Introduction to Basic British Sign Language (open to all)

Additional information about this course

Course open to everyone in all geographical locations

Course aim

Aimed at learning essential skills to aid communication with Deaf people. To be able to understand a limited range of simple words, sentences in BSL. To be able to take part in simple, everyday conversations in BSL.

Do I need any particular skills or experience?

• You will need your own personal email address so that you’re able to login to the WEA’s digital learning platform: WEA Canvas. You will need to be able to understand how to follow URL links to pages on the internet. If you want to understand more about Canvas please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
• You will need to be able to follow links to join our WEA live video learning platform: WEA Zoom. If you’d like to understand more about our video learning platform, Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline and http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
• This course is for a group of around 15 students studying in a live video-learning platform conference and an online digital learning environment platform from the comfort of your own home.
• This is a live lecture delivered by a subject specialist in an online webinar video learning platform. You will need to be able to access the internet on a device with speakers or earphones. There will be opportunities to take part in discussions and chats. If you’d like to know how to use Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
• No skills or experience needed
• This course is for beginners
• This course is suitable for beginners and improvers

By the end of the course I should be able to:

• Demonstrate some of the barriers to communication and how to use fingerspelling.
• Demonstrate basic signing relating to topics ‘family/meeting people’, ‘numbers’ (to include money, age, dates and time).
• Demonstrate confidence when meeting Deaf people and be equipped to sign in basic everyday situations/conversations using appropriate language conventions relating to BSL structure/culture.
• Demonstrate an awareness of turn taking and two-way conversational skills in BSL.

How will I be taught?

• The WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas will be used to provide resources or to support lessons, enable assessment, provide learner feedback and for other activities for individuals away from the course. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
• Most of your learning will take place in your class, but one or two sessions will be online using WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas, working by yourself or engaging with other students. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
• The WEA tutor will use a range of different teaching and learning methods and encourage you and the group to be actively involved in your learning
• You may be asked to undertake additional work in your own time to support your learning
• You will be expected to carry out a range of activities in your own time

What kind of feedback can I expect?

• A range of informal activities will be used by the tutor to see what you are learning which may include quizzes, question and answer, small projects and discussion
• A file of work will be kept which will help to record your progress
• Learners will be asked to complete an ILP and tutor can mark learner progress within this.

What else do I need to know?

• What you need: You will need an internet connection, speakers, a microphone and a webcam so that you can use our video learning platform, Zoom. If you’d like to understand more Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
• You will also need access to the internet outside of your sessions. You could do this using a smart phone, tablet, laptop or a desktop computer (at home or through a library etc.).
• You will need a personal email address to join the WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas so that you can receive resources, record your progress and achievement and to work with others and share ideas. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
• All materials will be provided

Pre-course work, reading and information sources

• Pre-course reading is required: resources will be made available to you using the WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
• You will have access to course resources and links to wider learning through the WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
• No pre reading or pre course work is required

What can I do next?

• Progress to a course with another provider
• At the end of the course the tutor will explain further areas for study such as Deaf Awareness Course and level 1 Award in BSL (both of which are recognised and accredited courses, monitored by the awarding body Signature)