Rebecca A Withey: Things to consider when choosing your BSL class or tutor (BSL)

I was recently asked by a hearing acquaintance how they could start learning sign language. This question sparked an in-depth conversation as we delved into all the possible places one could learn to sign. 

It also inspired a bout of online research as I looked into the options available for a complete newbie to British Sign Language. The options available are many – and quite overwhelming for someone who isn’t sure how to begin. 

It appears there are countless ways that a person could begin learning sign – online courses, in person courses, intensive workshops and one on one training too. 

The ideal path for you will actually depend on a few things; how you plan to use the language, what sort of investment you’re able to make and the lifestyle you currently lead. 

Questions you can ask yourself first of all to narrow your search down include:

Who will I be using sign with? Do I want to gain formal qualifications? How far do I want to progress? What days and times do I have available for learning?

Someone who simply wants to learn BSL nursery rhymes for a pre school, for example, may wish to take a completely different path to a student who intends to work with deaf adults.

There are a few things, however, to be especially mindful of when choosing the appropriate course for you and I have compiled a short list – which readers may wish to add to in the comments!

Firstly –

Find out whether the teacher is native or experienced in the language.

I was surprised to recently see a person who is currently studying for their level 4 BSL qualification to have set up classes to teach levels 1-3. This person is hearing, with minimal involvement in the local deaf world and is considerably new to BSL. 

The courses they were advertising, however, were extremely affordable. So affordable – in fact – that I hope those signing up to the courses will at least wonder whether the price is too good to be true, for the value that they will receive.

Aside from the fact that BSL tutors should – in theory – teach two levels below the qualification they possess, it is worrying how quickly people intend to aim to profit from the language. 

The quality of the BSL teaching you receive will undoubtedly be influenced by the teachers experience and skills, so it makes sense to choose wisely especially if you wish to become a teacher yourself or even just work formally in the BSL field.

If you can’t find a native BSL user to teach your course, look for those who are experienced and involved in the deaf community to ensure that what you’re learning is authentic and accurate. 

Does the tutor hold a teaching qualification? 

Despite certain BSL websites stating that tutors must have appropriate qualifications and experience, you will be surprised by how many tutors possess neither. 

If a BSL course is listed as not having any formal exams at the end of it with no accreditation to be gained from it, it’s probably worth looking into why that is. 

This might not pose a problem if you’re just curious about learning new signs as a hobby, but it can be problematic if you’re wanting to use BSL with the wider community when you don’t have the backing of a confident, qualified trainer and an accredited course. 

You should also not spend money on courses that aren’t accredited if you’re hoping to gain formal qualifications. So read the course details carefully! 

Be aware that social media is rife with incorrect BSL teachings. Just because content online is free and available to learn from, this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s correct. Anyone can say they’re ‘teaching BSL signs’ on YouTube, but with no assessors or authentication methods, the online world is a maze of misinformation.

You can avoid this by asking BSL users for recommendations of content creators to follow if the online method works best for you. 

Does the course have a realistic time plan?

You can expect to attend a BSL course over several months and even provide a portfolio of video evidence – especially as you progress further in your BSL journey. So it makes sense that learning a language will take time and repetition for your study to progress.

What is not realistic – however – are the intensive ‘one day’ courses that I see being offered online that claim to teach a whole level in one day. Claiming to only need one day to learn BSL level 1 as opposed to the 60 hours that it usually takes is extremely disproportionate. 

You can certainly attend BSL taster workshops in one day or – for example – themed BSL courses where key workers learn important phrases for their line of work. You can also attend Baby Sign classes in one day where you pick up a few signs to use at home with your child.

But learning the whole of level 1 BSL in one day?! Alarm bells would be ringing for me. 

What is the investment required?

It is understandable that for many, the actual course cost is an area of concern. BSL courses can be expensive especially the higher levels and it can be tempting therefore to simply look for the cheapest option.

Throughout lockdown we even saw numerous online BSL courses advertising courses for £19 a time! Yet the content in these courses was minimal and not always accurate.

To prevent you from unnecessarily spending a fortune on a BSL course qualification that you may not require – seek advice from a BSL user or even a tutor first. They may be able to guide you on a low cost course or free content that you will help you in your line of work or family environment. 

For those wishing to undertake formal qualifications, you always get what you pay for, so signing up with a reputable organisation or recommended BSL tutor will always pay off better than taking a risk with an inexperienced tutor who offers a cheaper course.

Finally, you may wish to consider the tutors teaching style, hours of teaching and support they offer. If it’s possible to meet a tutor for an in person chat or virtual meeting before signing up to a course, do so in order to find out whether they feel like the best fit for you. 

Learning BSL can open up many wonderful doors so I hope for those reading this who want to learn – this inspires you to go ahead and take the first step.

If you’re still in doubt as to where you should go and learn from, reach out to BSL users or deaf organisations in your local area and enquire. Good luck! 

For BSL users reading this, what other advice or tips would you give? Feel free to leave them in the comments. 

Rebecca A Withey is the Assistant Editor for The Limping Chicken. She is also a script writer, BSL consultant and creative artist based in the Midlands. Rebecca is a Deaf, bilingual BSL user. Find out more at www.rawithey.com