Learn BSL for Free

Applications now open, see below

This year we have received funding from Manchester Adult Education Service to deliver a programme of free BSL courses. These courses are all suitable for beginners. 

Eligibility Criteria

The funding criteria mean that to be eligible for a place you must be:

• Aged 19 or over

• A resident of Manchester (Home postcode: M1, M2, M3 (excluding Salford postcodes), M4, M8, M9, M10, M11, M12, M13, M14, M15, M16 (excluding Trafford postcodes), M18, M19, M20, M21, M22, M23, M40)

Please note:

if you are allocated a course place, we need to meet with you to complete an adult education enrolment form and to check your proof of address and ID before your place on the course is fully confirmed. 

Upcoming Courses

5-hour Introduction to BSL (online, Monday mornings) NOW FULL
Start date: Monday 15 April 2024
Time: 11am to 12 midday
Duration: 5 Weeks (1 hour per week)
Location: Zoom classroom
Dates: 15/04, 22/04, 29/04, 13/05, 20/05 (Note: no class on Monday 6 May as it is bank holiday)

5-hour Introduction to BSL (online, Monday evenings) NOW FULL
Start date: Monday 15 April 2024
Time: 6pm to 7pm
Duration: 5 Weeks (1 hour per week)
Location: Zoom classroom
Dates: 15/04, 22/04, 29/04, 13/05, 20/05 (Note: no class on Monday 6 May as it is bank holiday)

10-hour Introduction to BSL (in person, Friday mornings) NOW FULL
Start date: Friday 17 May 2024
Time: 10am to 12 midday
Duration: 5 Weeks (2 hours per week)
Location: Manchester Deaf Centre
Dates: 17/05, 24/05, 07/06, 14/06, 21/06 (Note: no class on Friday 31 May as it is the school holidays) 

More about our free BSL courses

British Sign Language is a rich and beautiful language comprised of hand gestures, facial expressions and body movements. All of our BSL courses are delivered by experienced tutors who are themselves profoundly deaf British Sign Language users. This provides a unique and authentic learning experience for students. Where necessary, a fully qualified BSL Interpreter will be present to assist with the facilitation of communication between tutor and students.

What will I learn?

5-Week Introduction to BSL courses (5-hours and 10-hours)

These courses provide an insight into this fascinating visual language, and equip you with basic skills needed to engage in conversation with a deaf BSL user.

You will cover the following topics:

• Fingerspelling
• G​reetings and Introducing Yourself
• Numbers, Dates and Time
• Family and Friends

20-Week Introduction to British Sign Language (60-hours) 

These courses are a non-accredited version of the Signature Level 1 BSL qualification. This means that there is no pressure of exams, just lots of learning and fun. The course will include all of the Signature Level 1 syllabus and more.* The aim is to teach you to communicate using BSL on a range of topics that involve simple, everyday language use. 

At the end of the course you will be able to:

• understand and use a limited range of simple words and sentences in BSL
• take part in simple, everyday conversations in BSL
• give and follow simple directions or instructions in BSL
• give and follow simple familiar statements or descriptions in BSL

*Please note, we can organise for any student who wishes to take their Level 1 exams to do so on a self-funded basis after the 20-week course has finished. 

Further Information: If you would like further information about these courses before applying please email: admin@manchesterdeafcentre.com