At Lancaster University, we are committed to improving inclusion and access for all our colleagues, students and visitors. As part of this commitment, we want to provide our staff the opportunity to develop their British Sign Language (BSL) skills through work.
Staff at Lancaster University on a permanent full- or part-time contract can now access one of a limited number of licenses for British-Sign's 'Introducing British Sign Language' online course.
If you're not sure about your eligibility for the course, or have other questions, please contact the EDI Team.
British Sign Language (BSL) is a visual language used primarily by the d/Deaf community in the UK. It consists of hand shapes, facial expressions, and body movements, forming a unique grammar and syntax distinct from spoken English. The British Sign Language (BSL) Act 2022, which received Royal Assent on April 28, 2022, legally recognizes BSL as a language in England, Scotland, and Wales.
Approximately 151,000 people in the UK use British Sign Language (BSL), with around 87,000 of them being Deaf individuals.
Learning British Sign Language (BSL) as a professional in Higher Education offers several significant benefits, not least enhancing communication with Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, but also fostering an inclusive learning environment where all students feel valued and supported.
Additionally, proficiency in BSL can enhance your employability and open up new career opportunities, as institutions increasingly seek staff who can engage effectively with diverse student populations.
Overall, learning BSL not only benefits individual professionals but also contributes to a more inclusive and supportive educational landscape.
The Introduction to British Sign Language (BSL) course is designed for beginners and offers a comprehensive overview of BSL. It includes 10 lessons covering essential topics such as fingerspelling, numbers, colours, and basic conversational skills. The course emphasizes Deaf awareness and cultural understanding, making it suitable for anyone interested in learning BSL, whether for personal or professional reasons.
The Introduction to British Sign Language (BSL) course operates in a structured, user-friendly format. It consists of 10 self-paced lessons that cover essential vocabulary and concepts. Each lesson includes video demonstrations, interactive exercises, and quizzes to reinforce learning.
Learners can access the course materials on various devices, allowing for flexibility in study times. Progress is monitored through assessments at the end of each lesson, enabling participants to gauge their understanding. If a learner does not achieve the required score, they can retake the assessments until they feel confident.
The course is designed to be completed over a recommended timeframe of 16-20 hours, with up to two years to complete all 10 lessons. Upon successful completion of the course, learners receive a certificate, validating their skills in BSL. This structure ensures a comprehensive and engaging learning experience, making it accessible to everyone interested in BSL.
Your progress is tracked through interactive assessments at the end of each lesson. You can retake assessments as needed, and achieving 85% or higher earns you a certificate of completion, validating your BSL skills.
As the license owners, our EDI Team are able to see your progress through each assessment and may check in with you periodically to see how you are managing with the course.
Of course!
Introducing British Sign Language is a comprehensive introduction to BSL and is aimed at people who have had no previous BSL training or have only done very basic training such as learning the fingerspelling alphabet.
If you are a regular user of BSL and consider yourself somewhat fluent and conversational, this course will probably not be suitable for you.
However, if you are fluent in another language of sign language, such as Makaton, ASL (American), or Auslan (Australian), this could be a good way for you to learn the British equivalent.
BSL is a fully developed, natural language with its own grammar and syntax, primarily used by the d/Deaf community in the UK. It allows for complex communication and is independent of spoken English.
Makaton, on the other hand, is a supportive communication system designed to aid those with learning or communication difficulties. It combines signs, symbols, and spoken words, following the structure of spoken English. Makaton is often used by hearing individuals, particularly children or adults with communication challenges, to enhance their ability to express needs and ideas.
In summary, while BSL is a complete language for the d/Deaf community, Makaton is a tool to support communication for those with additional needs.
This course is completely optional, with a limited number of available licenses. If you're not sure about whether this course is suitable for you, speak with your line manager about how it might fit into your role, or explore more about BSL at www.british-sign.co.uk.
In short, yes.
Speak with your line manager about how this might fit into your PDR, and how you can have it recognised as part of your professional development at Lancaster University.
The University has covered the cost of a limited number of licenses for this course. While there is a cost, you are not responsible for it.
Yes, this online course is compatible with all desktop, laptop, tablet, and mobile devices. This includes Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, and Android. Any modern web browser can be used.
If you are having difficulties accessing the course materials with your browser please email the course provider on support@british-sign.co.uk.
No, you do not need to present live on this programme, nor will you need a webcam. Assessments are structured in a way that you can complete them without recording yourself.
Our Disabled Employees Network (DEN+) are currently looking into building up a BSL Learners group. For more information, contact den@lancaster.ac.uk.
No, British Sign Language interpreters in the UK must hold much higher level qualifications and be fully conversational in BSL.
This Introduction to British Sign Language course is certified by CDP (https://cpduk.co.uk/directory/profile/british-sign-co-uk).
Please note that this course covers some of the same content to that of Signature's BSL Level 1 however this is not a Level 1 qualification and is not accredited by an awarding body as it is a low-cost introductory course.
Yes, there are no restrictions on who can study this online course. As long as you have an internet connection then you can access the course no matter where you are in the world.
The term “d/Deaf” is used to reflect the diverse identities within the Deaf community.
British-Sign has a great range of resources about British Sign Language and the skills embedded in non-verbal communication. Along with their Sign of the Day, they also provide fingerspelling games, and downloadable posters with basic signs such as greetings.
Learn more at www.british-sign.co.uk.
