The BSL Level 1 course is an introduction to BSL (British Sign Language) skills. This is designed for individuals who want to acquire basic communication skills in BSL. Level 1 covers vital topics and vocabulary to help learners to communicate in everyday situations with Deaf people. This can be delivered face-to-face or remotely. We recommend face-to-face so you can grasp facial expressions and handshapes better, however, it is still adequate to learn remotely.
In BSL Level 1, you will learn:
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Vocabulary and Phrases – Level 1 includes basic vocabulary of signs and phrases that are used in everyday conversations. Including common greetings, numbers, family members, colours, food and simple questions and answers.
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Grammar and Structure – you will start to understand basic sentence structure and grammatical rules in BSL. For example, word order, facial expressions and non-manual features that convey meaning in sign language.
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Deaf Culture and Awareness – this is to help to understand the culture context of BSL and the Deaf community and how to apply them in real life situations.
Assessments – this is to evaluate the learner’s skills in signing and knowledge.
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Duration – it can take several weeks to a few months to complete, depending on the course and the individual’s learning pace.
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Certification – once completing the BSL Level 1 course, the learner will receive a certificate to validate their skills.
Key Factors
Deaf Culture Insight
Learn basic signs and phrases for everyday conversations
Vocabulary Acquisition
Grasp basic sentence structure and grammatical rules in BSL
Communication Skills
Develop practical skills for expressing basic wants and needs
Deaf Culture Insight
Gain understanding of BSL cultural and Deaf community
BSL Level 1 is the start of learning a new language. There are higher levels, i.e. Level 2, Level 3 and Level 6, which give more advanced language skills and a deeper understanding of BSL. The higher levels cover a wider range of topics which allows the learner to be more engaged in complex conversations and discussions in BSL.
