Level 1 Award in BSL Studies
This course is designed to give students a basic ability to communicate with Deaf people using BSL in familiar day-to-day environments such as work, school or college, and social occasions.
Learn how to meet & greet, give and understand simple instructions, give directions, discuss the weather. This course includes fingerspelling, meeting and greeting, using numbers, transport methods, discussing interests, family, food and drink, and other everyday vocabulary.
Students will start to learn BSL structure, how to ask questions, grammar and placement.
Why learn BSL Level 1 Award with Dot?
Our Level 1 teachers are committed to delivering stimulating, enjoyable lessons tailored to meet the needs of all students. Extra support is given where needed so everyone has the best possible chance of gaining the qualification.
Every year, we have high pass rates with our Level 1 students, so you know you are in good hands with Dot Sign Language.
If we are unable to meet in person, we will continue to teach online through Zoom until we can.
Course Schedule
BSL Level 1 – Full Signature Level 1 qualification including 3 assessments – BSL101, BSL102 and BSL103.
In addition to teaching hours, you will need to do homework and practice outside of the lessons to get the most out of the course.
Dot Sign Language makes every effort to ensure that courses are run as advertised. However, a course may be cancelled if insufficient students enrol, so please do not delay in signing up!
Course Units
The Signature Level 1 qualification consists of 3 units and an assessment for each unit.
The three units are:
- BSL101 – Introduction to BSL
- BSL102 – Conversational BSL
- BSL103 –Communicate in BSL about Everyday Life
BSL101 is taken after 8 – 10 weeks.
BSL102 and BSL103 are taken at the end of the course.
Course Pricing
FEES:
- £460 (including £105 Signature assessment fees)
Full course fee / first instalment is payable 2 weeks before the start of the course to secure your place. Please complete the instalment form below should you wish to pay in this way.
L1_Instal_plan_G’ford_Mon PM 2021
Please note when you pay by instalments there is an additional £10 administration charge.
Guildford Courses
BSL Level 1 Course, Autumn 2021
Course runs until 1st June 2022
Day and Time: Wednesday Evenings, 6.00pm – 8.00pm
Venue: United Reformed Church, 83 Portsmouth Road, GU2 4BS
If you dont have time to do the full BSL Level 1 course, perhaps you would like to do our short ‘Introduction to BSL’ (Unit 101 of BSL Level 1) which starts on Wednesday 6th October 2021. Visit our Introduction to Sign Language webpage for further information.
Online classes will be on Zoom if we cannot use a physical venue due to Covid restrictions.
Woking Courses
BSL Level 1 Course, Winter 2022
Saturday PMs 1pm – 3pm (starts 22nd January)
Thursday evenings, 6pm 8pm (starts 27th January)
Courses run until July 2022.
Timetable to follow.
BSL Level 1 Course, Autumn 2021
Course runs until 28th May 2022
Weekly via zoom with 1 face to face session in Woking once a month.
Day & Time: Saturday Mornings, 10.30am – 12noon
BSL Level 1 Woking Sat AM Sept 2021-22 (1)
Venue: Trinity Methodist Church, Brewery Rd, Woking, Surrey GU21 4LH
Teacher: Paul Dench
BSL Level 1 Learning Resources
A good dictionary for Level 1 is Let’s Sign Dictionary: Everyday BSL for Learners, by Cath Smith ISBN 1-905913-10-9
Other BSL books by Cath Smith can be found on Amazon and other retailers.
Download our Learn to Fingerspell poster to practice the manual alphabet.
There are online resources and mobile smart phone apps that use moving images.
http://bslsignbank.ucl.ac.uk/dictionary/
https://www.signworldlearn.com/
When searching for BSL resources online but make sure it is BSL you are looking at and not ASL (American Sign Language).
What our Level 1 Students Say
I am learning BSL because my son, who is now 4, was born deaf and I want our whole family to be able to sign with him as well as speak. I did a Family Sign course with Surrey Deaf Children’s Society and am now doing Level 1. I sign in everyday life, especially signs relating to home life with children and school. His school have been brilliant and have taught all the infant classes to sign and how to fingerspell so he can communicate with his friends.
I am enjoying learning something new as well as meeting people on the course, our group is very friendly! Most challenging is remembering new signs, especially the ones which aren’t visual, but our teacher Paul helps us feel confident. – Claire.
Many years ago I was on a ferry to Ireland and saw a group of people signing. I wanted to be able to join in, and ever since I have wanted to learn British Sign Language.
Previously I worked as a nurse and believe that nurses should all be taught Deaf Awareness and some signing as part of their training. It would really help to be able to communicate even basically with Deaf patients when there is no interpreter there. I also think BSL should be taught in schools.
It has been interesting for me to learn that some deaf people can speak as well as sign. I am also enjoying learning and meeting new people. The challenge is remembering the signs and finding opportunities to practise between classes. – Clodagh.
