Introduction | Advice for the Learner | Types of Courses for Adults | Finding a Course | Work Experience | British Sign Language |
British Sign Language
British Sign Language (BSL) is the first or preferred language of an estimated 50,000 to 70,000 deaf people in the UK. BSL is now recognised as a language in its own right and the Government is to give careful consideration to any proposals which the Council of Europe’s Charter for Regional or Minority Languages might make.
Accredited qualifications in BSL are awarded by the Council for Advancement of Communication with Deaf People (CACDP) but they do not provide courses in BSL. However they do provide a helpful list of courses located around the country on their website. You do not have to take an exam if you decide to learn BSL, but you may find it a useful qualification. CACDP is one of the National Language Standards-compatible NVQ awarding bodies and the main provider of certification in BSL.
Many training courses take place in colleges of further education and
local authority adult education centres. Some courses are offered in local
centres for deaf people or through special schools, training agencies
and voluntary organisations. The National Language Standards and the National
Standards in Interpreting Standards produced
apply equally to sign language and to spoken language.
There are several HE courses available in BSL/English interpreting. For details of which HE courses are acceptable for those who wish to register as professional interpreters, please visit the Independent Registration Panel.
Further Information
Royal Association for Deaf People
Tel: 0845 688 2525
Fax: 0845 688 2526
Minicom: 0845 688 2527
SMS: 07720 718305
Email: info@royaldeaf.org.uk
Council for the Advancement
of Communication with Deaf People (CACDP)
Tel: 0191 383 1155
Fax: 0191 383 7914
Textphone: 0191 383 7915
Email: durham@cacdp.org.uk
Factsheets, course details (including a useful course-finder map) and
careers information can be found on the website.
British
Deaf Association
Textphone: 020 7588 3529
Voice phone: 020 7588 3520
Videophone IP: 81.138.165.105
Fax: 020 7588 3527
Email: london@signcommunity.org.uk
Royal National Institute
for Deaf People (RNID)
Information Line (Freephone)
Telephone: 0808 808 0123
Textphone: 0808 808 9000
Email: informationline@rnid.org.uk
British Association of Teachers of the Deaf (BATOD)
Deafness Resources on the Internet
Association of Sign Language Interpreters
Scottish Association of Sign Language Interpreters
The Languages Work website has more information about working as a BSL interpreter. There is also a useful British Sign Language interpreter case study.
