WEA courses

The Christmas story has probably inspired more art than any other subject. From medieval icons of the Virgin and Child to the Renaissance paintings of the shepherds and the wise men; and from stained glass windows to Christmas cards, the story has been at the forefront of western art.

Explore the art of decoupage with our Craft: Delve Deeper into Decoupage course. Learn advanced techniques for decorating objects with paper cutouts and other materials. Ideal for crafters looking to enhance their decoupage skills.

With the decline of the old Hollywood studio system, a new generation of film makers, many of them exposed to international cinema at film school, expressed themselves on screen with individual voices and a counter culture attitude. Key to this selection of films is the notion of a ‘crisis of public myth’ echoed throughout this period – just who are the heroes and who are the villains? We examine better known and continually highly acclaimed films such as Cool Hand Luke, was it just recycling the chain gang film or doing something more? The Outlaw Josey Wales as an example of the ‘Revisionist Western’ which came out of this period with its differing representation of the people and events of the Old West as previously seen in Classic Hollywood. The Last American Hero arguably questioning youthful attitudes, the law, freedom and the concept of the popular ‘folk heroes’ in a modern corporate world. Cult favourite, The Swimmer offering an example of more unusual comment on materialism, a crisis of national identity and more. With the Blues Brothers serving as an example a film carrying the New Hollywood baton in its attitude and approach after the blockbusters of the mid 1970s, mixing genres in a more comedic, musical and anti-realist style. All promoting knowledge of the subject matter and enthusiasm for film in general. Cool Hand Luke (1967), The Last American Hero (1973), The Swimmer (1968), The Blues Brothers (1980), The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)

'Immerse yourself in the five film wonders of modern French cinema, deepening your knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of 21st-century international filmmaking. Discover the magic of these cinematic gems and broaden your love for the art of film. Moving slightly beyond the well-trodden historical path of French New Wave and even the Cinema du look of the 1980s, you'll explore the themes, influences, techniques and voices behind some captivating French cinema from relatively more recent years – have things changed? Are there still some factors parallel to earlier works? And what exactly might we mean by the term Modern French Cinema?

This is a fun and interactive course, ideal to follow on from the Beginners BSL. The intention of this course is to develop skills in BSL for community engagement, further learning and possibly employment in a school/work setting. The course will run for 14 guided learning hours and will be taught online using Zoom and Canvas as a Virtual Learning Platform. Learners will be fully supported in achieving the learning outcomes for the course and the intention is that the course will help them to further develop their confidence in order for them to engage in signed conversations with their peers.

Prepare for a career in customer service with our SWAP Introduction to Customer Service with AVIVA course. Learn essential skills and knowledge required to excel in customer service roles. Ideal for individuals seeking to enter the customer service industry or enhance their customer service skills.

How do the popular representations of smuggling in novels, songs, poems, paintings and film match up to the reality? We will look at some of the enduring romantic depictions alongside official records to consider the reality of life for people up and down the Essex coast in the 18th century engaged in smuggling or the fight against it.

In 1989, the songwriter Billy Joel was told by a friend that “Things are different today. You were a kid in the fifties, and everybody knows that nothing happened in the fifties.” As a result, he wrote ‘We didn’t start the fire’ to highlight how the post-war decades shaped the world we live in today. Join us for this fascinating 6 week course where you will look at the crucial events that occurred between 1940 and 1972 in USA and reflect about their significance back then as well as how it translates into today’s society.

Take your reading skills to the next level with these ESOL classes. Feel comfortable reading and understanding different types of texts in English. Improved reading skills can make life in the UK easier for you. This ESOL entry 3 reading course builds on skills you learnt at entry 2. You’ll continue to expand your vocabulary and reading skills. This is an English course for adults. It is aimed at speakers of other languages. ESOL courses are divided into three areas: reading, writing, and speaking & listening. If you’re helping others find ESOL courses in the UK, you’ve come to the right place.

This practical course aims to provide students with an introduction to issues connected with learning, teaching, training and assessment of adults in a supportive environment. Participants are asked to prepare a short presentation as well as using self and peer evaluation.