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.  

Skip to courses

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. 

Please enter your postcode

In order for us to give you accurate results for your courses, please click on the Search options and enter your postcode and the mile radius for your search.

Refine search

How you'll learn

Your location

Please enter your postcode or town for your search in the boxes below.

We have defaulted the search to ten miles, but you can change this number in the box as you wish.

Got it!

Sort by start date

Choose to sort the course start date in ascending order (furthest away dates first) or descending (most recent dates first)

Got it!

Results per page

Days

Other Filters

Part of day
Level of study
Availability
Search for the branch name/location, without adding branch e.g. Barnet

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:
Mon 29/04/2024 -
Thu 02/05/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 2:30pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Seetec Pluss Poole
Poole
BH12 1ED
Tutor:
Dulcie Allan
Course code:
Q00014835
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £8.40

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 01/05/2024 -
Wed 15/05/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
3 sessions
Location:
Trimdon Grange Community Centre (Trimdon
Kielder Drive
Trimdon Grange
Trimdon Station
TS29 6PB
Tutor:
Maria Hambley
Course code:
Q00015196
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
6 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £25.20

Healthy Living: Lip Reading and Hearing Loss

Come along and join our friendly lip reading group at The Centre in Newlyn. This class is suitable for all lip reader levels and ideal for those recently experiencing hearing loss. Our experienced tutor will guide you through the basics of lip reading and show you how to practice your lipreading skills in everyday life. Research has shown that attending a lip reading class can give you greater: · Confidence to communicate with others. · Control over your hearing loss as you develop new communication skills. · Independence, as you’re less reliant on others to help you follow a conversation. (Source RNID.org.uk) You will learn in a supportive environment alongside other learners who will be able to share their experiences of hearing loss and learn how to overcome them together.
View details

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 02/05/2024 -
Thu 13/06/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
The Centre, Newlyn (Penzance)
Chywoone Hill
Newlyn
Penzance
TR18 5AR
Tutor:
Janet Corbett Marston
Course code:
Q00012648
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
6 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

Healthy Living: Healthy Living: Introduction to Deaf Awareness

The British Academy of Audiology states that 1 in 6 of the adult population is affected by hearing loss in the UK. We are all likely to encounter someone with hearing loss at some point without realising it. Therefore, it is important to understand how deafness affects people and how people with hearing loss often need adjustments to be made to communicate in a hearing world. This brief course is a great introduction to developing an awareness of deafness and hearing loss. It aims to give you a background understanding and insight into people who are d/Deaf or have hearing loss. Helping us to understand their communication needs and address the isolation that some people with hearing loss face. Demonstrate an increased knowledge and understanding of effective communication with people who are d/Deaf or have hearing loss.
View details

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 08/05/2024 -
Wed 08/05/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Hayle Community Centre
58 Queensway
Hayle
TR27 4NX
Tutor:
Janet Corbett Marston
Course code:
Q00014909
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £8.40

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!

Add to basket

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
WEA Membership

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

Healthy Living: Introduction to Lip Reading

Did you know that only 30% to 50% of the English language is lipreadable? Lipreading is the skill of being able to pick up non-verbal and contextual clues, along with using your brain power to follow speech whether you hear some, or all of what has been said. Imagine a d/Deaf person who relies on lipreading and must do this all the time, and every time they communicate. This short course is ideal for the complete beginner to lip reading. It will cover the basic of how lipreading can benefit people who are experiencing hearing loss. Learners who wish to continue studying can go on to enrol on a lip reading course.
View details

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 15/05/2024 -
Wed 15/05/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Hayle Community Centre
58 Queensway
Hayle
TR27 4NX
Tutor:
Janet Corbett Marston
Course code:
Q00014908
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £8.40

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.
View details

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.
View details

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.
View details

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

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:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £10.50