Personal Enrichment

At a Glance

Join LLCC Community Education for non-credit classes, workshops, events and travel!

In addition to courses in the below topics, Community Education offers culinaryyouth and travel programs.

Community Education classes are open for enrollment. Students are strongly encouraged to register early (at least one week in advance of class start date) to secure their seat as many classes fill quickly. Classes may be cancelled due to insufficient enrollment so your early registration can make the difference. To report a class absence, please call 217-786-2432 or Community.Education@llcc.edu.

Call 217-786-2292 to register for Community Education classes. 

More Registration Info

Spring classes coming soon.

Spring 2024

Beginner Watercolor Workshop

This one-day workshop will cover a short intro to the basics of watercolor painting and explore many of its varied techniques and approaches. Plan to bring a sack lunch! After registering, please contact the instructor via email for a list of supplies to bring.

  • Instructor: Carolyn Owen Sommer
  • Date: Sat., Feb. 10, 2024
  • Time: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
  • Location: Trutter Center, Room 1116
  • Ages: 19 and over
  • Cost: $55
  • Course code: CEW 103-05

Intro to Italic Caligraphy

Made simple and easy in this basic hands-on workshop, learn to use the tools of calligraphy and practice a basic italic style. Supply fee of $20 payable to instructor.

  • Instructor: Steve Ingerson
  • Date: Tue., March 19-May 7, 2024. No class will be held on Tues., March 26.
  • Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
  • Location: Millennium Center, Room 2237
  • Ages: 19 and over
  • Cost: $119
  • Course code: CEW 103-01

Mixed Media With Watercolor

Using a watercolor base, create mixed media paintings with stencil, surface alterations and collage. Students should bring mixed media paper and brushes. Collage papers, acrylic medium and additional supplies will be provided. A $5 fee supply is payable to the instructor on the first day of class. 

  • Instructor: Carolyn Owen Sommer
  • Date: Tue., April 2-30, 2024
  • Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m. 
  • Location: Sangamon Hall, Room 2212
  • Ages: 19 and over
  • Cost: $79
  • Course code: CEW 103-04
     

CPR classes are taught by LLCC Emergency Services Programs staff. Certification is through the American Heart Association and covers adult, child and infant CPR in addition to AED usage and choking care for all ages. No first aid or other health care treatment is addressed within the course.

Classes are $60 include course materials, required student manual and CPR card. Registration deadline is one week prior to class date.

All CPR classes take place from 6-10 p.m. in the Trutter Center, room 1116 on the LLCC-Springfield campus unless otherwise noted.


Spring 2024

  • Tue., Feb. 6. Course code CEW 107-02.
  • Wed., Feb. 21. Course code CEW 107-03.
  • Mon., March 4. Course code CEW 107-09.
  • Thu., March 21. Course code CEW 107-04.
  • Tue., April 9. Course Code CEW 107-05.
  • Wed., April 24. Course Code CEW 107-06.
  • Mon., May 6. Course Code CEW 107-07. 
  • Thu., May 16. Course Code CEW 107-08.
     

Spring 2024

Classes coming soon.

Spring 2024

Retirement Planning Today

Retirement Planning Today® is an education course for pre-retirees (50-65) looking for an unbiased and comprehensive perspective on important retirement planning concerns. Topics include Life Planning for Retirement, Retirement Needs and Expenses, Retirement Roadblocks and Mistakes, Retirement Income Sources, Retirement Plan Distributions, Investments, Risk Management and Asset Protection, Estate Planning.

Textbook included. Registration is required and space is limited. Included: illustrated textbook.

*When registering two, the fee for first person is $59 and the second person is $0. Both must register at the same time.

  • Instructor: Mark Kluemke
  • Date: Sat., Jan. 27 & Feb.3, 2024
  • Time: 9 a.m.–noon 
  • Location: Kreher Agriculture Center, Room 1115
  • Ages: 50 and over
  • Cost: $59 for first person, $0 for second person
  • Course code: First person CEW 105-01, second person CEW 105-05

  • Instructor: Mark Kluemke
  • Date: Tue., Jan. 30 & Feb. 6, 2024
  • Time: 6:30–9:30 p.m.  
  • Location: Kreher Agriculture Center, Room 1115
  • Ages: 50 and over
  • Cost: $59 for first person, $0 for second person
  • Course code: First person CEW 105-02, second person CEW 105-06

 

Spring 2024

Intro to Floral Design

Learn floral design techniques in a fun, creative, hands-on course. Make DIY home decorations and explore basic design principles and various design methods. Students will create a minimum of eight different pieces guided by an experienced floral designer. Students should bring one pair of scissors and one pair of clippers/pruners for the purpose of cutting stems, tape, wires. A supply fee of $150 is payable to the instructor on the first day of class which covers the costs of floral foam, floral frogs, wire, clay, wreath forms, containers/vases and fresh flowers for the eight designs.

  • Instructor: Tabitha Becker
  • Date: Wed., Jan. 17-March 6, 2024
  • Time: 5-7 p.m. 
  • Location: Sangamon Hall, Room 2209
  • Ages: 19 and over 
  • Cost: $139
  • Course code: CEW 103-02

Advanced Floral Design

Learn advanced floral design techniques in a fun, creative, hands-on course. Make designs of varying function using elements and principles of design to build on methods covered in Introduction to Floral Design, and explore creative design concepts with emphasis on conceptualization and design execution. Students will create a minimum of eight different advanced designs guided by an experienced floral designer. Students should bring one pair of scissors and one pair of clippers/pruners for the purpose of cutting stems, tape, wires. A supply fee of $150 is payable to the instructor on the first day of class which covers the costs of floral foam, floral frogs, wire, clay, forms, containers/vases and fresh flowers for the eight designs. Prerequisite: Introduction to Floral Design or in-depth knowledge of floral design concepts, elements and principles of design. 

  • Instructor: Tabitha Becker
  • Date: Wed., March 20-May 8, 2024
  • Time: 5-7 p.m.
  • Location: Sangamon Hall, Room 2209
  • Ages: 19 and over 
  • Cost: $139
  • Course code: CEW 103-03

Beginning Bee Keeping

Examine honeybee biology, basic colony management techniques and common problems. Emphasis is on the beekeeper’s first year, covering topics of equipment, colony cycles and honey crop production. Please bring a notebook. A $25 fee will be collected by the instructor for the teaching manual at the first class.

  • Instructor: Fred Gerberding and Dale Brooks
  • Date: Wed., Feb. 28-April 10. 2024. No class will be held on Wed., March 13.
  • Time: 6-8 p.m.
  • Location: Kreher Agriculture Center, Room 1115
  • Ages: 19 and over
  • Cost: $49
  • Course code: CEW 106-01

Spring 2024

American Sign Language Level 2 (ASL)

Students will continue to focus on fingerspelling, numbers, facial grammar and sentence structure. Students will also further develop the conversational and cultural behaviors necessary to hold a beginning level conversation. Challenging examples of Deaf humor will be presented as well as additional cultural information to aid development of awareness and appreciation for the unique language and culture among the Deaf and hard of hearing ASL users. Students should first take ASL 101 as a pre-requisite before enrolling in this class. Textbook is required and may be purchased from the LLCC Bookstore: Learning American Sign Language ISBN: 0-205-27553-2

  • Instructor: Doni Cosby-Stricklen
  • Date: Wed., Feb. 7-May 1, 2024. No class will be held on Wed., March 13.
  • Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
  • Location: Menard Hall, Room 1177
  • Ages: 19 and over
  • Cost: $195
  • Course code: CEW 401-06

Conversational Spanish Level 1

For people with no experience with Spanish, this course is designed to encourage you to start learning the second most spoken language in the U.S. (about 45 million speak it). Starting with the alphabet and numbers, you’ll be exploring what it is like speaking and understanding Spanish from the very beginning of the class. A textbook is required and may be purchased from the LLCC Bookstore: "Get Started in Spanish: Absolute Beginner Course" ISBN: 978-1444174922

  • Instructor: Lara Nelson
  • Date: Mon., Feb. 12-Apr. 8, 2024. No class will be held on Mon., March 11.
  • Time: 7-9 p.m. 
  • Location: Menard Hall, Room 1175
  • Ages: 19 and over 
  • Cost: $139
  • Course code: CEW 401-01

Conversational Spanish Level 3

This course was created for those Spanish learners who already attended Spanish Level 2, or for those who already have an advanced-beginner level of Spanish: knowing to conjugate the present tense of some Spanish regular and irregular verbs; being familiar with the difference between the use of “ser” & “estar.” We will continue using the same book used in Spanish Level 2 (Complete Latin American Spanish), starting with chapter 3. We will do a review of ser & estar on the first day of the course which are the two verbs chapters 1 & 2 cover. In addition to using the book in the class, we’ll be doing web exercises on reading passages and on the grammar issues covered in the book. Although we’ll pay attention to Spanish grammar, the main focus of the course is conversation, as its title suggests. If in doubt as to whether this is the course for you, please contact the Community Education program to speak with the instructor. A textbook is required and may be purchased from the LLCC Bookstore: “Complete Latin American Spanish…” ISBN: 978-1444192643

  • Instructor: Lara Nelson
  • Date: Tue., Feb. 13-Apr. 16, 2024. No class will be held on Tue., March 12 and Tue., March 26.
  • Time: 7-9 p.m. 
  • Location: Menard Hall, Room 1177
  • Ages: 19 and over 
  • Cost: $139
  • Course code: CEW 401-03

Conversational Spanish Level 2

Designed for those with some experience with the Spanish language, class begins with a review of the basics. Using games, role-playing, reading and drills, participants are encouraged to express themselves in Spanish, utilizing structures and vocabulary needed in everyday situations. A textbook is required and may be purchased from the LLCC Bookstore: “Complete Latin American Spanish…” ISBN: 978-1444192643

  • Instructor: Lara Nelson
  • Date: Wed., Feb. 14-Apr. 10, 2024. No class will be held on Wed., March 13.
  • Time: 7-9 p.m. 
  • Location: Menard Hall, Room 1175
  • Ages: 19 and over 
  • Cost: $139
  • Course code: CEW 401-02

Beginning Japanese

In this introductory course students will learn the alphabet (Hiragana and Katakana) and basic grammar. You’ll also be introduced to basic Kanji to get a deeper understanding of the language. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to introduce themselves and ask basic questions in Japanese. No text required.

  • Instructor: Toshi Maeda
  • Date: Mon., March 25-April 29, 2024
  • Time: 7:30-9 p.m. 
  • Location: Montgomery Hall, Room 1142
  • Ages: 19 and over 
  • Cost: $85
  • Course code: CEW 401-05

Beginning French

In this introductory class you will learn the beautiful French language. Students will learn the alphabet, numbers, and basic grammar as well as conversational phrases and skills. Textbook is required and may be purchased from the LLCC Bookstore: “Easy French Step-by-Step” ISBN: 978-0071453875. 

  • Instructor: Audrey Koffi
  • Date: Mon., April 1-May 6, 2024
  • Time: 4-6 p.m. 
  • Location: Montgomery Hall, Room 1142
  • Ages: 19 and over 
  • Cost: $75
  • Course code: CEW 401-04

Spring 2024

Classes coming soon.

Spring classes coming soon. 

 

Spring 2024

Becoming a Professional Photographer

Start making money on your passion! Join Tabitha Bock-Matlock as she takes you through the ins and outs of conducting a business and getting taken seriously. As a professional wedding and studio photographer herself, she will give you the tips, tricks and secrets to marketing yourself as a professional. Please bring a camera or phone.

  • Instructor: Tabitha Bock-Matlock
  • Date: Thu., Feb. 1, 2024
  • Time: 6-8 p.m.
  • Location: Millennium Center, Room 2237
  • Ages: 19 and over
  • Cost: $29
  • Course code: CEW 104-03

Photography for Beginners

Learn the history of where photography came from to where it is now as well as the basic functions of your camera and what each symbol means. Learn the difference between JPEG, RAW and TIFF files in addition to the best ways to capture the images you are wanting. Upon completion of this course, you will leave with the knowledge and understanding of how your own personal camera functions to capture those moments. Please bring your camera with your specific manual.

  • Instructor: Tabitha Bock-Matlock
  • Date: Tue., Feb. 6-March 5, 2024
  • Time: 6-8 p.m.
  • Location: Millennium Center, Room 2237
  • Ages: 19 and over 
  • Cost: $98
  • Course code: CEW 104-05

General Portraiture

Go beyond "Hey get together for a photo!" and get those photos you always wanted. Say goodbye to awkward family photos and hello to framers! In this course, Tabitha will offer tips and tricks to taking photos you will actually want to print. Couple, family and senior portraiture will be covered. Within these units, lighting and technique will also be demonstrated. Please bring your camera.

  • Instructor: Tabith Bock-Matlock
  • Date: Wed., Feb. 7-28, 2024
  • Time: 6-7 p.m.
  • Location: Millennium Center, Room 2237
  • Ages: 19 and over 
  • Cost: $45
  • Course code: CEW 104-04

Photoshop

Review Photoshop's powerful tools and learn techniques such as basic editing, cropping, adjusting colors, converting images to black and white, layering, adding text, specialty tool usage and more! Bring your own laptop with Photoshop installed, or use a computer in our Mac lab. 

  • Instructor: Tabith Bock-Matlock
  • Date: Wed., March 20-April 10, 2024
  • Time: 6-8 p.m.
  • Location: Menard Hall, Room 2226
  • Ages: 19 and over
  • Cost: $119
  • Course code: CEW 104-02

Photography 1: The Camera and the Image

This course is designed to help you get comfortable using your DSLR and mirrorless cameras in the most creative mode, manual. You will learn how to select shutter speeds, apertures and ISOs, achieve proper exposures using the on-board exposure meter, how to use and control depth of field and how to capture motion. But photography is more than just camera operation. It is about the images you capture. This course will also introduce you to image composition, helping you learn to compose and find images that convey emotion. You will also learn how to critique images, objectively evaluating your own work from a class photoshoot and images from other photographers. Lastly, we will spend time learning how light and shadow can be controlled for proper exposure and visual effect. Please bring a camera with an interchangeable lens and the hard copy of the manual for the camera.

  • Instructor: Doug Bergeron
  • Date: Wed., March 27-May 1, 2024
  • Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
  • Location: Millennium Center, Room 2237
  • Ages: 19 and over 
  • Cost: $95
  • Course code: CEW 104-01

Spring 2024

Classes coming soon.