Love to learn with the WEA

Our languages and culture courses span the length and breadth of England and Scotland, with the option to study online or in person at a time that suits you. Whether you’re looking to learn a new language and immerse yourself in another country, or you simply wish to indulge in your love and fascination of film, we have the course for you. 

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Our creative writing courses will nourish your inner writer, providing you with a platform to develop your love of poetry, non-fiction or script development. If literature courses are more your kind of thing, then you’re in luck too, as there are a wide range of topics to choose from.  

Literary greats and great periods in history

Our language courses offer you the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in a completely new culture, developing your ̨Íåswag so that you can speak confidently in countries right across the world. German, Italian and Greek are just a few examples of the language courses we have to offer, with many others taking place throughout the year.  

As you’d expect, literary greats such as Agatha Christie and Shakespeare feature regularly. There’s also the option to examine other time periods in English literature too, helping you develop your critical reading and analysis ̨Íåswag - perfect whether you’re a beginner or more experienced in the subject.  

If you prefer history then you’ve got a choice too, from courses on subjects you’d expect such as the first world war, or art history and studying the works of iconic painters such as Salvador Dali. 

Support and guidance

Whatever course you choose, you'll learn in a supportive environment where the class sizes are small, ensuring you get the attention you deserve, with an experienced and qualified tutor on-hand to guide you through your learning too.  

A lot of our cultural learning is delivered by our branch network: learn more here.

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Literature: The American Short Story

The postwar period saw a major change in the significance of the short story in the USA and Canada, as it developed into a form for more serious explorations of character and psychology. Each week we will look at two stories by a major North American writer and discuss how they use such techniques as narration, subtext, and imagery to portray complex, layered characters. Featured writers include Ernest Hemingway, Raymond Carver, John Updike, Mavis Gallant, Shirley Jackson, and Elizabeth Strout. In the final two weeks we will look at stories about Christmas in particular.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 18/11/2024 -
Mon 09/12/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Jubilee Hall Loddon (Loddon)
George Lane
Loddon
NR14 6NB
Tutor:
Joseph Williams
Course code:
Q00019239
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.60

Art Appreciation: Expressionism: from Kirchner to Kandinsky and Kokoschka (1905-1939)

In this short course, we will focus on Expressionism, a key art movement of the beginning of the 20th century. Starting around 1905 in Germany and Austria, with painters and sculptors such as Ersnt Ludwig Kirchner and Karl Schmidt-Rotluff, the expressionist style soon pervaded other art forms, such as cinema. Expressionist works of art were raw and energetic, shocking, sometimes dark and apocalyptic, sometimes light and spiritual, and always intensely free. If you have ever wondered what is Expressionism, how it started and developed, and why these artists painted in such a way, this course is for you!

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 20/11/2024 -
Wed 11/12/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00017434
How you'll learn:
Online
Status:
Waiting list
Fee range
Free to £29.60

Literature: Mythology of the Winter Sky

Do you find the Festive season challenging or lonely? Perhaps you need a break from all the noise and build up that surrounds Christmas and you just need to press pause, take a breath and relax. Give yourself some ‘me’ time, take a break for a little while and join WEA tutor Jane Williams, where she will explore the myths behind well-known constellations of the winter sky, such as Orion the Hunter, the Seven Sisters, and the Great Bear and much more.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 21/11/2024 -
Thu 21/11/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Jane Williams
Course code:
Q00019858
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £7.40

Art Appreciation: Portraits through the Ages

The portrait has flourished as an art form from the ancient world to the present day and this innovative course will explore its continuing popularity. We shall study not only the painted face and figure but a variety of formats and formulae, from statuary to pendant medals and miniatures, and study artists as diverse as Holbein, Titian, Gainsborough, Singer Sargent and Francis Bacon. We include a reflection on the place of the photograph in this history of portraiture.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 22/11/2024 -
Fri 22/11/2024
Times:
10:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
The Ambrose Allen Centre (Tadley)
2 Franklin Avenue
Tadley
RG26 4ET
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00017150
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
3 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £25.20

WEA Membership

WEA membership is changing: more information is coming soon!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

Art Appreciation: John Singer Sargent: At Once Modern and Classic

What do you know about John Singer Sargent? He was a high society portrait painter? He painted Madame X, and Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose. In this session, you will learn about the life and career of this extraordinary painter, in greater details. American, he lived in Italy, in France and mainly in England, where he became a sought-after portrait painter. But there is much more to Sargent than his portraits of wealthy patrons. We will also discover some of his impressionist paintings and his watercolours. Sargent’s art is paradoxical: modern by some features, and classical based on some others. But always, in portraits as in landscapes, he comes across as a brilliant painter.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 23/11/2024 -
Sat 23/11/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00019039
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
8 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £8.40

Art Appreciation: Impressionist Painting: an introduction

The course provides an introduction to Impressionist painting in France in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The course uses a selected number of paintings including work by Claude Monet and Édouard Manet, Edgar Degas and Berthe Morisot together with a number of lesser known artists. These provide the basis for the beginnings of an appreciation and understanding of some of the exciting ideas in aesthetics and philosophy of the period. The selection will encourage a focus on the paintings with themes and attentions implied in the course title, from working with sketches in the studio to painting in the open air.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 26/11/2024 -
Tue 17/12/2024
Location:
Online
Course code:
Q00019890
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £29.60

Creative Writing: Writing Love

These creative writing workshops spotlight the much-written theme of love. From romantic love to family love, from love of a place or a home of long ago to the love of a pet or a ritual, we’ll learn from authors who have portrayed love in all its form – obsessive love, had and had to let go of love and soul-mate love. This workshop consists of a blend of activities: writing exercises to practice your craft; close reading of extracts from published inspirational writers and teaching points on creative writing techniques. There is an opportunity to share your fresh words in small groups and receive gentle, appreciative feedback.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 27/11/2024 -
Wed 18/12/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Nicola Torode
Course code:
Q00017746
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
8 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £29.60

Art Appreciation: Portraits through the Ages

The portrait has flourished as an art form from the ancient world to the present day and this innovative course will explore its continuing popularity. We shall study not only the painted face and figure but a variety of formats and formulae, from statuary to pendant medals and miniatures, and study artists as diverse as Holbein, Titian, Gainsborough, Singer Sargent and Francis Bacon. We include a reflection on the place of the photograph in this history of portraiture: was this new invention to prove a help or a hindrance to the creation of the modern portrait? This is a course for everyone who enjoys looking at paintings and no previous reading is required

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 30/11/2024 -
Sat 30/11/2024
Times:
10:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Reading International Solidarity Centre
35-39 London Street
Reading
RG1 4PS
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00017297
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
5 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £25.20

Music Appreciation: History of the Saxophone

The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in the early 1840s. In this course we will look at the history of the saxophone and the various different types of saxophone. We will look at the part the sax has played in a wide range of musical genres including classical music (concert bands, chamber music, solo repertoire, and occasionally orchestras), military bands, marching bands, jazz (big bands and jazz combos), and contemporary music. The various genres will be demonstrated with music played live by the course tutor – a professional saxophonist.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 30/11/2024 -
Sat 30/11/2024
Times:
11:00am - 3:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Feering Community Centre (Feering)
Coggeshall Road
Feering
CO5 9QB
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00019797
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £15.00

Art Appreciation: Surrealist Art, 1924 to 1945

One hundred years ago, André Breton published his Manifesto of Surrealism, officially starting one of the most influential movements of the 20th century. This short course (2 x 2 hours) is an introduction to Surrealist art, and an occasion to dive right in the surreal world of dreams and the unconscious. We will explore the works of iconic artists like Max Ernst, Salvador Dalí and René Magritte, while learning about key techniques like automatism and collage. We will see how Surrealism challenges reality and sparks creativity. No experience needed, just bring your imagination!

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 02/12/2024 -
Mon 09/12/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
2 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00019738
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £16.80