Birmingham is often described as Britain’s second city. As with any large city in the UK, there are a lot of different people in the city who are fluent in British Sign Language, but there is a constant need for people to learn these skills and help to make Birmingham a more accessible and accepting city.
Sign Language Lessons in Birmingham
Like many other places where people want to learn sign language in the UK, Birmingham has loads of different educational options and is a hub of the midlands when it comes to learning many different subjects, and BSL is no exception. People can learn through mainstream education as well as night classes and weekend courses. Plus, there are options to learn sign language with a tutor in a one-to-one environment.
Below, we explore some of the educational establishments, organisations, and charities that are offering BSL lessons as well as support for those in the area who are deaf.
Birmingham Adult Education Service (BAES)
Birmingham Adult Education Service provides a wide range of adult learning opportunities, including BSL courses, across various locations in Birmingham. Their BSL courses cater to learners of all levels, from complete beginners to advanced users, and are delivered by experienced BSL instructors.
Courses may cover fundamental BSL skills, such as greetings, numbers, and basic conversation, as well as more advanced topics related to deaf culture, communication strategies, and interpreting techniques. The more advanced courses can help people to gain a much better understanding of the language.
A breakdown of the levels and who they are best for can be found below:
| Course Title | Study Pattern | Course Suitable For Learners |
|---|---|---|
| Beginners | 11 weeks | People who have never studied Sign Language |
| Level 1 | 16 weeks | People who have previously studied Sign Language for up to 30 hours; or for those with very basic knowledge of Sign Language. |
| Lower Intermediate 1 | 3 terms of 11 weeks | People who have previously studied the language for up to 60 hours; or for those who recently completed a Level 1 qualification in BSL. |
| Lower Intermediate 2 | 3 terms of 11 weeks | People who have previously studied the language for up to 120 hours; or for those who have completed Level 2 stage 1 or Lower Intermediate 1 recently. |
| Intermediate | 3 terms of 11 weeks | People who have previously studied the language for up to 200 hours; or for those who completed BSL Level 2. |
BAES offers flexible scheduling options, including daytime, evening, and weekend classes, to accommodate learners with different schedules and preferences. This is great for adults who are looking to pick up the extra skills.
A huge percentage of people who are looking to learn language skills including BSL are adults. This means that it can be difficult to find the time, and education isn’t the main focus in life as you may have a job dictating your schedule!
Solihull College and University Centre
People who live in Solihull and Birmingham are often keen to point out that they are not the same thing. However, Solihull is certainly pretty simple to reach from Birmingham and it creates a great option for people who want to learn BSL.
At present, they offer two different courses:
- British Sign Language - Beginners
- British Sign Language - Improvers
The courses take place either online or at the Woodland Campus and this means there are multiple options for learners. On top of that, the weekday evening timings are good for those who are working and want to learn alongside other things.
While the BSL Beginners course focuses on some of the real basics of the BSL language.
The “improvers” course covers a range of intermediate-level BSL topics, including vocabulary expansion, grammar rules, sentence structure, conversational skills, and cultural awareness. Students will engage in interactive learning activities, role-playing exercises, and group discussions to reinforce their learning and practical application of BSL.
The Deaf Cultural Centre (DCC)
The Deaf Cultural Centre in Birmingham is a hub for deaf culture, arts, and community activities.
They may offer BSL courses and workshops for both deaf and hearing individuals, providing opportunities to learn sign language and engage with the deaf community from time to time, or be able to signpost people to places where they can take lessons.
Signature
Signature is a leading awarding body for deaf communication qualifications in the UK, offering accreditation for BSL courses delivered by various providers, including those in Birmingham. They also offer sign language classes in London and elsewhere in the UK.
Individuals interested in learning BSL can search for Signature-accredited centres in the Birmingham area to find courses that meet their needs and preferences.
Signature-accredited courses adhere to rigorous standards and curriculum guidelines, ensuring that learners receive comprehensive instruction in BSL grammar, vocabulary, and communication skills. Completing a Signature-accredited course can lead to recognized BSL qualifications that are widely respected in the UK.
Sign Solutions
This is another company that is not strictly inside Birmingham, but it is close enough for people in the area to take advantage of its offerings, in Redditch. Some people travel as far afield as Manchester for their BSL lessons, so Redditch is accessible.
Sign Solutions offers a comprehensive range of British Sign Language (BSL) courses catering to individuals of all levels of proficiency, from beginners to advanced learners. Their courses are designed to provide flexible and accessible learning opportunities, both online BSL lessons and in-person courses, to suit the diverse needs and preferences of learners. Sign Solutions' BSL courses cover a variety of topics, including vocabulary, grammar, conversational skills, and deaf culture awareness.
They also offer specialised courses tailored to specific industries or sectors, such as healthcare, education, and customer service, to enhance communication accessibility and inclusivity.
Courses include:
- Introduction to BSL – Level 1 Award – Unit 101
- Level 1 Award in British Sign Language
- Level 2 Certificate in British Sign Language
- Level 3 Certificate in British Sign Language
Additionally, Sign Solutions provides certification and assessment services, allowing learners to demonstrate their BSL proficiency and gain recognised qualifications. Overall, Sign Solutions' BSL courses aim to empower individuals to communicate effectively with deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals and promote accessibility and equality in various settings.
Sandwell Deaf Community Association
Based in West Bromwich, this is an organisation that doesn’t have a huge online presence, but they do offer online courses.
They are based at New Deaf Centre, Summer Street, West Bromwich, B71 4JA and people can visit for more information, including expressing an interest in their courses.
SDCA delivers specialist services to deaf and hard of hearing people on behalf of Sandwell Council. We provide a variety of services including Information, Advocacy, Volunteers, Training, Communication, Welfare Rights, Support Service, Consultation and Research and Community Groups.
Outcomes of Studying BSL
Whether you want to learn in Glasgow or study anywhere else in the UK, learning BSL enhances both receptive (understanding) and expressive (signing) communication skills. These improved communication skills can extend beyond interactions with deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals to enhance communication in various personal and professional settings.
Further benefits and outcomes include:
- Beyond just learning how to communicate using BSL, there is the option to study at a degree level. BA (Hons) British Sign Language (Deaf Studies) is a course offered at nearby Wolverhampton University, for instance.
- Proficiency in BSL can open up a wide range of career opportunities in fields such as education, healthcare, social services, customer service, and interpreting. Many employers value employees who can communicate in BSL to better serve deaf and hard-of-hearing clients, patients, or customers.
- Knowing BSL provides individuals with greater access to information, services, and resources that may be available in sign language. This can include access to BSL-interpreted events, educational materials, online resources, and community services, enhancing participation and engagement in various aspects of life.
- Proficiency in BSL empowers individuals to advocate for the rights and inclusion of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in society. BSL users can serve as allies and advocates, raising awareness of accessibility issues, promoting policy changes, and advocating for greater inclusivity and equality in various domains.
Learning BSL is a worthwhile skill. It offers a range of valuable outcomes that extend beyond improved communication with more people, it can mean increased career opportunities, greater access to information and services, enriched social connections, cultural and linguistic enrichment, and advocacy for social change. Some people learn through necessity but others learn through desire and a thirst for personal development.
Learn BSL With Superprof in Birmingham
There are many people fluent in BSL in the Birmingham area, and this means plenty of options for people who wish to learn sign language with a tutor. Superprof allows you to connect with experienced tutors and BSL users via their platform, and learn in a one-to-one environment and at a pace to suit you. As well as teaching in Birmingham our teachers can provide sign language lessons in Leeds and elsewhere.
Many people would rather learn with a tutor than go into a classroom or course environment, and sign language classes in Birmingham can be much more flexible if you are working with one tutor with a personalised learning plan for your own ambitions and needs.
If you’re ready to get the ball rolling, you can reach out to a tutor on Superprof today and enquire about either online or in-person sign language lessons in Birmingham and the surrounding areas.
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