Hi! Tom from London, living in Vietnam

[Tom Leigh]

Hi! This forum looks pretty quiet, but I hope I can meet some people with the same interest as me.

My name’s Tom, I’m from London but have lived/worked in Hanoi for the past year and a half.

 

I actually have a question for everyone about BSL level 1, this seems like a good place to post it.

I’m travelling right now, back to the UK around May. I want to take the Level 1 BEFORE starting Uni in september.

The problem is, most courses are either very very long (24 weeks) or very very intense (6 days!).

I’ve found a few courses in-between (e.g: 3 days a week x 4 weeks OR 1 day a week x 11 weeks).

How long would you suggest, for a first-timer? I’m learning a foreign sign language but I have almost zero BSL. During this time I might work part-time, but the Level 1 will be my main focus.

What is the minimum length everyone would suggest, to really get to grips with the content? Thanks!

T

[Bec Meachin]

Hi Tom,

I’ve just done the training for level one online https://www.bslcourses.co.uk/

Basically you get videos to watch, then you have tutorials over skype when you are ready. You can take the actual qualification, but I am doing all of the courses including level 6, so you don’t need to do the exams if you don’t want to and just jump to the next level. This saves money too!

I’ve really enjoyed level 1 and the chap I had doing the tutorials was really nice. As for time, I think I needed the full week to practice using the signs and looking up some things in between too. I have 11 month old twins though, so time is a bit short for me! ? So if I was going to an actual course rather than online I would do the once a week.

 

Hope that helps and welcome to the forum. I’ve been off for a few weeks with poorly babies, but try and check in most days. 

Cheers, Bec