We offer a variety of courses from Taster sessions and Improvers’ Workshops enabling you to ‘soak-up’ BSL with no exams, through to the full range of certified qualifications.
The national awarding bodies for BSL are ‘Signature’ and ‘iBSL’.
Any questions? Email: bsl@dotsignlanguage.co.uk / Telephone 01483 222245
If you have a Deaf child please contact us about funding.
If you don’t have time to commit to a full Level 1 course right now or just want to learn the basics, we can offer short introductory courses.
If you can get a group together and have a venue you can host training we are happy to come to you for training. Perfect for workplaces, community organisations or groups of friends; we can come to you at a time which suits. Course price quote is dependent on location and size of group.
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, dates, times, transport methods and other everyday vocabulary.
Students will start to learn BSL structure, grammar and placement.
In addition to class time, students will be expected to research vocabulary and practise outside class.
The Level 2 Certificate follows on from Level 1 and develops further the ability to communicate using BSL in a range of social and school, college or work-related contexts. Students will be expected to participate in longer and more open-ended exchanges than in Level 1.
Level 2 will be of interest to those wanting to progress onto higher BSL qualifications which are required for certain careers and roles such as a BSL/English Interpreter, Communication Support Worker, Teacher of the Deaf and other jobs working with the Deaf.
Qualification: Signature Level 2 Certificate in British Sign Language (QCF) BSL Level 2
(Ref: QAN500/6105/7, BSL2)
This qualification has been developed in accordance with the National Language Standards at Level 2.
Our Pre-Level 3 course is designed to be a ‘bridging’ course for those who have passed BSL Level 2 and want to go on to achieve the Level 3 Certificate but feel that they need more practise and experience. It is also useful for students who wish to continue learning sign language but do not wish to take an assessment.
This course is appropriate for those who are meeting Deaf customers or clients or working with Deaf colleagues. Most Communication Support Worker (CSW) roles require a Level 3 qualification. Other reasons include to communicate with deaf family and friends or simply out of interest. This qualifications is also suitable for Deaf people who would like to achieve a qualification in their own language.
On this course you will develop the ability to communicate in BSL in more depth than at earlier levels. You will be required to exchange, present and understand information, ideas, advice and opinions at normal speed. You will also develop your awareness of cultural interaction with Deaf people who use BSL. This also means that you can understand discussions, debates or live shows that might be delivered in BSL.
The qualification is also suitable for Deaf people wishing to acquire a qualification in their own language.
Due to the success of our current iBSL Level 6 course, Dot Sign Language Director and qualified teacher Kathleen Grehan is excited that it will run again from September 2018.
This qualification is equivalent to those for Modern Foreign Languages at Honours Degree level. It is the penultimate qualification required before a learner can take the Level 6 Interpreting qualifications required to become a registered British Sign Language interpreter.
Our teachers are happy to arrange 1 to 1 private tuition when requested. Students require these services for various reasons, for example, to catch up on work missed, to help with areas that some students may find challenging, to fast-track through a qualification.
These sessions are informal and relaxed and designed to give students a glimpse into the world of BSL. We hope a taster session is as much a social experience as it is a learning experience for those who come along.
BSL order is very different and sometimes we lack the awareness, vocabulary or receptive skill to get the full meaning of a phrase.
Often, it is crucial ‘non-verbal’ connectors that we fail to see. It results in us ‘missing the point’ despite understanding most of the signs. That is frustrating.
In this series of workshops we will completely dissect a range of video clips on various topics. This will increase your vocabulary and improve your receptive, linguistic and grammar skills. Each session will also focus on ‘sticking areas’ that students often struggle with – such as turn-taking convention, mouth pattern, aspect, tenses etc.
‘Improvers’ workshops are for signers of Levels 2, 3, and 4. Each session lasts 2 hours and are £20.00 each. This is discounted to £15.00 per session if you book five or more.
Students will be issued with a certificate of attendance.
Whether you are a private company, a public-sector service or an NHS provider of health or social care, we can provide a Deaf Awareness session tailor-made to meet your needs.
We discuss what it means to be a Deaf customer or patient, knowing what laws apply to your place of work, and think about practical steps every employee can take to make the business accessible and welcoming to a Deaf British Sign Language user. The majority of the session is ‘hands-on’ learning BSL signs. We will teach the signs you need, and incorporate Deaf awareness issues which you need covering.
Whether you need 1 hour, 2 hours, a half day, full day or multiple sessions; we will design bespoke training to suit your needs.
