Enjoy talking with other people about the things you have read? Want to share great stories, poems and drama? Come along and join the conversation. The group is inspired by shared reading practice, in which texts are read aloud and discussed together.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
The shared reading group isn’t really a course at all. It is a group that meets weekly to read together and talk – sharing thoughts and experiences and making connections – with the texts and with the wider world.
Fees for this Get Together and Read course are set at more inclusive, lower than standard rates; senior and concessionary rates also apply.
What will we cover?
We will read a wide range of literary texts out loud together, focusing mainly on short stories and poetry. Material will be provided for reading every week.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Coming to the group will enable you to: • Read and listen to a wide range of literature with others • Share responses to and thoughts about what you read together • Begin to make new connections with the texts you read.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
You will need to be able to read and understand texts written in (or translated into) English. You will need to be willing to listen to the thoughts, opinions and personal responses of other people in the group, which may differ from your own.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The group is inspired by shared reading practice. Sessions will consist of texts being read out loud in sections by the facilitator and other group members (although volunteering to read isn't compulsory and you are free simply to listen if you prefer). Reading will be interspersed with conversation about the texts, exploring your thoughts about and responses to them. All texts will be read out loud, in full, during the sessions: no additional reading or other work is required.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
There are no other costs. You don’t need to bring anything, although you might want to have a pencil handy, in case you want to jot your thoughts down or mark passages in the text as we are reading. All reading materials will be provided.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Look for other Literature courses in our Literature programme under History, Culture and Humanities/Literature on our website at www.citylit.ac.uk/courses.
Claire Allen is a published author of fiction and poetry and teaches literature and creative writing at City Lit. Her first two novels, The Mountain of Light and Protection, were published by Headline Review in 2004 and 2006. Her most recent novel, The Blackbird, was published by small independent publisher Henningham Family Press in 2020.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/get-together-and-read146620Get together and readhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/g/e/get-together-and-read-hlt137-1080.jpg149149GBPInStock/Courses/Free courses/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Fiction/Courses/vm/Courses to do with friends17442285117711871188164712285117711871653Enjoy talking with other people about the things you have read? Want to share great stories, poems and drama? Come along and join the conversation. The group is led by a shared reading practitioner trained by The Reader Organisation. <br />
<i>This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.</i> If this course is showing as FULL, we encourage you to join the waiting list using the right-hand menu. <br />
<br />
The shared reading group isn’t really a course at all. It is a group that meets weekly to read together and talk – sharing thoughts and experiences and making connections – with the texts and with the wider world. <br />
<br />
This is a live online course. You will need:<br />
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.<br />
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.<br />
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.<br />
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.74.92744780Get together and read149149https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/g/e/get-together-and-read-hlt137-1080_18.jpgInStockDaytimeThuKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-04-30T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allApr 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHLT163149149Get together and read11975149Claire Allenget-together-and-read/hlt163-2526<p>Enjoy talking with other people about the things you have read? Want to share great stories, poems and drama? Come along and join the conversation. The group is inspired by shared reading practice, in which texts are read aloud and discussed together.</p>0000-Available|2026-04-30 00:00:00<p>The shared reading group isn’t really a course at all. It is a group that meets weekly to read together and talk –<br/>sharing thoughts and experiences and making connections – with the texts and with the wider world.<br/><br/>Fees for this Get Together and Read course are set at more inclusive, lower than standard rates; senior and concessionary rates also apply.<br/> </p><p>Enjoy talking with other people about the things you have read? Want to share great stories, poems and drama? Come along and join the conversation. The group is inspired by shared reading practice, in which texts are read aloud and discussed together.</p><p>We will read a wide range of literary texts out loud together, focusing mainly on short stories and poetry. Material will be provided for reading every week.</p><p>Coming to the group will enable you to:<br/>• Read and listen to a wide range of literature with others<br/>• Share responses to and thoughts about what you read together<br/>• Begin to make new connections with the texts you read.</p><p>You will need to be able to read and understand texts written in (or translated into) English. You will need to be willing to listen to the thoughts, opinions and personal responses of other people in the group, which may differ from your own.</p><p>The group is inspired by shared reading practice. Sessions will consist of texts being read out loud in sections by the facilitator and other group members (although volunteering to read isn't compulsory and you are free simply to listen if you prefer). Reading will be interspersed with conversation about the texts, exploring your thoughts about and responses to them. All texts will be read out loud, in full, during the sessions: no additional reading or other work is required.</p><p>There are no other costs. You don’t need to bring anything, although you might want to have a pencil handy, in case you want to jot your thoughts down or mark passages in the text as we are reading. All reading materials will be provided.</p><p>Look for other Literature courses in our Literature programme under History, Culture and Humanities/Literature on our website at www.citylit.ac.uk/courses.</p>LiteratureFictionvirtual3037600Get together and read159159https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/g/e/get-together-and-read-hlt137-1080_19.jpgInStockDaytimeThuKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-09-24T00:00:00+00:00BeginnersSep 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHLT137159159Get together and read12780159Claire Allenget-together-and-read/hlt137-2627<p>Enjoy talking with other people about the things you have read? Want to share great stories, poems and drama? Come along and join the conversation.</p>0000-Available|2026-09-24 00:00:00<p>The shared reading group isn’t really a course at all. It is a group that meets weekly to read together and talk - sharing thoughts and experiences and making connections - with the texts and with the wider world.</p><p>Enjoy talking with other people about the things you have read? Want to share great stories, poems and drama? Come along and join the conversation.</p><p>We will read a wide range of literary texts out loud together, focusing mainly on short stories and poetry. Material will be provided for reading every week.<br><br>NB: There will be no class on 22 October 2026.</p><p>Coming to the group will enable you to:<br>• Read and listen to a wide range of literature with others<br>• Share responses to and thoughts about what you read together<br>• Begin to make new connections with the texts you read.</p><p>You will need to be able to read and understand texts written in (or translated into) English. You will need to be willing to listen to the thoughts, opinions and personal responses of other people in the group, which may differ from your own.</p><p>The group is inspired by shared reading practice. Sessions will consist of texts being read out loud in sections by the facilitator and other group members (although volunteering to read isn't compulsory and you are free simply to listen if you prefer). Reading will be interspersed with conversation about the texts, exploring your thoughts about and responses to them. All texts will be read out loud, in full, during the sessions: no additional reading or other work is required.</p><p></p><p>There are no other costs. You don’t need to bring anything, although you might want to have a pencil handy, in case you want to jot your thoughts down or mark passages in the text as we are reading. All reading materials will be provided.</p><p>Look for other Get Together and Read courses offered in terms two (HLT178) and three (HLT163) that are run by the same tutor. Please see further literature courses under Culture, History and Humanities at www.citylit.ac.uk.</p>LiteratureFictionvirtual119,127149,15975,80HLT163,HLT137NONEThu30/04/26 - 02/07/2612:45 - 14:4512:4514:459 sessions (over 10 weeks)95-10 weeksWeekdayKSKeeley StreetClaire AllenBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for all,BeginnersAvailable courses2026-04-30T00:00:00+00:00,2026-09-24T00:00:00+00:00DaytimeApr 2026,Sep 2026Culture, history & humanities149149,159Get together and readget-together-and-read/hlt163-2526,get-together-and-read/hlt137-2627<p>Enjoy talking with other people about the things you have read? Want to share great stories, poems and drama? Come along and join the conversation. The group is inspired by shared reading practice, in which texts are read aloud and discussed together.</p>,<p>Enjoy talking with other people about the things you have read? Want to share great stories, poems and drama? Come along and join the conversation.</p>0000-Available|2026-04-30 00:00:00<p>The shared reading group isn’t really a course at all. It is a group that meets weekly to read together and talk –<br/>sharing thoughts and experiences and making connections – with the texts and with the wider world.<br/><br/>Fees for this Get Together and Read course are set at more inclusive, lower than standard rates; senior and concessionary rates also apply.<br/> </p>,<p>The shared reading group isn’t really a course at all. It is a group that meets weekly to read together and talk - sharing thoughts and experiences and making connections - with the texts and with the wider world.</p><p>Enjoy talking with other people about the things you have read? Want to share great stories, poems and drama? Come along and join the conversation. The group is inspired by shared reading practice, in which texts are read aloud and discussed together.</p>,<p>Enjoy talking with other people about the things you have read? Want to share great stories, poems and drama? Come along and join the conversation.</p><p>We will read a wide range of literary texts out loud together, focusing mainly on short stories and poetry. Material will be provided for reading every week.</p>,<p>We will read a wide range of literary texts out loud together, focusing mainly on short stories and poetry. Material will be provided for reading every week.<br><br>NB: There will be no class on 22 October 2026.</p><p>Coming to the group will enable you to:<br/>• Read and listen to a wide range of literature with others<br/>• Share responses to and thoughts about what you read together<br/>• Begin to make new connections with the texts you read.</p>,<p>Coming to the group will enable you to:<br>• Read and listen to a wide range of literature with others<br>• Share responses to and thoughts about what you read together<br>• Begin to make new connections with the texts you read.</p><p>You will need to be able to read and understand texts written in (or translated into) English. You will need to be willing to listen to the thoughts, opinions and personal responses of other people in the group, which may differ from your own.</p><p>The group is inspired by shared reading practice. Sessions will consist of texts being read out loud in sections by the facilitator and other group members (although volunteering to read isn't compulsory and you are free simply to listen if you prefer). Reading will be interspersed with conversation about the texts, exploring your thoughts about and responses to them. All texts will be read out loud, in full, during the sessions: no additional reading or other work is required.</p>,<p>The group is inspired by shared reading practice. Sessions will consist of texts being read out loud in sections by the facilitator and other group members (although volunteering to read isn't compulsory and you are free simply to listen if you prefer). Reading will be interspersed with conversation about the texts, exploring your thoughts about and responses to them. All texts will be read out loud, in full, during the sessions: no additional reading or other work is required.</p><p></p><p>There are no other costs. You don’t need to bring anything, although you might want to have a pencil handy, in case you want to jot your thoughts down or mark passages in the text as we are reading. All reading materials will be provided.</p><p>Look for other Literature courses in our Literature programme under History, Culture and Humanities/Literature on our website at www.citylit.ac.uk/courses.</p>,<p>Look for other Get Together and Read courses offered in terms two (HLT178) and three (HLT163) that are run by the same tutor. Please see further literature courses under Culture, History and Humanities at www.citylit.ac.uk.</p>LiteratureFictionconfigurable
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