Languages

There's nothing more satisfying than learning a new language and feeling your vocabulary and confidence grow in a second or third tongue. Maybe you want to learn French from scratch in preparation for a holiday, or perhaps you want to brush up on your English. Maybe you're learning Chinese (Mandarin) with the intention of moving to China or have just taken an interest in Arabic and its rich history. 

Regardless of what has stirred your interest in learning a new language, Alison has a wide range of courses for various levels of learners across a host of languages.

Alison's range of free language courses range from beginner to advanced and conversational to business and can be studied anywhere, at any time. 

Free Language Courses on Alison:

• French: Learn to speak the so-called language of love. French is the official language of 29 countries across 5 continents. 
• English: Alison's free English language courses are designed to make it easy for you to learn the universal language, helping you expand your social circle and give your career a boost.
• Chinese: Being the official language of China and spoken by over 1 billion people worldwide, learning how to speak the language will really broaden your horizons
• Spanish: This free online Spanish course will give you a simple run-through of important Spanish basics.

Gardening

Gardening is the ideal hobby: it gets you outdoors, allows you to be creative, and the end result brings endless enjoyment. The Diploma in Garden Design and Maintenance guides you through the basics of gardening, from the planning stage right through to garden maintenance. Completing this course will enable you to evaluate, plan, purchase, plant, and maintain a garden to suit your property’s natural environment and characteristics.

Literature

Literature offers us the chance to lose ourselves in other worlds and other times. It is a truly limitless hobby. If you're feeling a desire to reach back beyond your favourite books and learn more about the ideas behind the stories, then we have the courses for you. From Aesop's Fables to Virginia Woolf, you can explore the history of great books through our literature courses.

History

The study of history is an endlessly fascinating pastime. By learning what happened in the past, you understand how it brought about the present. From World War One to Brexit, Alison offers history courses that don't just enlighten but that entertain and captivate, too.

Interior Design

Whether you're redecorating your entire house or just redoing your spare room, a solid understanding of interior design is a great life skill to have. The Diploma in Interior Design course provides you with an overview of interior design as a discipline. You'll learn about project planning and the design principles and factors a designer considers when working within a space. The course also teaches you how to employ colour, use surface materials and textures, work with textiles and accessories, source and select furniture, and much more.

Photography

Alison offers a range of photography courses that will help you move past your digital camera’s automatic settings. From beginner classes that can teach you the basics of photography, to training courses that teach more advanced photography concepts such as bracketing, hyperfocal distance, and focal length, we have something for everyone. Our Diploma in Digital Photography is particularly useful if you're thinking of turning your hobby into a profession. 

Baking

Baking, with its exact measurements and precise recipes, can be a calming activity, as well as a delicious one! Baking and Desserts for Beginners will help new bakers understand the fundamental techniques and methods of baking and of preparing desserts. The course breaks down and walks you through various recipes, as well as teaching you about pastry and studying key ingredients like dairy, chocolate and sugar.