General Courses

Brief Description:

This course offers a foundation in acting . Working through a variety of theatre games, improvisations and techniques, participants will be encouraged to explore their imaginations and gain confidence in vocal and physical skills.We will use both contemporary and classical text and progress to in-class presentations of scenes and monologues.

Method of Payment:

Fees are to be paid on enrolment. Places cannot be reserved without receipt of payment.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

None

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to:
• strengthen ability to speak in public
• gain a basic understanding of a variety of acting techniques
• work on contemporary and classical scenes or monologues

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

None

For the first session you will need to bring:

Wear comfortable clothing

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

A higher level acting course.

Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sunday’s , you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more

Brief Description:

The process of how to make bread dough can be a bit challenging. In this bread baking evening you will learn the basic steps of how to make bread dough. This general process is used for all yeast breads with slight variations for each type.
There are 8 basic steps that the production of all yeast-based bread doughs follows.
An informal evening will help you feel at ease, where recipes are provided and you will learn the art and fundamentals of baking bread with yeast which includes kneading, rising, and baking.

On the evening we will make:
No knead Bread
Pizza
Easy Bread Loaf ( please bring a bread tin)

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

None

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the evening course you will have the opportunity to:
 Explore and make a range of breads
 Be able to understand and follow a recipe.
 Gain confidence to experiment further on your own using skills learnt in the lesson
 Improve your basic methods of preparation of baking
 Develop a better understanding of food hygiene in the kitchen.

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

Ingredients – the office will send you an ingredients list with a confirmation email. Approx. costs: £10

For the first session you will need to bring:

Apron, tea towel, dish cloth and a container to take your food home. – unfortunately you will be unable to borrow these items 

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

The college offers lots of exciting cookery classes throughout the year.
Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sunday’s , you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more

Brief Description:

The process of how to make bread dough can be a bit challenging. In this bread baking evening you will learn the basic steps of how to make bread dough. This general process is used for all yeast breads with slight variations for each type.
There are 8 basic steps that the production of all yeast-based bread doughs follows.
An informal evening will help you feel at ease, where recipes are provided and you will learn the art and fundamentals of baking bread with yeast which includes kneading, rising, and baking.

On the evening we will make:
No knead Bread
Pizza
Easy Bread Loaf ( please bring a bread tin)

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

None

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the evening course you will have the opportunity to:
 Explore and make a range of breads
 Be able to understand and follow a recipe.
 Gain confidence to experiment further on your own using skills learnt in the lesson
 Improve your basic methods of preparation of baking
 Develop a better understanding of food hygiene in the kitchen.

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

Ingredients – the office will send you an ingredients list with a confirmation email. Approx. costs: £10

For the first session you will need to bring:

Apron, tea towel, dish cloth and a container to take your food home. – unfortunately you will be unable to borrow these items 

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

The college offers lots of exciting cookery classes throughout the year.
Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sunday’s , you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more

Brief Description:

On this practical cookery session, you will learn how to make sweet afternoon fancy tea biscuits and decadent intense chocolate ganaché and present them as gifts.

Learn how to melt down chocolate using a Bain-Marie method. Melting down chocolate using cream.

Enjoy making Italian Florentine Biscuits – generally made traditionally at Christmas but taste great any time of year!

Learn how to make Chocolate Truffles and decorate them with various coatings.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

No experience required.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to:

• Use a Bain-Marie method for melting
• Learn how to finish and present the sweet treats
• Learn basic techniques using chocolate
• Artisan techniques such as moulding and dipping

Extra costs on the course for example textbook, materials, or equipment.

No extra costs. However, no alcohol will be provided; if you would like to flavour your  truffles with liquor feel free to bring some in.

For the first session you will need to bring:

Please bring a tea towel, dishcloth, and apron (working with chocolate can be messy!). Please also bring a container to transport your goods home.

 On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sunday’s; you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more

Brief Description

Learn how to make pasta dough and produce delicious handmade pasta using the traditional pasta machine
During this pasta making class you will learn to make following three recipes.
Mushroom Ravioli with garlic, rosemary, and parmesan- butter
Gnocchi sage, spinach & butternut squash.
Linguini with basil & tomato or homemade pesto

Previous Skills and Knowledge Needed

Basic kitchen skills would be beneficial.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course the participants will be able to:
Make fresh pasta dough
Use a pasta machine
Make ribbon pasta
Make filled pasta
Be able to cook & serve a pasta recipe

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipmen

You will be given the ingredients list to purchase on confirmation. Ingredients should not cost more than £15

For the first session you will need to bring:

Please bring an apron, dish cloth and tea towel as well as leak-proof containers to take your cooked foods in. Unfortunately you will not be able to borrow these items.

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

Your tutor will advise you.
Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sunday’s , you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more

Brief Description:

Creative Writing for Beginners is an 8 week course that revolves around exploring the skills & craft of writing fiction. Writing stories for personal pleasure has become a popular pastime again as has writing poetry to post online for others to read and take inspiration from. The current pandemic has caused many of us to seek out purposeful activities that can be undertaken at home or in isolation and that require a minimum investment in new equipment (when it comes to creative writing the bare necessities are only paper and a pen/pencil). Engaging in creative pursuits has also been found to relieve anxiety and promote good mental health by providing a focus for concentrated thought. It doesn’t matter whether you want to write as an end it itself or to write with the intention of sharing your work with a wider audience, the well-being benefits come from engaging in the act of harnessing your creative energy. Although as with every craft the more accomplished the finished result, the more appreciation and enjoyment gained.

Creative Writing for Beginners will help you feel more confident in your abilities to communicate your ideas and will also give you the opportunity to experiment in a safe environment with different forms of storytelling to find which gives you the most satisfaction and creative enjoyment. Throughout the course you will learn about putting the skills & craft of storytelling into practice by working on a short story, a piece of memoir, a poem, and examining forms such genre fiction, plays and screenwriting. The emphasis is on having a go and learning by doing because there has never been a writer who cannot improve their work by rewriting in the light of feedback given and knowledge or experience gained (even Shakespeare crossed things out and had another go at finding the right word to convey exactly what he intended). Creative Writing for Beginners can’t promise to turn you into a great playwright, but it will give you plenty of opportunities to better appreciate and implement the skills necessary for successful storytelling whilst having fun playing with language along the way.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to:

• Identify writing goals and ways of working to achieve them.
  Give and receive feedback.
• Differentiate the elements required in storytelling.
• Identify the skills of creative writing.
• Write a short story, a piece of non-fiction memoir, and a poem.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

None

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment

None.

For the first session you will need to bring:

Pen/pencil and paper

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

Creative Writing Next Steps
Writing Life Stories
Short Story Writing

Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sunday’s , you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.

Another course offered by Ruth Wade which might interest you: Writing Life Stories

Brief Description:

A course centered around working with timber. You will be learning and practicing the following joints: Half Lap, Mortice and Tenon, Dove Tail, T Halving, Bridal and Dowel Joint. Once you are confident with the individual joints, you can extend your learning by producing a five joint frame using all the skills learned constructing the individual joints. These joints are used in every day joinery projects. Once you have mastered these you can go on to make individual projects.
You will be shown how to use the tools correctly and how to sharpen/maintain carpentry hand tools.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

This is a course for beginners. No previous experience is necessary.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course you will have the opportunity to:
• Identify and name common carpentry tools
• Know how to maintain carpentry tools
• Learn how to use them safely
• Produce woodwork joints

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

If you choose to wear Steel Toe Capped Boots (which we recommend), costs start at approx. £20 from hardware stores.
The wood for the joint practice and 6 joint frame will be provided.

For the first session you will need to bring:

A pencil and notepad. No sandals, or open-toed shoes are allowed in a workshop setting. Hair must also be tied back. You are advised to wear steel toe cap boots in the workshop. Wood for the joints and frame project will be provided.

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

DIY Improvers, Make a planter in a day, upholstery or similar.
The Adult Learn and Train office is also able to give course information or search for alternative courses for you.

Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sunday’s, you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.

Brief Description:

No Plastics! Help save our Planet!
Come join us, make reusable beeswax food wrappers. Make them for yourselves or as presents for friends.

These wrappers are a great alternative to clingfilm. They are great for wrapping and storing food and it is one more step to becoming plastic free!

They are reusable, easy to clean and anti-bacterial. When you no longer want them they can thrown away guilt free as they will biodegrade.

Fabric will be coated with the beeswax and sealed.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

None

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to:

• Make beeswax food wrappers
• Understand how to use them
• Experiment with ratios of ingredients
• Learn how to reuse the ingredients

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment

The college will supply the bee wax, jojoba oil, pine resin, parchment paper, paint brush, stirrers, cans, pans etc and some 100 percent cotton fabrics

Please bring a chosen fabric – 100% cotton, enough to cut 4 sizes of wrappers you require – think about what you want to wrap. The cotton should be not too thick and not too tight weave.

Please also bring your iron and two old towels. The beeswax will not damage the towels or iron but it may spill out when ironing so we suggest old towels for this reason.

For the first session, you will need to bring:

Please bring crimping scissors if you have them. Please also bring an apron, two old towels and an iron. You may also want to bring an apron.

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

The Adult Learn and Train office is able to give course information or search for alternative courses for you. The college is always striving to offer courses to promote a more sustainable future. If you have any suggestions on provision talk to an administrator.

Make more wrappers for friends and family!

How a knot will change your life!  The many wonderous things you can do with a sq meter of cloth

Brief Description: 

If you have ever wondered how, but wanted to be more environmentally conscious, then come to this workshop and I will show you how to turn a knot and a square metre of cloth into the only shopping bag, handbag and whatever other kind on occasional bag you can think of, whilst also showing how to wrap gifts using cloth in a truly unique way, where the wrapping itself, instead of being thrown away is turned into a bag.

Furoshiki is the ultimate environmentally friendly, waste eliminating solution to the modern throw-away culture, known in Japan as ‘Motainai’ I will show you how Furoshiki,can bring Art into your daily life and make a huge difference to the environment around us.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

None needed.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course you will have:

• Aim 1 The idea of Motainai – which translates as ‘a waste to throw away’
• Aim 2 Be able to tie a knot
• Aim 3 create a teardrop bag from a square metre of cloth
• Aim 4 introduce the idea of using cloth to wrap gift
• Aim 5 2 different ways to wrap a gift using furoshiki

For the first session you will need to bring….

Please bring a couple of small boxes, about the size of a small to medium gift box (about the size of a Christmas box of Biscuits) The tins or containers can be square, rectangle or round and if you don’t have a tin, you can bring tuperware containers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION  

Techniques and skills will be taught aimed at preparing the learner to play any style of guitar music. The guitar beginners course will provide an introduction to reading music and tablature, tuning and replacing strings, playing techniques and building up a repertoire of songs, chord progressions and guitar riffs.

OUTCOMES OF THE COURSE:

By the end of the course the learner will be able to:

Play chord and riffs to well-known songs, read written music and tablature, perform strumming, finger picking and plectrum techniques, play scales with a mind to improvise, replace strings and tune the guitar, recognise music terms and symbols.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE NEEDED:

None

EXTRA COSTS ON THE COURSE FOR EXAMPLE TEXT BOOK, MATERIALS OR EQUIPMENT:

The Guitarist’s Way Book 1 by Peter Nuttall and John Whitworth, Holley Music, approximate cost £6.00

FOR THE FIRST SESSION YOU WILL NEED:

One working guitar of any kind, (nylon string, steel string or electric) and The Guitarist’s Way Book 1

ON COMPLETION OF THIS COURSE, WHAT MIGHT YOUR NEXT STEPS BE:

Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sunday’s, you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.

Brief Description:

Egypt has always fascinated all who have studied it. However, it can be hard to grasp the vast distances in time.
Ancient Egyptian civilization lasted 3,000 years, longer than any other on the planet. When the young pharaoh Tutankhamen ruled Egypt, the pyramids of Giza had already been standing well over 1,000 years. When Cleopatra came to power, Tutankhamen had been in his tomb more than 1,000 years.
In this course, you chronologically survey the full 3,000 years of recorded ancient Egyptian history.
*The Old Kingdom saw the beginnings of nationhood for Egypt under one supreme ruler, the pharaoh. During this time, the pyramids were built and the rules of Egyptian art were established that would govern for 3,000 years.
*The Middle Kingdom, a period of stabilizing after the Old Kingdom collapsed, saw a nation fighting to regain its greatness.
*The New Kingdom, the glamour period of ancient Egypt, was when all the stars—Hatshepsut, Tutankhamen, Ramses the Great, Cleopatra, and others—appeared.
Join us as we take our journey to the dawn of civilisation and to the magic that is Ancient Egypt.

Method of Payment:

Fees are to be paid on enrolment. Places cannot be reserved without receipt of payment.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

No previous knowledge is needed just a keen interest in history.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to:

• Understand the timeline of Egypt more clearly
• Have a brief knowledge of how to read hieroglyphics
• Understand the different approaches to history
• Gain confidence
• Understand more about the collections in the Cambridge museums
• Identify certain objects and places associated with Egypt.

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

No extra costs

For the first session you will need to bring:

A pen and notebook if you wish.

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

You might want to try a more advanced course in history building on the skills gain in this course.

This funded 10 hour online course on the menopause is perfect for adults to attend from the comfort of their own home.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:

Managing wellness in menopause is paramount. This subject area isn’t discussed enough and we want to change that!

Menopause has become a more significant issue as there are now more women over 50 years old in the workplace than ever before. Businesses have recognised the many positive benefits of supporting women at this stage of life.

This informative course will give learners the opportunity to discuss and share their experiences and symptoms with other like minded people. The aim of this course is to equip learners with knowledge, confidence and tips that will enable them to understand and cope with the menopause better. Feel empowered to maximise your wellbeing.

This course would be suitable for all who want to know more about the menopausal journey; Women experiencing perimenopause symptoms or going through the menopause and/or partners, families or friends wishing to support their loved one.

Please note: This course is delivered online; you must be able to join in with ‘Google Meet’ or ‘Google classroom’ at the time the course takes place. You will need a device to access the lessons and WIFI.

This course is funded by Cambridgeshire Skills, so full attendance is required; you will also need to complete an enrolment form so that the office can apply for the funding and complete an online individual learning plan weekly with your tutor.

This course is fully funded if:
You are over 19 years old
You live within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough combined authority
and have lived in the UK / an EEA country for the last 3 years.

Contact the office if you would like to confirm your eligibility.

If  you do not qualify for funding but would still like to attend contact the office for a price.

OUTCOMES OF THE COURSE:

On completion of this course you will have:

·         An understanding of what is happening to your body and emotions at menopause

·         Practical tips for self-care at menopause through your nutrition and lifestyle.

·         Knowledge of options for treatment

·         Confidence to speak to medical professionals to advocate for what you want.

·         A plan for taking action to manage your symptoms.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE NEEDED:

None.

EXTRA COSTS ON THE COURSE FOR EXAMPLE TEXT BOOK, MATERIALS OR EQUIPMENT:

None.

FOR THE FIRST SESSION YOU WILL NEED:

Note taking equipment. You will also need to have a laptop/computer/tablet with good internet connection.

ON COMPLETION OF THIS COURSE, WHAT MIGHT YOUR NEXT STEPS BE?

Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sunday’s , you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.

Brief Description:

Have you ever watched a Horizon program about physics and scratched your head or looked at a students GCSE text book and not understood any of it? If this is the case then this short physics course is for you. No difficult equations or math’s just a relaxed approach to some of the basics of physics. So, sit back and relax.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

No pervious knowledge required

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, you will have:
Topics covered forces, atoms, motion, heat, space.
Gained confidence
Made new friends

For the first session you will need to bring….

Just your curiosity

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

The tutor will advise you.
Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sunday’s , you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.

Brief Description

Writing life stories is about capturing personal experiences in a way that can be understood and enjoyed by others. Everyone has a story to tell because every one of us has lived a life unique to us. Some people want to set down their journey through life to pass on to children or grandchildren whilst others may want to write an account of their family history. Perhaps you have a diary written by a relative or letters or recordings of the stories told down through the generations that you would like to pull together in a way that can give others a glimpse into what it might’ve been like to be that person. Writing life stories always starts with the desire to explore what the intensely personal experience of living might be like from someone else’s perspective and sharing in that perspective can enrich our own lives. 

Our recent personal and community experience of the COVID pandemic has led many of us to want to capture what we and others have been through in a way that means our memories of it can be revisited and never be forgotten. Memories that are shared remain relevant, teach us something about the past and present and, most importantly of all, are not lost as time moves on and the world changes around us. 

So if you want to share memories of a loved one or tell your story to others or spark new interest in the experiences of a family member from the past, a short course of Writing Life Stories will lead you through how to go about getting started. If you know the skills required and the various ways of tackling and presenting a life story project your enjoyment of writing one will be enhanced, and the finished result will be something others will want to read. 

This course is funded by Cambridgeshire Skills, so full attendance is required; you will also need to complete an enrolment form so that the office can apply for the funding and complete an individual learning plan weekly with your tutor.

This course is fully funded if:
You are over 19 years old
You live within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough combined authority
and have lived in the UK / an EEA country for the last 3 years.

Contact the office if you would like to confirm your eligibility.

If you do not qualify for funding but would still like to attend contact the office for a price.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

None.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to:

• Identify the different ways a life story can be told.
• Recognise what makes a life story interesting and compelling.
• Formulate a plan to organise material and any necessary research.
• Write a short piece of memoir.

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

None

For the first session you will need to bring:

Paper and pen/pencil.

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

Writing Short Stories
Flash Fiction workshop
Next Steps in Creative Writing.
The Adult Learn and Train office is able to give course information or search for alternative courses for you.

Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sunday’s , you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.