Online (Zoom)   

In this 8-week course, we will continue to explore the wonderful medium of watercolor painting! Through warm-up exercises designed to refine your value studies, we will focus on composition planning before you start painting. This will help ensure you start with a successful design...and painting! Each class, we will work with a photograph that needs some compositional editing. By practicing thumbnail sketching and quick small value studies, we will pre-plan for larger and more successful colorful paintings. This course assumes that you have had some watercolor painting and drawing practice. You are encouraged to paint from your own reference photographs or set up a still life in front of you from which to paint. This course is taught entirely online through the Zoom platform. 

“A small man can be just as exhausted as a great man.” —Linda, Death of a Salesman 

Aristotle’s Poetics suggests that tragedy is most powerful when it depicts a person of stature falling from prosperity into suffering—think Othello, Hamlet, or Oedipus. Arthur Miller’s modern drama challenges this inherited model, turning instead to the tragedy of the ordinary man: a failing door-to-door salesman who dreams of being well-liked while struggling to like himself. In this course, we’ll read Miller’s Death of a Salesman and All My Sons, asking what tragedy looks like when its hero is not a king, prince, or general, but a father, husband, worker, and dreamer. Prior to the first class, please obtain copies of both plays and read Act I of Death of a Salesman. 

Planning a trip to Japan or simply curious about the language? It’s never too late to start learning Japanese. This class is designed for absolute beginners and lifelong learners. You will learn greetings, essential vocabulary and useful phrases for travel-related conversations. Each lesson also introduces Japanese culture through customs, etiquette, and seasonal traditions.  Through fun, engaging activities, you will build confidence in speaking in a relaxed, supportive environment. By the end of the course, you will be able to communicate in simple Japanese and deepen your understanding of Japanese culture.  

American Roots Music series and is appropriate for both new and returning students. From the popular press to concert promotional materials to Grammy Awards categories, terms like “roots,” “Americana,” “folk,” “traditional,” and “bluegrass” are often thrown around with little distinction or context, yet these words carry specific meanings, histories, and legacies. In this course, we will study the genres of American roots music both as commercial categories and culturally specific musical practices. We’ll begin by examining how these terms have been used and applied to specific genres at different points in their development. As the course progresses, we’ll move beyond identifying what makes each genre unique to uncover the many ways they connect. 

Many of the most powerful and enduring stories about historical presidents are more myth than fact. That includes famous legends like George Washington chopping down a cherry tree and William Howard Taft getting stuck in a bathtub, as well as lesser-known stories like John Quincy Adams’s pet alligator and Andrew Jackson’s battle against the Bell Witch of Tennessee. In this course, we will explore the real stories behind these myths—where they came from, how they spread, and why they hold such a special place in the public consciousness. 

In this class, I will present different paintings, documents and photographs during the colonial rule in India and how and why that rule lead to Indian partition which created three major countries. 

This five week course provides an introduction to all aspects of current knowledge of Autism Spectrum Disorders: from its history to current information and perspectives, including interventions, schooling and behavior management. 

Economics plays a central role in the functioning of every aspect of society. This course addresses a set of prominent policy issues where economics is at their core. We will explore their origins as policy matters, the underlying data and evidence, and what policy levers are available to deal with them. Lectures will be standalone, taught by a subject matter expert – all of whom have a Ph.D. in Economics. Potential topics include Climate Change, Healthcare Economics, Social Security, and many more. The topics presented will be determined by what is most topical at the time of the course.  No reading is required prior to the lectures. 

This course is meant to be a movement class generated to the folks in the room. While we might take adapted ballet techniques, we're not rigid on meeting certain techniques. Instead, we focus on the physical/social/emotional wellness of the students in the virtual room. We believe that movement can be generated anywhere (like our homes or wherever you're calling from) while building community in virtual space (to show we can still build connection in virtual formats). This course is designed to get us in tune and connected to our bodies, develop a deeper sense of physicality, and enjoy joyful movement. Creative Movement will be a safe and inviting space to try new things and explore new forms of dance. Course Note: Since this course seeks to accommodate all participants, it is essential that students make it possible for the instructor to provide feedback. It is useful for participants to leave their Zoom camera on so the instructor can most effectively guide and encourage participants.  

Course Note: Since this course seeks to accommodate all participants, it is essential that students make it possible for the instructor to provide feedback. It is useful for participants to leave their Zoom camera on so the instructor can most effectively guide and encourage participants. 

 

In this 11th Exploring Longevity series, we will continue to explore human posture, an evolutionary miracle that enabled our species to evolve from quadrupedalism to bipedalism. We will explore how the S-shaped spine and upright posture have distinguished humans from other primates during our prolonged history of evolution. We will also examine how human posture, embedded in our social, cultural, and technological evolution, has played a critical role in our longevity and quality of independent living. This course has been enriched by the shared wisdom and insights from our participants’ lived experiences. 

This film appreciation course offers a brief but in-depth ZOOM dive into four movies by America's favorite French director. Each week participants will view one Truffaut movie at home to prepare for discussion and detailed analysis of that film in class. Note: This course is not a repeat of Bernie’s previous film courses. Requirements: (1) Participants commit to 1 weekly online movie-viewing at home: on TV, pc, or tablet/laptop. (2) Must have Access to the Criterion Channel, Amazon Prime and Kanopy video streaming service (via Boston Public Library or another library e-card). Most films are free, some rentals (less than $20). 

Have you ever felt stuck in old routines, habits, or ways of thinking? The good news is that lasting change often begins with small steps. In this uplifting class, we'll explore why we get stuck, how our thoughts shape our experience, and simple ways to create positive change. We'll discuss resilience, neuroplasticity, reinvention, and the power of opening ourselves to new possibilities at any age. Join us for reflection, discussion, and practical tools to help you move forward with greater hope, confidence, and curiosity. 

This five-week course explores the underlying causes, evolving dynamics, and possible resolutions of major global political conflicts in the modern era. Through interdisciplinary perspectives drawn from political science, history, sociology, and international relations, the course examines how power, ideology, identity, and resource competition shape conflicts across regions. Participants will engage with classical theories of conflict and peace, study contemporary case studies, and discuss realistic pathways toward sustainable resolution and global cooperation. 

A recent issue of the Hedgehog Review (tagline: Critical Reflections on Contemporary Culture) explores the meaning of character and the causes and consequences of its apparent decline in today's world.  Drawing on the works of thinkers as diverse as Aristotle, Nietzsche, Emily Dickinson and Samuel Beckett, the readings explore our current moral climate and speculate on its future trajectory, providing us with food for thought and some new perspectives.  We will read from the Spring 2024 issue of the Hedgehog Review, titled "Missing Character," available for $14 from https://hedgehogreview.com/order. 

Some trials do not end simply with their verdict. They have a power that echoes throughout history. They have shaped and transformed the social, political and legal landscape. These trials deserve the description “Great” because they serve as enduring lessons for us all on such issues as social justice, race, abuse of power, and injustice. We will examine the Boston Massacre trials, the criminal minds in the Leopold and Loeb murders, the haunting Lindbergh baby kidnapping tragedy, the Lincoln assassination conspirators’ trial, and the Lizzie Borden case.  Class Note: This course will feature new cases and is not a repeat from the one offered Spring 2026.

Amidst enormous social upheaval after the murder of George Floyd in 2020, Isabel Wilkerson published her book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. In it, Wilkerson drew connections between racism in America and the caste system of India (as well as the ideology of Nazi Germany). Is the caste system the same as racial discrimination? Is there a caste system in the U.S.? What can the experiences of millions of marginalized caste people in India and the U.S. teach us about inequality, identity, and justice? In this course we will discuss these questions guided both by Wilkerson’s book as well as the experiences of instructor Mahesh Admankar, a member both of an oppressed caste in India as well as a person of color in the United States. Course Note: This class was taught in Fall 2025 and has been updated with new material and content. Purchasing and reading Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents is not required for this course. Readings will be provided by the instructor. 

Everyone has a story to tell! This workshop is designed to give you the space to write about your life, share your legacy. Whether you want to capture your family history for your grandchildren or write about an event that occurred in your life, all stories are valid and welcome. Memoir writing can be healing and magical. When a story persists in your consciousness, it is demanding to be told. You are the best person to tell it. You’re the expert – you lived it. No writing experience is needed. This is a safe zone where you won’t be judged for the content of the story or the writing! You’ll hear where your writing resonates with us, your audience. What to expect? In each session, we will read a brief memoir piece, write for about 20 minutes from a prompt or whatever pops into your head, and finally, read our stories aloud. No one is obligated to share their work, but it's a good way to quiet your inner critic.  

This class is for anyone interested in learning how to draw from life and from reference photos using both pencil and colored pencil. Students will learn some color theory in order to understand layering techniques with their colored pencils. This course will focus on observational drawing in order to capture form and space using simple still life objects for inspiration. Additionally, students may choose to draw from their own reference photos or still life, particularly if they have had prior drawing experience. All levels are welcome. This course is taught entirely online through the Zoom platform. 

This course covers the topic of psychological trauma and how it affects people, from some trauma-related disorders to the ways in which it helps people grow. It first covers the different types of trauma and the ways that it can manifest, including its classic definitions to contemporary understandings. Then, the course will cover some trauma-related psychological disorders and the best ways that people with trauma histories can be supported in mental health care. The course then considers how people can make meaning, find hope, and flourish after experiencing trauma. 

Are you ready to put AI to work as your project assistant? If you are curious to learn more about what ChatGPT and other AI tools can really do, there’s no substitute for personal experience. With long-time AI user Scott Guthery as your guide, this course will be a hands-on AI workshop for people who want to accomplish a specific objective. No AI experience is required. All you need to bring to the first meeting is a description of what you want to work on during the four-week workshop. This can be planning a vacation, learning about your neighborhood, writing a children's book, starting a business, or anything else that your smart, tireless assistant can help you with. From week to week, you will practice writing ChatGPT prompts that produce the most helpful results, discuss your results with other participants, and explore some of the advanced features that AI has to offer. 

Rediscover Shakespeare as we take a deep dive into Julius Caesar and Twelfth Night. For each play, outside of class, participants will be expected to read the play and view a selected film version. The texts we will use are the Folger Shakespeare Library editions (under $10 apiece and/or available for free download from the Folger Shakespeare Library). However, any editions of the plays are acceptable. Both required films are available for rent, but they may be viewed for free on Zoom (courtesy of the OLLI office). In class we will discuss the plays in the contexts of Shakespeare’s life and times as well as the historical periods of the plays, with reference to major critical research. Our goal is a rich appreciation of Shakespeare’s work. 

Do you want to learn about the history of South Asia—a region rich in diversity, culture, art, and political history? This four-day introductory course explores South Asian societies through film, media, and visual arts. Students will examine how history, identity, religion, gender, migration, and social change are represented across the region. Students will gain a deeper understanding of South Asian cultures and histories while sharing their own perspectives in an interactive learning environment. 

The Black Plague, also known as the Bubonic Plague or Black Death, brought an apocalyptic sickness to Europe, never experienced, that those who lived it believed death itself had touched down on Earth. For our course, we will be diving into what it took to survive and what life was like for the survivors. Touching upon themes of medicine and politics, deciding whether surviving was based on random pure luck or something more. We will also be discussing the community and mental consequences, how were the survivors able to move forward and rebuild. 

This six-week seminar examines the 2026 U.S. midterm elections through the lens of presidential power, institutional dynamics, and democratic norms. Using the presidency of Donald Trump as a central case study, the course provides a structured, non-partisan space to explore current events, historical precedent, and competing interpretations of American political life. This course will rely in part on OLLI students actively participating by bringing a weekly question or topic based on a news article or other media they have encountered. Zoom breakout rooms will be used for small group discussions. Understanding a pivotal election through history, institutions, and informed dialogue is our aim. 

What makes the Great Gatsby so compelling? Published in 1925 and written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby is a treasure chest of characters, observations, and wonder. What does it say about the American Dream? Romantic love? The past? Wealth? Class? Most of all, how does Fitzgerald's stunning language affect us? We will read a portion of the book each week. Please do not read ahead! 

Have you ever felt guided by a dream, a coincidence, an animal symbol, or a deep inner knowing you couldn’t quite explain? In this reflective and experiential class, we will explore the idea of spirit guides and invisible helpers through meditation, symbolism, intuition, synchronicity, and guided imagery. Together, we’ll explore how guidance may appear through nature, dreams, signs, emotions, and meaningful moments in everyday life. This class includes slides, videos, guided experiences, journaling, and group discussion designed to encourage curiosity, imagination, and deeper connection to your own inner wisdom. Whether viewed spiritually, symbolically, or intuitively, this class offers a gentle and open-minded space for exploration and reflection. 

Chiang Yee wrote and illustrated this charming book in 1959. Chiang Yee has a vibrant, whimsical, humorous voice which transcends time. For those of us who love the area it is all here: the Boston Common, Beacon Hill, Fenway, Charles River, Salem, Rockport, the Cape and Islands, to name a few. Yee included 16 full color paintings, 60 black and white drawings, and 20 of his poems. What better way to celebrate our 250th than to toast Boston, its surrounding neighborhoods and towns, its history and people, than to share this unique book together? We will read and discuss a portion of the book each week. Please do not read ahead. You can find the 1959 version in a library or purchase a copy from Amazon or eBay for about $8-12.  You can also find it on Internet Archive which allows you to read for free online: https://archive.org/details/silenttravelleri0000chia_u2e8/mode/2up  Long out of print, it was recently republished in 2017 in paperback.  

Artists let us see the world through their eyes, transporting us through time and space. Throughout history, art has been used to record our daily lives, share our connections with people and our environment, and to visualize what we cannot see—such as the spiritual realm. Session topics will include: Andrew Wyeth’s expressive watercolors of the people and places that surrounded him in rural Pennsylvania and Maine in the special exhibition Spectacular Freedom: Andrew Wyeth and the Modern American Watercolor; how medieval Koreans envisioned the world beyond death in the special exhibition Ten Kings of Hell: The Afterlife in Medieval Korea; as well as various examples across the museum’s exhibitions and permanent collections.  

This class is for anyone interested in learning the wonderful medium of watercolor painting! At the beginning of each class, the instructor will present a specific technique or concept. Topics of exploration include value studies, color theory, still life, composition, and landscape painting. Students will have the choice of painting from reference photos (provided by the instructor) or from their own photographs or still life set-ups. Students with prior experience will have opportunities for additional challenges. Some prior experience is helpful, but students new to watercolor are always welcome. This course is taught entirely online through the Zoom platform. 

Conspiracy theories often emerge during times of uncertainty, or fear when people seek simple explanations for complex problems. While some conspiracies proved to be true, most conspiracy theories rely on weak evidence, selective reasoning, or misinformation spread through media and social networks. Studying conspiracy theories is important because they influence politics, public health, and social trust. For example, conspiracy beliefs about vaccines or elections can shape public behavior and create divisions within societies. This course, therefore, explores what conspiracy theories are, why they deserve critical study, and how they can be identified and evaluated. 

As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence, this class builds on students’ interest in art and history to explore important moments of Haitian history that intersect with American history.  A curated selection of artworks (by Haitian and non-Haitian artists) will be featured for active discussions.  At least one class will be hybrid, with students attending either online or onsite at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, to discuss a Haitian painting.  Classes are expected to be engaging and interactive, and students can also submit artworks relevant to the topic for interpretation. No formal background in art or Haitian history is required. 

Join the ultimate dance-fitness party that beats a boring exercise workout any day!  Zumba (r) Gold is part of the popular Zumba (r) dance-based fitness program, and is specifically designed for active older adults.  The class includes the same wide variety of Latin and Other International rhythms, but without any high-impact moves.  It's not a dance class, though, so there are no right or wrong moves.  Stand.. sit in a chair... alternate between the two.  Just let the music move you! Wear workout clothes and sneakers, and be sure to hydrate. 

This course explores why women’s participation in the workforce continues to differ across industries, income levels, and stages of life. We will discuss major barriers women face, including childcare costs, workplace expectations, gender norms, and the motherhood penalty. The course will also examine strategies that support women’s career advancement, policies that reduce inequality, and how technology and changing work environments may shape the future of women’s employment. Through real-world examples, research findings, and discussion, participants will gain a deeper understanding of women’s economic experiences and the challenges and opportunities ahead. 

Everyone has a story, and journaling can be a powerful way to make sense of your thoughts and experiences. We will explore different approaches, from structured prompts to more open-ended reflection. You don’t need to be a “good writer” or have a current journaling practice. Each session will include time to write and optional opportunities to share. This course is ideal for anyone looking to better understand themselves or someone who is curious about what journaling is all about! 

What secrets and stories are hidden in song lyrics? What about songs which call back sharp memories? Songs offer gifts of comfort, inspiration, and amusement. In this writing workshop we will study a variety of song lyrics and use their lines and images as a starting point for creative writing.  Give yourself the gift of time to consider lyrics as a path into your own writing. Through writing prompts and writing sessions, your imagination will be invited to the page. Participants will be encouraged to share their work and offer positive comments to others. Prior creative writing experience is not necessary. Please come ready to write, please keep camera on during sharing and prompts to encourage our special community.