WEA courses

Chekhov found the nineteenth century novel form too ponderous: he wrote fiction, not novels, and everything he wrote, even in his teenage years, was rushed into publication. Through this single volume selection of his stories we explore the power of this meteoric phenomenon. NB the title of this course is a book title, and access to this book, translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, published by Penguin and Vintage, is a necessary starting-point. We shall divide the book into roughly equal sections and study them week by week. Mostly the stories will be read in preparation for the classes, and the central activity of the course will be our own appraisal, through close discussion, of the meaning and suggestion of the individual stories, both as this affects us and as it may have affected the original reader. Since the stories are chronologically arranged, this will allow us a broad focus on Chekhov's development as a writer of prose narrative.

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the world of textiles, covering the fundamental techniques and creative possibilities of working with various fabrics and fibres. Participants will explore different methods of textile creation, including weaving, knitting, dyeing, and printing. Through hands-on projects, demonstrations, and guided exercises, students will develop their skills and artistic expression in textile arts. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the properties of different materials, mastering essential techniques, and fostering creativity in design and execution.

If you enjoy the buzz of learning environments, this qualification can teach you key skills for employment in a school or college. This government-funded course prepares you for a variety of roles. It provides the basic skills and knowledge necessary to work in admin, technical, or support roles in a learning environment. Studying support work in schools at level 2 can be a first step towards working with kids in teaching positions. It also provides you with the qualifications needed to work in admin at schools. No matter what role you’re interested in, this course can teach you skills for employability in schools and colleges.

This course is for people who live in Coventry who are beginners in learning English. It is a face-to-face course. The course will help you to start using English every day ready to apply for work in the UK. It will also improve your confidence to speak to people in English in other everyday situations, like going to the doctor, shopping, using public transport and speaking to your child’s teachers. You will start to learn some of the words and phrases needed to feel part of your community and become more independent in your life in the UK.

Please note this course is ONLY for residents of West Sussex. This short course is designed for learners currently studying ESOL who want to learn more about the language and skills that will help you manage your money, make good shopping decisions, and understand budgeting. The course will look at the principles of managing money in everyday situations like comparing prices on the high street, working out the best deal for transport to get to work or learning, or the cost of cooking a meal. This course will take place at the Horsham Drill Hall, Horsham. This course is supported by the Government-funded Multiply program which means that it is free for any learner with a West Sussex postcode.

Learn to use digital devices and gain essential digital skills for professional and personal use. Digital training helps you move with the times and not get left behind. This beginner’s course is for anyone who wants to learn digital skills, no matter your current knowledge. This course is appropriate for those who feel somewhat confident with their digital skills or would like to improve them, so don’t worry if this is new to you. Learn to use your phone, your keyboard, calendar, notes, contact list and fill out online forms in this Digital Skills course. Understand how to take and upload pictures and search for information online.

The purpose of this course is to aid you in finding the confidence and inspiration to get writing, using photographs as stimulus to creating original writing and developing creative skills. Using your own photography, we will create a unique piece of writing which can be fact or fiction. You will learn some handy tips and tricks to really bring out the writer in you!

Explore the creative possibilities of papercrafts with our Introduction to Papercrafts course. Learn techniques for creating beautiful and decorative paper items. Ideal for beginners looking to develop their papercrafting skills.

Each week we focus on a classic work of fiction, reading and discussing key passages. The texts include short novels which can be read in one week, and longer novels which we’ll study over two weeks. The course is organised chronologically and spans over130 years, from the late 19th century to modern times. We begin with Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Grey and end with Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These. We’ll share and debate interpretations, sharpen our critical and appreciative faculties, understand what fiction can tell us about the society and culture that produced it, and, hopefully, be inspired to read other works by the writers featured on the course.

Develop foundational reading skills with this entry 1 English course for beginners. This English course is for speakers of other languages. It will help you learn basic English to study, work, and live in the UK. This ESOL reading course helps people who are just starting to learn English. It will help you gain confidence reading short texts and common words in English. There are also writing and speaking & listening courses at this level. If you’re helping others access ESOL classes in the UK, you’ve come to the right place.