Oakham)
Unit 16A
Oakham Enterprise Park, Ashwel
Oakham
LE15 7TU
Tutor:
Janis Baker
Course code:
Q00020111
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £58.80

Singing: Singing for Spring

If you enjoy music, then this course is for you! We will be doing some listening and moving to music. You may like to follow some of the rhythms in the music and play or sing along. There will be some old favourites for you to enjoy and maybe even remember the words. We may learn something new, just to give ourselves a bit of a challenge! We may even compose our own songs! But don’t worry, there will be plenty of help to make this easy! No experience is needed to take part in this course. Taking part will lift your spirits and make your heart sing! The Reaching Out Programme classes are open to people living in the community that can have their needs met by the class. This is a class for people with a learning disability.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 15/01/2025 -
Wed 09/04/2025
Times:
10:30am - 12:00pm
Duration:
12 sessions
Location:
Chestnuts (Bognor Regis)
London Road
Bognor Regis
PO21 1AZ
Tutor:
Josephine Allum
Course code:
Q00020994
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
7 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £75.60

Art Appreciation: Paul Nash: Dreamer of the Modern World

Discover the fascinating life and work of 20th century artist, Paul Nash. Chart his significant impact on British art from 1914 to his death in 1946: from his experiences as Official War Artist during both World Wars; and his contribution to the development of British Surrealism and modern landscape. The course explores also Nash’s fruitful collaboration with his wife, the writer and Suffragette, Margaret Odeh. Central to this course will be a focus on Nash’s interest in spirituality and Eastern philosophies, exploring how his paintings articulated certain subjects and motifs that helped him make sense of a world of conflict.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 16/01/2025 -
Thu 13/02/2025
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Enfield Baptist Church (Enfield) (Enfiel
Cecil Road
Enfield
EN2 6TG
Tutor:
Chantal Condron
Course code:
Q00017403
How you'll learn:
In venue
Status:
Waiting list
Fee range
Free to £60.00