Level 1 Award in British Sign Language

This qualification is designed to teach learners to communicate with Deaf people in British Sign Language (BSL) on a range of topics that involve simple, everyday language use. You will gain basic skills and confidence in the production and reception of BSL.

The course is delivered over 48 hours, plus self-led learning and vocabulary videos, and aims to give you a solid foundation in BSL so you can understand the grammar of BSL, form your own sentences and have simple conversations.

Five women stand in front of a large screen displaying the text "WOW! You have completed your Level 1 course" and holding certificates of achievement, celebrating their accomplishment at the end of their Level 1 BSL course.

The next Level 1 course starts in September! Full details below.

About the course

  • We follow the specifications set out by Signature - our awarding body.

    Please find the full Level 1 course specification here.

  • BSL 101 - Introduction to BSL

    Meeting people, using numbers, fingerspelling, weather, transport and directions.

    BSL 102 - Conversational BSL

    At home, people, animals and objects, interests and activities. 

    BSL 103 - BSL at school, college or work

    Getting around, food and drink, exchanging information.

  • Lessons are taught using a range of techniques:

    • vocabulary repetition

    • games

    • pair work

    • practice conversations

    • watching videos

    • written homework

    Sessions are taught in English with increasing amounts of BSL teaching in later sessions.

  • There are three assessments, one for each unit.

    101 is assessed by your teacher.

    102 and 103 are filmed conversations with your teacher. These are then sent off and externally marked by Signature assessors.

  • There are no requirements for joining this course. However, hearing students are required to have a reasonable standard of written and spoken English.

  • Students who successfully pass the Level 1 assessments can progress on to the Level 2 Certificate.

People participating in a group activity on the floor, sorting picture cards of objects and words, with some sitting on chairs and others kneeling or crouching.
Level 1 Award in British Sign Language - Wednesday Evenings Level 1 Award in British Sign Language - Wednesday Evenings Level 1 Award in British Sign Language - Wednesday Evenings
Level 1 Award in British Sign Language - Wednesday Evenings
from £395.00

Join this course to start your BSL journey!

Dates:

September 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th

October 7th, 14th, 21st

November 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th

December 2nd, 9th, 16th

2027

January 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th

February 3rd, 10th, 24th

March 3rd, 10th

Time: 7-9pm

Location: Kidlington venue TBC

Price includes course handbook and BSL beginner dictionary.

Assessments are additional. You can add the Level 1 Assessments at any time up until Week 18 (13th Jan 2027). Assessments will be available to book once Signature fees for 2026-27 have been published.

View Options
Five women stand in front of a large screen displaying the text "WOW! You have completed your Level 1 course" and holding certificates of achievement, celebrating their accomplishment at the end of their Level 1 BSL course.
A woman presents holiday activities vocabulary in British Sign Language to a group of adults in a classroom setting with a projected slide.
A classroom with a woman in a purple shirt standing in front of a projection screen. The screen displays a presentation titled 'Oxford BSL Session 14 Unit 102 Level 1 Award in BSL'. Several students are seated, some taking notes, with a whiteboard to the left side of the image.
A woman with brown hair pulled back, smiling and actively signing British Sign Language, wearing a green shirt, standing in front of a black curtain backdrop decorated with gold vertical streamers.
Two official certification documents on a wooden surface with a holographic sticker, one overlapping the other, in a mix of black and purple text, and a brown envelope partially visible behind them.

  • "Very enjoyable and lovely group of people, we all learnt lots and Suzi was so warm and welcoming, I know we all felt very comfortable."

    ~ Level 1 Student

  • "It was brilliant to learn the vocab and then have the opportunity to practice with each other and with Suzi."

    ~ Level 1 Student

  • "Massive thank you to Suzi for making the course interactive and fun."

    ~ Level 1 Student