WEA courses

This virtual history course delves into the fascinating realm of counterfactual history, exploring pivotal moments in history and imagining alternate outcomes. Through looking at what happened in situations where the outcome was not at all clear cut, we will analyse the factors that shaped historical events and speculate on how different choices could have led to alternate trajectories. Through discussion and speculation on everything from medieval battles to modern political decisions, this course offers a unique perspective on the "what ifs" of history. How might the world be different today if the outcome had been different? Join the class to find out.

Would you like to learn new skills or change jobs? It can be hard to get back into learning after a long break. This confidence training will prepare you to feel comfortable stepping back into the classroom. This short course can help you bridge the gaps in your confidence and overcome the obstacles standing in your way to get back into learning. The objective of this course is to get you into a positive mindset to achieve your goals. You will practise a variety of confidence-building exercises to help that mindset shift come from within.

Develop skills to help you read, write, and communicate in English with confidence. Improved language skills open doors to work and study opportunities and help you learn key skills for employment. Level 1 functional skills courses are not like learning English at school. They’re created by adults for adults, and aim to teach you practical English skills through real-life situations. Strengthen your writing skills and learn reading techniques to help you tackle everyday situations at work or while studying. This adult English course helps you develop your language skills through real-life situations. Functional Skills level 1 is a government-funded accredited English course for adults. Functional Skills qualifications are free if you don't already have a GCSE in English or Maths at grades A*-C, or 4-9. We'll check your level and any previous qualifications before you start. This ensures you are on the correct course.

On this lecture style course, we will learn about The Ottoman Empire from its formation at the end of the 13th century right through to the 20th century; the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, and the countries and areas involved - Southeast Europe, parts of Central Europe, Western Asia, North Africa and the Horn of Africa, parts of Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. In the early 20th century, the empire allied with Germany on the side of the Central Powers in WWI. The Empire's defeat and the occupation of part of its territory by the Allied Powers resulted in its partitioning and the loss of its Middle Eastern territories, but the successful Turkish War of Independence against the occupying Allies led to the emergence of the Republic of Turkey in the Anatolian heartland and the abolition of the Ottoman monarchy.

Cooking homemade food doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Learn how to feed the whole family with tasty and affordable meals in this cooking on a budget course. This is a cooking and personal finance course rolled into one. You’ll get practical budgeting tips you can apply in the kitchen. This course is ideal for you if you’d like to learn how to cook homemade meals on a reduced budget.

Cooking homemade food doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Learn how to feed the whole family with tasty and affordable meals in this cooking on a budget course. This is a cooking and personal finance course rolled into one. You’ll get practical budgeting tips you can apply in the kitchen. This course is ideal for you if you’d like to learn how to cook homemade meals on a reduced budget.

If you have contact with deaf people in your day-to-day life, you may want to take a British Sign Language course. Knowing how to sign can make your communication more inclusive for everyone you interact with. This BSL course is suitable for you if you need to communicate with deaf people in a voluntary or community role, or simply through social interactions. This course is aimed at complete beginners. You will start from scratch to learn foundational BSL skills.

During your course, you will learn core skills that boost your confidence, such as surfing the internet, adding bookmarks and searching efficiently. Create files and folders to organize your information. Importantly, you will gain essential knowledge about keeping yourself and your information safe online. Recognise and avoid fake websites, understand secure browsing practices, and protecting personal information. By mastering these skills, you will navigate the digital world efficiently, proficiently and securely, ensuring a safer and more productive online experience. This course is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority. Participants must live in Coventry Area Postcodes CV1 to CV6 inclusive

In this course, we will explore the visual culture in Europe during World War One. From official war art, to soldiers’ sketchbooks, from world-famous artists to anonymous draughtsmen, we will study and discuss a broad range of attitudes to war. We will study many British artists, but also German, French, Italian, and American ones. We will study great works of art, learn a lot about the history of the war from a British and Western perspective, and discuss the role of art and artists during wartime, as well as in the aftermath of war.

We’ll read a wide-range of short stories, memoir and novel extracts from diverse genres and authors. Each week we’ll be assigned two texts for close reading before the class. In class, the tutor will facilitate discussion around the techniques used and set a short writing exercise to practice a technique.