In the United Kingdom, British Sign Language (BSL) is the official and most commonly used sign language. It is used as a native language by approximately 120,000 deaf adults and as a second language by 250,000 adults.
BSL uses different forms of hand gestures and body movements (facial expressions, etc.) to communicate and convey the message.
So, learning BSL is very useful if you have any deaf acquaintances, especially a family member, as you will be able to communicate with them freely.
There are various BSL courses available online for you to get started. Doing an online course has its own advantages, as it is cost and time effective, and many more.
In order to assist you in getting started on this journey to learn BSL, we have shortlisted 9 best online BSL courses and classes. The list includes courses for both beginners and intermediates.
List of Best Online BSL Courses & Classes
The following list was curated after going through hundreds of free and paid BSL courses available online. We hope it will help you start this journey to hone new skills.
1. Introducing British Sign Language (British-sign.co.uk)
If you are looking for a beginner-level course, this is one of the most suitable and convenient online courses. You can take up the course at your convenient time and finish the course at your own pace.
In this course, you will be taught the basics of BSL to make your subject foundation strong. You will also be given assignments after every lesson to ensure that you are involved in the session and grasping the concepts. Once you have finished all the lessons and assignments, you will receive a certificate of completion.
This is a paid course, so you will have to enroll for the course with a one-time enrollment fee. With this, you will have access to all the materials for 2 years so that you can come back to the portal to refresh your skills.
Topics Covered:
- Fingerspelling
- Numbers
- Colors
- Deaf Awareness
- Introductions
- Family and Relationships
- Descriptions
- Hobbies
Prerequisites: Internet connection; Desktop, Laptop, or Mobile.
Duration: approximately 1.5 – 2hrs/week
Certificate: Yes
2. Breakthrough BSL (Udemy)
This BSL short introductory course gives you a basic understanding of the alphabet, finger spelling, core vocabulary, and more. In addition, you will learn how to ask questions and express emotions.
The course is both video and text-based. It is a one-hour course providing useful information and phrases to communicate effectively in real life, which you can practice every day. The course teacher, Olly Richards, has curated the course in an easily understandable manner. She is also easily approachable when you have doubts.
This is a paid course. Once you have purchased the course on Udemy, you will have lifetime access to it. Furthermore, you will receive a certificate of completion when you have completed the entire course successfully.
Topics Covered:
- What is BSL?
- The Alphabet
- Fingerspelling
- Introducing yourself
- Core Vocabulary like colors, animals, verbs, etc.
- Family Vocabulary
- Time, Date, Months of the Year
- Most common question forms
Prerequisites: Internet connection; Desktop, Laptop, or Mobile
Duration: 1 hour
Certificate: Yes
3. Learn British Sign Language (BSL courses)
If you are looking for advanced courses to start your career as a translator or interpreter, then the BSL courses platform offers certificate courses for all levels.
Here, you will be taught based on the BSL level you choose. For example, if you are a beginner, then you will be taught finger spelling, basic vocabulary, etc. And if you have basic knowledge about the subject, then you will be introduced to topics such as interpretation, metaphors, role shifting, and regional dialects.
The courses are well-built and comprehensive, but they are priced higher. Furthermore, you will have to purchase the courses differently for different levels.
Prerequisites: Internet connection; Desktop, Laptop, or Mobile; Prior understanding of the subject for greater level courses.
Certificate: Yes
4. British Sign Language Diploma Course (Centre of Excellence)
This is another option if you are looking for an advanced course to become proficient in BSL. In this course, you will learn the origin and history of BSL, practical aspects of vocabulary and grammar, and more.
By the end of the course, you will be able to use signs for letters, numbers, objects, food, emotions, etc. The course materials are completely video based. In addition, you will be added to a study group to interact with other students to clear doubts and share more information.
The Complementary Medical Association, Quality License Scheme, and CPD accredit the course. Once you have finished going through the lessons and submitted the assignments, you will receive a certificate of completion from the Centre of Excellence and also a CPD certificate.
Topics Covered:
- Letters and Numbers
- Personality and Feelings
- Basics, objects, and places
- Food and Drink
- Date, Time, and Weather
- Occupations
Prerequisites: Internet connection; Desktop, Laptop, or Mobile.
Duration: 150 hours
Certificate: Yes
5. Great Crash Course: British Sign Language (BSL) Level 1 & 2 (John Academy)
This course is a great place to start if you want to become proficient in BSL and be able to communicate freely. In Level 1 of this course, you will be given a basic introduction to BSL, vocabulary, and more. The lessons in Level 1 are more oriented towards teaching the students different sentences they can use every day than teaching the words one by one.
Whereas, in Level 2, you will be taught vocabulary related to school, work, leisure, and more. Upon completing these two levels, you will have a strong foundation and be able to opt for an advanced course.
The course is mostly video based with spoken audio. Upon completion of the course, you will be provided with a certificate of completion.
Topics Covered:
Level 1
- Fingerspelling
- Family, Question forms
- Greetings
- Check out the full list here.
Level 2
- Family Vocabulary
- Activities at School
- Jobs and activities at work
- Check out the full list here.
Prerequisites: Internet; Mobile, Desktop or Laptop; 16+ years of age; good understanding of English language, numeracy, and ICT
Duration: 150 hours
Certificate: Yes
6. British Sign Language (BSL) Level 1 & 2 (Reed Courses)
If you want to build a solid vocabulary foundation, you can consider opting for this course. With this course, you will be able to communicate effectively with the deaf community and easily speak on common topics, etc.
This is a paid course. Upon enrollment, you will have access to the course materials. You will be able to chat with your tutor to clarify your doubts and receive feedback. And upon completion of the course, you will be accredited with a certificate. In addition, you will be a part of a global learning community where you can connect with subject experts and students.
Topics Covered:
Level 1
- Introduction to BSL
- Family, question forms, and family story
- Rooms in the house vocabulary
- Check out the full list here.
Level 2
- Family Vocabulary
- Describing People and Animals
- Activities at School, Work, and Home
- Check out the full list here.
Prerequisites: Internet; Mobile, Laptop, or Desktop
Duration: Self-paced
Certificate: Yes
7. British Sign Language for Beginners (Udemy)
If you have no basic idea about BSL and don’t know where and how to start, this is the best course to begin with, especially if you’re looking to learn the basics that can help communicate with friends and family members.
In this course, you will learn everything from scratch. You will learn how to form simple phrases, sign the BSL alphabet, introduce yourself and different topics, end a conversation, and more. The course teacher, Tom Davison, teaches most easily and understandably. He doesn’t rush to the next topic and gives enough time for the students to understand and practice.
Topics Covered:
- The Alphabet
- Asking Simple Questions
- Introducing Yourself
- Asking for clarification
- Ending a conversation
Prerequisites: Internet; Mobile, Laptop, or Desktop
Duration: 30m
Certificate: Yes
8. British Sign Language for All (Open Academy)
This is another course you can consider learning from if you’re a beginner. The course is well-structured and easy to understand. It covers all the basics of British Sign Language.
This course teaches you how to form sentences in BSL, grammar basics, facial expressions, the British Sign Language alphabet, fingerspelling, handshapes, numbers, colors, and more. In addition, you will also learn how to talk about your family and various essential topics like travel, transport, etc.
The curator of the course, Jazzy Whipps, is a Deaf Youtuber, and she grew up using BSL. With her lifelong experience, she curated this course for people to learn BSL. So you can learn this course from the comfort of your own home and at a pace that suits you.
Topics Covered:
- Introduction
- Facial expressions
- Handshapes
- Basic building blocks
- Talking about family members
- Describing people
- Weather, Date & Time
Prerequisites: Internet; Mobile, Laptop, or Desktop
Certificate: Yes
9. Basics of British Sign Language (Alison)
If you’re looking for a course oriented towards enhancing your communication skills using BSL, you can consider signing up for this course. The course begins with covering the basic topics and then moves to core vocabulary.
Furthermore, you will learn how to ask questions using BSL, describe your emotions, and learn different signs that can be used regularly. In addition, the course also provides a reference section where English words are translated to BSL.
Once you have signed up for the course, you will be able to access it anytime.
Topics Covered:
- What is BSL
- The Alphabet
- Core Vocabulary
Prerequisites: Internet; Mobile, Laptop, or Desktop
Duration: 2-3 hrs
Certificate: Yes
Conclusion
Whether you want to learn BSL to communicate with your friends and family or for your professional career, various courses are available online.
While looking for the best course for you, always remember the purpose of your learning, the course outline, and the course teacher. We considered these factors along with certification, duration, and more to curate this list of the 9 best online courses to learn BSL.
After you have signed up for a course, combining the resources with BSL Dictionaries and Apps will help you become a fluent speaker of British Sign Language in less than a month or two.
So, have you decided on which course to sign up for?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BSL a Legal Requirement?
For now, BSL is not a legal requirement in the UK. But it is highly recommended that people learn BSL so that they can freely communicate with deaf people and create a safe and secure environment for them.
Is Sign Language Online Classes Self-Paced or Scheduled?
Most of the classes available online are self-paced, so you will be able to finish the course at your convenience. But there are a few courses where you might have to schedule classes accordingly.
Do Sign Online Language Courses Provide a Certificate?
Yes, upon completion of the lessons and assignments given in the paid course, you will receive a certificate of completion. However, some short paid courses and free courses do not certify you upon completion of the courses, and it’s best if you are looking to learn BSL only to communicate with your family and friends.
What Jobs Can I Get with the BSL Certification?
Upon completing the advanced BSL courses, you can start your career as a Sign Language Interpreter, Child Care Worker, Speech-Language Pathologist, and Social Worker.
Is It Worth Learning Sign Language?
Yes, it is worth learning the sign language of your place so that you can communicate with people with hearing impairments freely and contribute towards building a safe and secure society for everyone to coexist.
What is the Average Time Taken to Learn Sign Language?
Learning basic sign language will take around 60 to 90 hours. However, since sign languages are comparatively easy to learn, you can master them in a month or two. And with an effective course, you can speed up things.
