Signamite provides BSL (British Sign Language) courses in the Cornwall area, using the British Deaf Association’s unique curriculum to provide more interesting and useful lessons.
“Learn Another Language”
BSL Academy trained Teacher, Ryan Swart says:
“I can provide private home support (one-to-one tuition) to those who need extra help to build up their BSL skills, and I will be happy to hear from Schools and Colleges to discuss BSL teaching in order to promote BSL in the United Kingdom.
The Deaf community is campaigning to include BSL into the National Curriculum, so pupils can choose BSL as a second language after English.
Learning BSL is a highly social and enjoyable experience, open to all ages, no previous experience necessary, so do not hold back from learning BSL.”
Signamite is also associated with Plymouth School of BSL
Learn BSL!
What is British Sign Language?
“I really enjoyed learning BSL in a relaxed atmosphere – within a few weeks I was able to hold basic conversations in BSL”
Richard Smith – Cornwall County Council
Some people think it’s not a proper language in it’s own right, but this is not the case.
British Sign Language (BSL) is the first or preferred language of hundreds of thousands Deaf people in the UK. It is a language of space and movement using the hands, body, face and head. It is full of expression and meaning. Hundreds of thousands of hearing people also use BSL, more than Welsh or Gaelic.
Can you only learn BSL if you want to help or work with Deaf people?
You can take the opportunity to learn BSL as a second language just the same as if you wanted to learn French, Spanish or German.
There are Deaf people in your area. They are your neighbours, perhaps your workmates. Perhaps your children’s friends have Deaf parents. Your learning BSL will be part of their full integration into the local community. There will be no need to go abroad to use your new found skills!
BSL Taster Sessions
Training can be in-house (held at your work-place)
One day course (four-hour long) teach participants how to carry out a basic conversation in BSL. You will learn to converse such as your name, where you live, where you work, your job and transport and other topics.
If you or your colleagues are interested to sign up for the one day course, please contact us.
BSL curriculum
All the certificates are accredited by the National Open College Network
Courses designed by BSL Academy
- Introduction to British Sign Language
- A 20 hour Introduction to BSL (10 weeks). This course offers students the opportunity to learn some everyday sign language. At the end of the course, you have the option, to undertake assessment of your skills and receive a certificate.
- Foundation BSL
- A 40 hour Foundation BSL course (20 weeks). This course offers students the opportunity to develop their everyday sign language use. At the end of the course, you will have an opportunity to undertake assessment of your skills and receive a certificate.
- You must complete the Introduction to BSL before you are able to join this course.
- Introduction and Foundation BSL, together, are classified as Level One BSL.
- Intermediate BSL
- A 180 hour Intermediate BSL course (60 weeks). This course offers students the opportunity to further develop their everyday sign language incorporating BSL grammar at greater depth. At the end of the course, you will have an opportunity to undertake assessment of your skills and receive a certificate.
- You must complete the Foundation Level BSL before you are able to join this course.
- Advanced BSL
- An 120 hour Advanced BSL (40 weeks). This course offers students the opportunity to further develop their sign language skills incorporating BSL grammar at an advanced level that could deal with most situations. At the end of the course, you will have an opportunity to undertake assessment of your skills and receive a certificate.
- You must undertake the Intermediate Level BSL before you are able to join this course.
- This content is quoted from British Deaf Association’s website.
Deaf Equality Training
Enable your organisation to project a positive attitude towards your deaf customers.
By now we’re all aware of The Disability Discrimination Act. Public bodies, private and voluntary service providers, and businesses now have new statutory duties to promote disability equality. Have you considered your obligations toward your Deaf customers? We can help.
The course can be adapted to meet the requirements of your specific area of work. If your company would like to have Deaf Equality Training to take place at it’s premises, please get in touch.
DET will:
- Facilitate understanding of Deaf Culture.
- Allow professionals to meet their obligations to provide equality in their services.
- Encourage cultural Deaf BSL users to be recognised as citizens: collectively equal in rights, duties and status to all groups in society.
- Be delivered by a culturally Deaf person.
Participants can:
- Know the two types of d/Deaf people.
- Understand that Deaf BSL users don’t have ‘needs’.
- Learn about the Deaf community.
- Consider the background of Deaf people.
- Recognise the three ways of looking at ‘Deaf’ in different settings.
- Identify unnecessary barriers to Deaf people that have a hearing focus.
Course Content:
- One half day training with presentation, discussion, quizzes, group work , and feedback.
- Each participant who submits their portfolio will receive a certificate showing they have attended training by Deaf Association Wales (subject to passing the assessment).
- An NOCN Accredited Course Level 2
DET costs:
- £45 per person
- Includes student packs containing valuable learning resources for future reference
- Class size – between ten and eighteen participants.
This content is quoted from British Deaf Association’s website.
BSL-Courses-in-Cornwall
If you are on means-tested benefits, or between 16 and 18 years old, you are entitled to get remissions with the course fees.
This course is in progress…
Level 1 Liskeard
- Date/Time
- Mondays 7-9pm
- Place
- Echo Centre, Barras Place, Liskeard, PL14 6AY
- Curriculum
- Covers Introduction to BSL and Foundation BSL A&B (3 units)
- Length
- 30 two hour sessions of teaching and 3 assessment sessions.
- Dates
- 15 September – 24 November 2008 (Half Term – 27 October 2008)
- 5 Janurary – 16 March 2009 (Half Term – 16 February 2009)
- 20 April – 6 July 2009 (Half Term & Bank Holiday) – 4 and 25 May 2009)
- plus assessment dates (to be confirmed)
- Costs
- £311 (including assessment fees)
- Learning materials costs: £50
Please note is that this is Year 1 out of 2 and you are required to complete Year 2 to get full certificates. You may be required to go for an interview before getting a place on the course as need to show commitment and enthusiasm to learn BSL on this level. You need to pass Level 1 to go on to this level.
If you are on means-tested benefits, or between 16 and 18 years old, you are entitled to get remissions with the course fees
This course is in progress…
Level 2 Liskeard
- Date/Time
- Thursdays 7-9pm
- Place
- Echo Centre, Barras Place, Liskeard, PL14 6AY
- Curriculum
- Covers Intermediate BSL Part A – Year 1 (3 units)
- Length
- 30 two hour sessions of teaching, 6 Saturday workshops and 3 assessment sessions.
- Dates
- 25 September – 6 December 2008 (Half Term – 30 October 2008)
- 25 October and 6 December (Saturday workshops 10am to 4pm)
- 8 Janurary – 19 March 2009 (Half Term – 19 February 2009)
- 14 February and 14 March 2009 (Saturday workshops 10am to 4pm)
- 23 April – 4 July 2009 (Half Term) – 28 May 2009)
- 23 May and 4 July (Saturday workshops 10 – 4pm)
- plus assessment dates (to be confirmed)
- Costs
- £433 (including assessment fees)
Please note this course will be run by other teacher.
Enrolling now…
Level 1 Helston
- Place
- TR14 (TBA)
- Curriculum
- Covers Introduction to BSL
- Length
- 10 two hour sessions of teaching and 1 assessment sessions.
- Dates
- Starting January 2009 plus assessment dates (to be confirmed)
- Costs
- £TBA (including assessment fees and Learning materials costs)
- Instalment is welcome.
If you are on means-tested benefits, or between 16 and 18 years old, you are entitled to get remissions with the course fees
This course is in progress…
Level 1 St Austell
- Date/Time
- Tuesdays 4:30 to 6:30pm
- Place
- St Blazey Football Club, Station Rd, St Blazey, PL24 2ND
- Curriculum
- Covers Introduction to BSL and Foundation BSL A&B (3 units)
- Length
- 30 two hour sessions of teaching and 3 assessment sessions.
- Dates
- 23 September – 2 December 2008 (Half Term – 28 October 2008)
- 13 Janurary – 24 March 2009 (Half Term – 17 February 2009)
- 21 April – 30 June 2009 (Half Term) – 26 May 2009)
- plus assessment dates (to be confirmed)
- Costs
- £311 (including assessment fees)
- Learning materials costs: £50
Book a Course Placement
Keen to get a Course Placement to suit your needs?
Cannot afford to pay upfront fee? – We offer instalment payment plan to suit to your budget!
Send us your preferred requirements using the form below and we’ll see what we can do to meet your schedule.
Signamite will make efforts to provide a course on your preferred time/days/location but cannot guarantee this. Once we’ve finalised the research, will post you the course information pack in due course for the enrolment process.
Signamite require at least 12 participants in order to run the course.
Contact Ryan
I look forward to hearing from you!
Ryan Swart
Signamite
Phone or fax us at 01726 821480
Email enquiries@signamite.co.uk
