WEA courses

Prepare for the job market with our Get Ready for Work course. Develop essential skills and knowledge needed for job applications, interviews, and workplace success. Ideal for individuals seeking to enter the job market.

Away from any specific film movements or ‘waves’ relevant to their own countries, some filmmakers seem to earn greater acclaim internationally, often making films set outside their own native country, yet still telling the stories and expressing the themes they wish to portray. We examine what some of these, perhaps universal, stories and themes are, what are the stylistic approaches they use and just how and why these manage to resonate with critics and audiences. Are all these films received with equal praise within the director’s home country, are they seen as ‘selling out’? And regardless of what the director themselves might intend or state, are there still conscious or unconscious echoes of national cinematic movements within their work? And what role might financial sources play? Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon received praise yet the director was regarded by some as ‘selling out’ or ‘exploiting’ himself to the West. Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element could be viewed simply as a Hollywood sci-fi with a French Director, yet does the director add far more as an outsider, making more intellectual comment than one may expect from a commercial genre-movie. Not unlike Peter Wier’s Witness and Jane Campion’s The Piano, so many of these works which despite their creative diversity, also evidence their director’s own unique cinematic voice. Likewise, Wim Wenders recent Perfect Days, set in Japan, how far removed is it from the director’s early underpinnings of German Cinema? Perfect Days (2023), Couching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000), The Piano (1993), Witness (1985),The Fifth Element (1997).

Gain access to the essentials of modern life through vital digital skills in this beginner-ESOL learner friendly course. Tailored for ESOL learners lacking confidence in using laptop computers, this program equips beginners with fundamental skills. Learn to access services, apply for jobs, save work, and ensure online safety. The course targets ESOL learners who have limited laptop experience and seek greater proficiency. Dive into the digital era, building confidence and competence in utilizing technology to navigate various aspects of contemporary living. Join this this course to unlock the potential of digital tools and enhance your ability to engage with today's interconnected world.

Cooking at home from scratch is a technique to create home cooked food in a way which is healthy for you. You are certain about all the ingredients which are in the dish, no hidden ingredients. You are in control of what you are putting in your food and eating. Preparing food for the family reflects your love for them. Cooking at home can be a new skill to learn. During this course your tutor will give you demonstration and individual attention for your guidance. In this course you will be cooking food which you can enjoy after each session with your loved ones.

Do you help out at a school or youth centre? If you volunteer in a setting with children, it’s important to have an understanding of basic paediatric first aid. This paediatric first aid course gives you an introduction to the essential life-saving skills that can make all the difference in an emergency situation. This course is ideal for you if you work informally with children, toddlers, or babies. It is useful in a variety of settings, including sports halls, community hubs, and youth centres. It is also perfect for new parents who want to understand basic first aid to look after their children.

Studying online is a fun and effective way to learn. This course will teach you to use Canvas so that you can get the most out of WEA courses. You’ll learn digital skills to support you to study WEA online courses. This Canvas course is ideal for you if you’re considering taking a WEA course but feel unsure of your digital skills. It’s appropriate for complete beginners, so don’t worry if this is new to you.

When and why did holidaying at the seaside become popular and where along Essex’s Sunshine Coast would you choose to go? Rediscover the carefree days of a seaside holiday at one of the Essex resorts. From families to famous names in popular entertainment, a stay at the seaside was just the thing in 19th and 20th centuries and we’ll be sharing memories of those days as we consider how the resorts developed, thrived and faced challenges together.

It is arguably a greater challenge for a modern architect to sympathetically expand the use of historic buildings, than to create new free-standing architecture. We will critically assess what a range of architects have achieved – including Norman Foster at the British Museum, Rick Mather at the Ashmolean in Oxford, and Herzog and de Meuron in creating and then expanding Tate Modern.

This course examines a variety of avant-garde short stories by modern and contemporary Chinese writers. Each session will be spent producing a close analysis of individual stories and excerpts from longer fiction, debating different interpretations and understandings of the set texts,

Start your English language learning journey with this starter course! This course will support you with getting into the classroom and starting to develop your language and learning skills. It will help you to develop basic speaking, listening, reading and writing skills in English at a level that’s right for you. You will also explore a wider range of communication, including conversation practice, digital learning tools and study skills. It will give you the confidence to become more independent and engage in your community.