Learning BSL Level 1- 7 Tips to help you learn about BSL and Deaf Culture!

Here are my 7 tips to help you start learning BSL, especially if you are interested in completing a BSL Level 1 course.
Here are my suggested go-to websites to start to learn more about BSL and Deaf Culture:
Deaf Culture and History:
BSL Zone - The Deaf Rewind Series is a ‘fast-paced ride through modern Deaf history’. Watch the struggle for Deaf rights: www.bslzone.co...
Facts about the Deaf Community from British Deaf Association (BDA): bda.org.uk/fas...
Find your nearest British Sign Language Level 1 accredited course with Signature - www.signature....
BBC See Hear - www.signature....
British Deaf News: www.britishdea...
Limping Chicken - popular D/deaf blog: limpingchicken...

[@BSLClub]

What other tips do you have for someone learning BSL Level 1? Comment below so that we can learn from each other!

[@Sophiemck]

Thank you so much for this! I'm experiencing hearing loss at 28 that's likely progressive, so I'm trying to get as much info as possible and to try and learn BSL. There's no way I can afford the courses in my area (£450+ for Level 1) so I think I'll be watching a lot of KZbin videos instead! 😅

[@lauren219]

I'm with you 🙂 I've been partially deaf my whole life but wear a hearing aid - I get along fine but felt a bit isolated over covid as I apparently rely quite a lot on lip reading and faces were covered / screens were up 🤦‍♀️ the screens are often still up and dull spunds, so it's time to learn bsl and hopefully meet some people to learn with along the way! It's been a few weeks and I can do simple phrases, just from instagram and youtube 🙂

[@lindseygedge4446]

Thank you so much for this. I am starting BSL as I’m severely deaf and I want to learn it for home use with my family too. These tips are so useful, as well as your basic videos! Great practice for me and my husband. I particularly love the way you sign slowly and repeat it. Other sources don’t do this. I love the way you are always smiling, so lovely to see.

[@user-nj6gt2wb2m]

Love your approach . My husband is on his way to loosing all his hearing . I have very little sight so this is more helpful than a class . (Reg blind and list alot of sight recently) On top if that’s we have two adult kids with rare epilepsy . Hearing and sight problems . They can’t vocalise much and have had various degrees of support … makaton rarely ti a good enough level in schools . We are now focussing more on SSE with Sense . It opens the door to more people being able to communicate with them and also people are more keen to learn BSL than makaton to a good level (it grows) . Children like ours are held back because education doesn’t have schools to support and progress their language . We are hoping that the support staff in their accommodation will learn and progress past there level of language and help to unlock their potential . I think your channel us very accessible and I’m going to suggest following too . I know SSE isn’t BSL but I just wanted you to know there are some people out there studying it in order to open the world up to people like my adult hound children. Huge thank you !!!

[@suewright1299]

Wonderful tips and advice! Very many thanks indeed. 😊

[@beckywebley4491]

Thank you for this video! About to start my level 1, like you I wasn’t that good at language in school but I’m gonna go for it 💪🏻 looking forward to watching more of your videos :)

[@mosscap_]

Just discovered your channel 😊 I’m learning BSL level one online and your videos are super helpful! Thank you 💜

[@BSLClub]

You are welcome @Darragh Moss! Hope learning Level 1 is going well!

[@jackycoole1346]

Thank you. Very helpful and encouraging

[@pat9835]

Thank you for this enlightening video. I have an interest in Bsl and intend to start from level 1 formally.In the meantime ild be watching off KZbin. You’ve gained a new subscriber.

[@BSLClub]

Hi @Pat. Welcome! Thank you very much for subscribing and commenting. It really helps. Where are you learning Level 1? Is it online or face to face? I'm sure you will enjoy it either way 😊.

[@BilliesCraftRoom]

Hi Just found your channel. HAve subscribed, look forward to learning more signs. thanks so much for sharing

[@lindahansford1012]

Super tips, thank you. Love your lessons . Thank you. I’m a new learner and am delighted to find such clear teaching. I’m a subscriber now.

[@chukkaspolo]

That's great, thank you as I am starting level 1 today.

[@sadiairam4780]

i would like to learn More.. can u make a video of Religious signs as well ... Thank You !🤗

[@aubrac100]

Hi, i love your lessons but could you mute that dreadful background music, makes it hard to concentrate

[@alisonpask5842]

I would like to learn level 1 for a few years but I can't find a cource for my local area Plymouth which I can get to.

[@BSLClub]

Hi @Alison Pask! Sometimes it is difficult to find a local course! Have you checked the Signature website: www.signature.org.uk/where-can-i-learn Alternatively, you could try an online course. If you join some Deaf Facebook groups local to you, they may have some suggestions of where you could learn locally. Doncaster Deaf Trust are offering a free course during lockdown but I don't think that would include the Level 1 exam. I hope you find a course!

[@Charlotte-wx4jz]

Hi Alison I used to live in Plymouth and I have had the same problem. I signed up for course 3 year in a row and they were all cancelled because of low uptake in people. I was gutted. I’m now living in Cornwall and only yesterday found that from September 14th, Cornwall College will be doing Level 1 BSL. I’ve checked and this is listed on the Signiture website so it done through them. I know it’s an hour from you but might be worth it if you are interested. £225.

[@joeroot9142]

@@Charlotte-wx4jz do online with city lit

[@Charlotte-wx4jz]

@@joeroot9142 I use to live in Plymouth. Don’t know. My local college does it but is full this year. So try again next year.

[@BSLClub]

What about this college: www.completecommunicationltd.com/british-sign-language/ You may have looked at them already - no current dates on the website though, you might want to contact them directly. Also, I think Remark! also do an online BSL level 1: remark.uk.com/bsl-level-1/

[@Sha-Ne-Ru]

Hiya! I'm interested to start BSL again and i'm happy i found your channel! One question (haven't checked if you've answered in a past video yet, sorry) does it matter what hand I choose as my dominate hand? For e.g. i'm right-handed, but want to use my left hand as my main. is it more common to use your right hand as the dominate one?

[@BSLClub]

Hi! So glad that you are learning BSL again! Re: dominant hand, it is more common for people to use their right hand because more people are right handed. It's a bit harder if you are left handed (or choose to use your left hand) because you will be watching people mostly sign with the right hand and then trying to learn those signs the other way round. But it's fine to do. My advice is just to stick with the hand you are choosing as dominant and use that consistently. For example, my son is left handed, but prefers to sign with his right hand dominant. Hope that helps! Thanks for supporting the channel!

[@Sha-Ne-Ru]

@@BSLClub Thank you, definitely helps a lot 😁

[@BSLClub]

No problem! All the best with your Level 1!

[@peterhynes5316]

Think u

[@SI-rv9te]

Thank you for your videos! Just wondering, how long did it take you to become fluent?

[@BSLClub]

Thanks so much! This is a common question, but its hard to answer! Becoming fluent depends on what training you have had and how much you contact you have had with Deaf people for conversation etc. However, like any language, you always learn and develop. If you have frequent contact with Deaf BSL users and complete Level 1 and 2, you should be able to have conversational skills. Level 3 is equivalent to A-Level standard, Level 6 is degree standard, so that gives you an idea, if you compare to a spoken language, for reference. Hope that helps!

[@SI-rv9te]

@@BSLClub That makes sense. Thanks.

[@lindseygedge4446]

An experienced interpreter told me it takes about 4 years to get to level 3. Hope that helps too.

[@jessicahibminecraft]

I’m really struggling with the grammar of BSL. Is there a specific rule to stick to about word order?

[@eyxzm7505]

As a learner: question words go at the end and not everything should be directly translated to english. I hope you're also still on your learning journey!