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British Sign Language (BSL) Level 1 & 2

18841 Students
(20 Reviews)

An online BSL course for beginners. Learn to sign from the alphabet to full conversations, with Level 1 and Level 2 in one course.

British Sign Language (BSL) Level 1 & 2

GET THIS COURSE AND 3000+ OTHERS FOR ONLY £49 PER YEAR. FIND OUT MORE

Last audited and updated on: 25th APril, 2026

Overview

Around 151,000 people in the UK use British Sign Language, and 87,000 of them are Deaf. This online BSL course teaches you to sign with them, taking you from the fingerspelling alphabet to holding a real conversation.

Most Deaf people go through daily life surrounded by people who cannot sign back. In shops, in waiting rooms, at work and in classrooms, the conversation simply stops. Learning BSL is what reopens it.

That gap is starting to close. In April 2022, British Sign Language was recognised in law as a language of England, Scotland and Wales. Schools, the NHS, councils and employers are all under growing pressure to communicate with Deaf people properly, and they need staff who can sign.

This is a BSL course for beginners, so you need no previous experience of sign language. Level 1 builds your everyday vocabulary: family, home, colours, animals, numbers, money, time, weather, transport, directions, hobbies, work, and food and drink. Level 2 widens it into describing people, school and workplace life, health, shopping, travel and giving your opinion. Both levels finish with filmed dialogues and short stories, so you practise following real signing at real speed rather than one sign at a time.

Everything is online and self-paced. Study in the evenings, repeat anything as often as you like, and go back to the parts that need more work. Pass the final assessment and you can order your certificate, endorsed by the Quality Licence Scheme and accredited for CPD.

Enrol today and start signing.

Sneak Peek

What You Will Learn

By the end of this online BSL course, you will be able to:

What This BSL Course Covers

Level 1 — your everyday vocabulary Fingerspelling and names, greetings, family and question forms, rooms in the house, colours, animals, numbers and money, time, days and months, ages, weather, transport, directions, hobbies, work, and food and drink.

Level 1 — putting it together Fourteen filmed dialogues and five longer stories. Situations include a job interview, a day in hospital, learning to drive, getting lost and asking for directions, and meeting up with family.

Level 2 — widening your range Describing people and animals, school and school subjects, jobs and workplace life, activities at home, leisure and DIY, opinions and preferences, illness and treatment, eating and drinking, shopping and spending, and travel and holidays.

Level 2 — putting it together Fifteen filmed dialogues and five stories, including a first day at a new job, a first day at school, a visit to the doctor, a day in hospital and planning a garden.

Finishing the course: A written assignment, the final assessment, and your certificate.

The full lesson-by-lesson breakdown is in the course curriculum belo

Who Is This BSL Course For?

This course suits anyone starting from zero. It is especially useful if you are:

You do not need any previous knowledge of sign language.

Why Learn British Sign Language

The need is large and growing. RNID estimates that 1 in 5 adults in the UK — around 12 million people — are Deaf or have hearing loss, and that this will reach about 14.2 million by 2035. The number of hearing people who can sign has not grown anywhere near as quickly.

The law has changed. The British Sign Language Act 2022 received Royal Assent on 28 April 2022 and recognised BSL as a language of England, Scotland and Wales. It also requires government departments to report on how they use BSL in public communications. That recognition is pushing demand for signing staff across public services.

It changes what you can do at work. In a hospital, a classroom or a care home, a member of staff who can sign is the difference between a Deaf person being part of the conversation and being talked about over their head. Employers in health, education and social care increasingly treat BSL as a real advantage on an application.

And very few people have it. Most CVs in care, education and customer service look much the same. BSL is one of the few things that makes someone remember yours.

Method of Assessment

Assessment is by online multiple-choice exam. The pass mark is 60% and you get your result straight away.

A mock exam comes first, so you can check where you stand before it counts.

There is also a written assignment, which a tutor reviews and returns with written feedback rather than just a mark.

Certification

When you pass the final assessment, you can order either or both certificates.

Endorsed Certificate of Achievement from the Quality Licence Scheme Posted to your address for £59. Overseas delivery costs an extra £10.

CPD Accredited Certificate PDF emailed to you immediately for £9.99, or a printed copy posted for £15.99.

CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development. It is how UK employers recognise training taken outside formal qualifications, and many roles in healthcare, education and social care ask staff to log CPD hours each year. This course counts toward that.

Every certificate carries a unique code, so an employer can check it through the certificate validator on our site.

Requirements

There are no formal entry requirements. The course is open to anyone aged 16 or over, with no previous experience of sign language.

To study comfortably you will need:

Course Duration and Access

The course holds over 20 hours of video across both levels.

Most learners spread it over several weeks rather than working through it in one go, because signing vocabulary needs repeating before it sticks. A topic per session works well, coming back to it a few days later.

Your access lasts 1 year from enrolment, which gives you time to revisit sections whenever a situation calls for them.

Career Path

BSL is rarely a job on its own. It is an addition that makes you more useful in the job you already want, and it is the first step on the specialist routes.

Where BSL helps you straight away

Teaching Assistant and SEN Teaching Assistant: Supporting Deaf and hearing-impaired pupils in mainstream and specialist schools, where BSL is often listed as desirable and sometimes essential.

Healthcare Assistant and Support Worker:  Working with Deaf patients and service users in hospitals, care homes and community services.

Social Care Worker: Including specialist Deaf services, where signing staff are consistently in short supply.

Customer-facing roles: Transport, retail, local government and the emergency services all now train or recruit for basic signing.

Where BSL can take you further

Communication Support Worker: Supporting Deaf students in colleges and universities.

BSL Tutor: Teaching the language yourself.

Registered BSL/English Interpreter: The senior route. The National Careers Service sets out the requirements as a degree or Level 6 award in BSL plus an approved interpreting qualification, and lists freelance rates of £18 to £50 an hour depending on the work and the location.

This course is the starting point for all of them. For the first group, it is a useful addition now. For the second, it is the foundation the higher levels are built on.

British Sign Language Course Reviews

Excellent

4.8 Average 20 Reviews

star Reviews

Charlotte M
📍Manchester
Really helpful course. The videos made it easy to follow and I picked up the basics of BSL quicker than I expected.
Daniel R
📍Bristol
Clear lessons and steady pace. Great starter course for anyone wanting to learn BSL from home.
Amelia S.
📍Leeds
Loved the structure. Simple, engaging and ideal for beginners. I feel much more confident using basic signs now.

Course Curriculum

British Sign language (BSL) Level 1 Online Course
Introduction to BSL  00:04:00
Alphabet Finger spelling and Names Practice
Alphabet with 00:01:00
 Alphabet 00:01:00
Fingerspelling test  00:01:00
Fingerspelling replay 00:01:00
 Names test  00:04:00
Names replay 00:04:00
Greetings
Greetings 00:05:00
Greetings without voice try these yourself  00:04:00
Family, question forms and family story
Family Vocabulary 00:02:00
Family vocabulary test your memory  00:03:00
Question forms 00:01:00
Question forms test your memory 00:01:00
Family story test 00:03:00
Family Story Recap How did you do  00:03:00
Rooms in the house vocabulary
Rooms in the house Vocabulary 00:02:00
Kitchen Vocabulary  00:02:00
Bathroom Vocabulary 00:01:00
Bedroom Vocabulary 00:01:00
Living room and Dining room Vocabulary 00:02:00
Study Vocabulary  00:01:00
Utility room Vocabulary 00:01:00
Garden Vocabulary  00:01:00
Colours
Colours  00:01:00
 Colours test yourself  00:01:00
Questions and statements about the home
 Questions and statements about home test 00:01:00
Questions and statements about the home replay were you right 00:01:00
Animals
Animal Vocabulary  00:03:00
Animal vocab replay test your knowledge  00:03:00
 Short animal story  00:01:00
Short animal story replay were you right  00:01:00
Animal and pet questions  00:01:00
Animal and pet question replay were you right 00:01:00
Numbers and Money
Numbers 1-30  00:02:00
Numbers 1-30 replay without voice test yourself  00:02:00
Numbers 10’s, 100’s 00:02:00
 Numbers 10’s, 100’s replay without voice test yourself  00:01:00
Mixed number test 00:01:00
Mixed number test replay  00:01:00
Money £1 – £20 00:01:00
Money £1 – £20 replay test your knowledge 00:01:00
Mixed money test  00:01:00
Mixed money test replay  00:01:00
Time and Months of the Year
Time 1 o’clock to 12 o’clock  00:01:00
Days of the week  00:01:00
Months of the year 00:01:00
Time periods 00:02:00
Time periods replay test your knowledge 00:02:00
Describing Ages
Describing ages  00:01:00
Describing ages replay without voice test your knowledge  00:01:00
Number and ages phrase test 00:02:00
Number & Ages phrase test replay 00:02:00
Mixed time, ages and money test 00:03:00
Mixed time, ages, and money test replay 00:03:00
Weather
Weather Vocabulary  00:02:00
Weather vocab without voice test your understanding  00:02:00
Weather phrase test 00:04:00
Weather phrase test replay 00:02:00
Transport
Transport Vocabulary  00:04:00
Transport vocabulary without subtitles – test yourself  00:04:00
Transport phrases without subtitles 00:03:00
Transport phrases replay with subtitles  00:03:00
Directions
Directions Vocabulary  00:02:00
Directions vocabulary without subtitles test yourself  00:02:00
Direction phrases test without subtitles  00:03:00
Direction phrases replay with subtitles  00:03:00
Hobbies
Hobbies Vocabulary  00:03:00
Hobbies vocabulary without subtitles test yourself 00:03:00
Hobbies phrases test  00:04:00
Hobbies phrases replay with subtitles  00:04:00
Work
Work Vocabulary  00:05:00
Work vocabulary without subtitles test yourself  00:05:00
Work phrases test  00:04:00
Work phrases replay with subtitles  00:04:00
Food and Drink
Food and Drink Vocabulary 00:08:00
Food and drink without subtitles 00:08:00
Food and drink phrases without subtitles  00:04:00
Food and Drink phrases replay with subtitles  00:04:00
Dialogues No Voice No Subtitles
The broken car 00:02:00
Tom’s 18th Birthday Party 00:03:00
New House 00:05:00
At the bank without 00:01:00
On a train 00:02:00
Going to a restaurant without 00:02:00
Going on a picnic without 00:02:00
Job interview day 00:01:00
Horse riding without 00:09:00
I’m lost and need directions 00:01:00
Valentine’s Day 00:04:00
A day in hospital without 00:01:00
Learning to drive 00:02:00
Meeting up with the family 00:01:00
Dialogues with voice and subtitles
The broken car 00:02:00
Tom’s 18th birthday party 00:02:00
New house 00:02:00
At the bank 00:01:00
On a train 00:02:00
Going to a restaurant 00:02:00
Going on a picnic 00:02:00
Job interview day 00:02:00
Horse riding 00:01:00
I’m lost and need directions 00:01:00
Valentines Day 00:01:00
A day in hospital 00:02:00
Learning to drive 00:03:00
School reunion 00:02:00
Meeting up with the family 00:02:00
Bonus 5 Stories with voice and subtitles
Tom’s 18th Birthday Party 00:03:00
New house 00:05:00
On a Train 00:05:00
Valentines day 00:04:00
Learning to drive 00:03:00
Bonus 5 stories with no voice over
Tom’s 18th Birthday Party 00:03:00
New House 00:05:00
On a train 00:04:00
Valentine’s Day 00:04:00
Learning to drive 00:03:00
Level 2 British Sign Language
Family Vocabulary
Family Vocabulary No Voice over  00:03:00
Family 00:02:00
Describing People and Animals
Describing People No Voice Over  00:01:00
Describing People 00:01:00
Ethnic Groups No Voice Over  00:01:00
Ethnic Groups  00:01:00
Religion No Voice Over  00:01:00
Religion 00:01:00
Clothes No Voice Over 00:02:00
Clothes  00:02:00
Colour No Voice Over  00:01:00
Colours  00:01:00
Feelings No Voice Over 00:01:00
Feelings  00:01:00
Feelings 2 No Voice Over  00:01:00
Feelings 2 00:01:00
Animals No Voice Over  00:01:00
Animals  00:01:00
Activities at School
Activities At School No Voice Over  00:01:00
Activities At School 00:01:00
People Who Work In Schools No Voice Over  00:01:00
People Who Work In Schools 00:01:00
School Vocabulary No Voice Over  00:02:00
School Vocabulary  00:02:00
Subjects No Voice Over  00:01:00
Subjects  00:01:00
School Vocabulary 2 No Voice Over 00:01:00
School Vocabulary 2  00:01:00
Jobs and activities at work
Jobs No Voice Over  00:02:00
Jobs  00:02:00
Applying For Work No Voice Over  00:01:00
Applying For Work 00:01:00
Office No Voice Over  00:01:00
Office  00:01:00
Firm No Voice Over  00:01:00
Firm  00:01:00
Meetings No Voice Over  00:01:00
Meetings 00:01:00
Time
Time Vocabulary No Voice Over  00:02:00
Time Vocabulary 00:02:00
Activities in the home
Activities In The Home No Voice Over  00:01:00
Activities In The Home  00:01:00
Go Out To Work no Voice Over  00:01:00
Go Out To Work  00:01:00
Do The Washing No Voice Over  00:01:00
Do The Washing 00:01:00
Flats No Voice over  00:01:00
Flat  00:01:00
Leisure activities
Leisure Activities No Voice Over 00:01:00
Leisure Activities  00:01:00
Hobbies No Voice Over 00:01:00
Hobbies  00:01:00
Going Out No Voice Over  00:01:00
Going Out 00:01:00
Plan Tickets No Voice Over  00:01:00
Plan  00:01:00
DIY No Voice Over 00:01:00
DIY  00:01:00
Opinions Likes and Dislikes
Attitudes And Opinions No Voice Over 00:02:00
Attitudes And Opinions  00:02:00
Opinions No Voice Over  00:01:00
Opinions 00:01:00
Illnesses and Health
Illnesses No Voice Over 00:01:00
Illnesses  00:01:00
Treatment No Voice Over 00:01:00
Treatment 00:01:00
Eating and Drinking
Eating And Drinking Vocabulary No Voice Over  00:01:00
Eating And Drinking 00:01:00
Drinks No Voice Over 00:01:00
Drinks  00:01:00
Cereal No Voice Over  00:01:00
Cereal  00:01:00
Fruit No Voice Over  00:01:00
Fruit  00:01:00
5Veg No Voice Over 00:01:00
Vegetables  00:01:00
Main Meal No Voice Over 00:01:00
Main Meal  00:01:00
Sweets No Voice Over  00:01:00
Sweets  00:01:00
Hot Food And Drink No Voice Over 00:01:00
Hot Food-Drinks  00:01:00
Payment No Voice Over  00:01:00
Payment 00:01:00
Shopping and Spending
Shopping And Spending No Voice Over 00:02:00
Shopping And Spending 00:02:00
Expensive No Voice Over 00:04:00
Expensive 00:01:00
Shops No Voice Over  00:01:00
Shops 00:02:00
Travel and Holidays
Travel And Holidays No Voice Over  00:01:00
Travel And Holidays 00:01:00
Travelling No Voice Over  00:01:00
Travelling 00:01:00
Vehicles No Voice Over 00:02:00
Vehicles  00:02:00
Directions No Voice Over  00:01:00
Directions  00:01:00
Going Abroad No Voice Over 00:01:00
Going Abroad  00:01:00
Breakdown No Voice Over  00:01:00
Breakdown  00:01:00
Places No Voice Over  00:03:00
Places 00:02:00
Holidays No Voice Over  00:01:00
Holidays 00:01:00
Hotel No Voice Over  00:01:00
Hotel  00:01:00
Beach No Voice Over 00:01:00
Beach  00:01:00
Complaints No Voice Over 00:01:00
Complaints And Compliments 00:01:00
Excellent No Voice Over  00:01:00
Excellent 00:01:00
Level 2 dialogues without voice and subtitles
The Broken Leg 00:02:00
Surprise Holiday 00:02:00
It’s Snowing 00:01:00
Shopping 00:02:00
Taking The Dog For A Walk 00:01:00
First Day At New a Job 00:02:00
On The Beach 00:02:00
First Day At School 00:04:00
In The Park 00:01:00
On a Plane 00:01:00
At The Doctors  00:03:00
Pets 00:01:00
Family 00:02:00
My New Kitchen 00:02:00
Designing a New Garden 00:02:00
Level 2 Dialogues with voice over and subtitles
The Broken Leg  00:02:00
Surprise Holiday  00:02:00
Snowing 00:01:00
Shopping  00:02:00
Taking My Dog For a Walk 00:01:00
First Day At a New Job 00:02:00
On The Beach 00:02:00
First Day At School 00:01:00
In The Park 00:01:00
On a Plane  00:01:00
 At the Doctors  00:03:00
Pets  00:02:00
Family 00:02:00
My New Kitchen 00:02:00
Designing a New Garden 00:02:00
5 stories with no voice over and no subtitles
First day at School 00:04:00
Taking the dog for a walk 00:04:00
At the Doctors 00:03:00
First Pet 00:03:00
Designing a New Garden 00:03:00
5 stories with voice over and subtitles
First Day at School  00:04:00
Taking the Dog For a Walk 00:04:00
At the Doctors 00:03:00
First Pet 00:04:00
Designing a New Garden 00:03:00
Assignment
Assignment – British Sign Language (BSL) Level 1 & 2 2 weeks, 2 days
Order your Certificates & Transcripts
Order your Certificates & Transcripts 00:00:00
Trustpilot Review
Trustpilot Review 00:00:00

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Frequently asked questions

Can’t find the anwser you’re looking for ? Reach out to customer support team.

How long does it take to become proficient in British Sign Language (BSL)?

Becoming proficient in BSL varies depending on various factors like dedication, practice, and learning pace. Generally, achieving basic conversational skills might take around 6 months of consistent learning. Mastery and fluency, however, could take several years of ongoing practice and immersion.

Is British Sign Language (BSL) different from American Sign Language (ASL)?

Yes, BSL and ASL are distinct languages with unique grammar, vocabulary, and syntax. BSL is primarily used in the United Kingdom and has its own linguistic structure, while ASL is used in the United States and Canada. Learning one doesn't necessarily mean proficiency in the other.

Do I need any prior experience in British Sign Language (BSL)?

No prior knowledge is required. The course starts from the basics in Level 1 and gradually progresses to more advanced communication skills in Level 2

Can anyone learn British Sign Language (BSL)?

Absolutely! BSL is a language open to everyone, regardless of age, background, or ability. It's a visual language that can be learned by anyone willing to dedicate time and effort to understand and communicate through signs and gestures.

Can learning BSL improve my job opportunities?

Absolutely. British Sign Language (BSL) skills are in demand across sectors such as education, healthcare, social services, and customer-facing roles, making this course a valuable addition to your professional development.

Will I receive a certificate upon completion?

Yes. Upon successfully completing the British Sign Language (BSL) course and assessments, you will receive a recognised certificate that can enhance your CV and career prospects.

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