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Pre-Level 6 BSL (Online)

Choose from self-guided online study or live taught classes with a teacher and achieve a professional qualification.

Upcoming courses
Two people sit at a table smiling and holding their hands up to their heads, while another person sits behind them looking away. Papers and drinks are on the table.

Pre Level 6 BSL (Online)

£800 (inc. VAT) (no exam fee)

  • Upper-intermediate (B2)
  • 3 exams
  • 20 weeks
  • 3 hours per week
  • Online course

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  • Upcoming courses

    Click one of the options below for more information about the dates and times
    • Course ContentAssessmentsEntry RequirementsProgressionCareersFeesApply

    Pre-Level 6 BSL - Course content

    The Pre-Level 6 course is not accredited and you will not receive a formal qualification. The aim of this course is to prepare you for the Level 6 Certificate in British Sign Language qualification. You will develop your linguistic skills in British Sign Language towards upper-intermediate level, or B2 of the CEFR. Teaching begins by briefly re-visiting the vocabulary and grammatical structures covered in Level 3, before moving swiftly onto developing skills, understanding and knowledge in BSL grammar, receptive skills, productive skills and conversational skills.

    The course is delivered in an informal and relaxed environment and your teacher will use a variety of teaching and learning methods to cater for all learning styles and to meet the needs of all learners. The course is designed to be fun, engaging and meaningful and will give you the opportunity to practice your productive and receptive skills by means of group work, pair work, role-plays, games, presentations and discussions.

    The Pre-Level 6 course is useful for anybody who is in regular contact with deaf people, be it through work or social life. On completion of this course, learners will be able to further develop their linguistic skills by progressing onto the Level 6 Certificate in British Sign Language course and/or onto professional training in interpreting, translation and communication support.

    ThemeTopics covered
    Employment and business
    • Applying for jobs
    • Positive and negative discrimination, tribunals, equal opportunities
    • Setting up your own business – banks, accounts, tax
    • Advantages and disadvantages of being self employed
    • Unemployment rates, how easy/difficult is it to get a job?
    • Access to work – do all deaf people know about it? Is this available to everyone? What are the limitations?
    • Part time vs Full time work / Maximum working hours when doing 2 jobs
    • What obstacles do Deaf people face in employment?
    • Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
    • Pensions – private pensions vs state pension, retirement age changes, how this will affect the younger generation. Is there enough access to information for Deaf people on
      pensions?
    • Benefits available for those who can’t work
    • Work ethics
    Education
    • Access to education – has this improved over the years?
    • Are Deaf people limited to what further education courses they can do?
    • Are mainstream schools fully inclusive for Deaf people?
    • What improvements could be made to all levels of education to support Deaf children/students?
    • Interpreters vs CSWs
    • Deaf children’s social relationships in mainstream schools vs deaf schools
    • What difficulties do deaf children face in education?
    • Transition from primary/secondary/college/university
    • Educational methods used to teach Deaf children.
    • Deaf role model/Deaf Identity
    • Special Educational Needs (SEN) – Education, Health, Care Plan (EHCP)
    • Tribunals – fighting for school choice
    • Work placements
    Health and wellbeing
    • Access to information on health and well being
    • Mindfulness/meditation/relaxation apps
    • Can deaf people access therapies – Improving Access to Psychological Therapies
    • Long-term impact of isolation/barriers
    • Gym/fitness/exercise classes – how important is exercise for mental health? Do Deaf adults and children have access to these services
    • What can schools do to support children’s health and well-being
    • Top tips for mental health and well-being
    • Healthy eating – myths and facts
    • Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
    • Differences in deaf and hearing mental health
    Society and politics
    • Deaf World – how has this changed over the years?
    • Hearing World – is this more inclusive now?
    • How does society influence young people?
    • Barriers deaf people face in society
    • Does the government make sure Deaf people have full access to political updates? Are their policies accessible?
    • Access to information before voting
    • Politics within the deaf community
    • Speed awareness/driving courses/parking fines
    • Attitudes towards Deaf people
    • Terminology used to describe deafness
    • BSL Act Scotland
    Science and technology
    • Communication methods
    • How have deaf people benefited from changes in technology?
    • New inventions – SUBPAC (music vibration vest) so deaf can hear, subtitle glasses
    • Space travel - NASA vs Russia vs China/effects on balance
    • Ocean Technology - search for missing aeroplanes
    • Big Brother - cameras watching and recording us
    • New signs linked to science – e.g Ebola, Coronavirus
    • New Apps – sign translation apps pros and cons
    • Problems with online technology – internet safety, cyber bullying, trolling
    • Cochlear implants
    • Medical advancements in restoring hearing/gene therapy
    Media and culture
    • Interpreted theatre, Deaf theatre
    • Deaf Comedy, humour
    • Deaf History
    • History of Deaf Schools
    • History of BSL up to Recognition and beyond
    • History of fingerspelling
    • The Milan Conference 1880 and 2010 official apology
    • Social and medical model of disability
    • Diversity in the deaf community
    • How other countries religion or beliefs impact on their deaf community

    Accessments

    There are total of 3 assessments for this qualification:

    No.TopicAssessment
    1Productive skills
    Formal presentation (10-12 minutes)
    2Conversational skills
    Informal conversation (12-14 minutes)
    3Receptive skills
    Receptive skills written exam

    Entry Requirements

    • Level 3 qualification in BSL (or have Level 3 equivalent BSL skills)
    • Pass the interview

    You must also have a good level of literacy to be able to read and understand the course materials.

    This is an advanced level course. There is only so much you can learn in a classroom, so you are expected to already be working or socialising with native signers on a regular basis.

    All applicants must attend a short interview online before being offered a place. The interview costs £50 for non-BSL First students and is free for continuing BSL First students.

    Progression

    When you have completed this course, you will be able to continue to develop your linguistic skills by progressing on to the Level 6 Certificate in British Sign Language course.

    Careers

    Learning BSL isn’t just fun, for many it’s the starting point of a new and exciting career, or professional development in their current role. Popular careers include BSL/English Interpreter, BSL/English Translator, Communication Support Worker, Teacher of the Deaf and BSL Teacher. Our courses are designed to respond to industry demand, which means they won’t just prepare you for the assessment, but also they will equip you with the skills to succeed in your chosen career, or any other career involving the use of BSL.

    Our teachers have a wealth of knowledge and experience in British Sign Language, teaching, interpreting, translation and communication support, so no matter what your goals are we will help to achieve them.

    Here are some popular careers that require knowledge and skills in BSL.

    • BSL/English Interpreter
    • International Sign Interpreter
    • BSL/English Translator
    • Communication Support Worker
    • Teacher of the Deaf
    • BSL Teaching Assistant
    • Educational Communication Support Worker
    • BSL Support Worker
    • Communicator Guide
    • BSL Teacher
    • Notetaker
    • Lipspeaker
    • Deafblind Interpreter

    Fees

    For more information about how our course fees are calculated, please see our Help Section.

    For individuals paying privately

    Option 1 – Pay in full

  • £50 interview fee payable at the time of application (free for BSL First students)
  • £160 deposit payable when accepting place
  • £640 payable within 21 days after the course starts
    • Refund policy: £640 refundable up to 21 days after the course starts. No refund after 21 days.

    Option 2 – Pay in instalments

  • £50 interview fee payable at the time of application (free for BSL First students)
  • £160 deposit payable when accepting place
  • £160 per month x 4 months
    • Refund policy: £160 initial deposit non-refundable. Remaining payments refundable up to 21 days after the course starts. No refund after 21 days.
    Apply

    For employers and organisations

    We do not absorb the VAT for VAT-registered companies. We will raise an invoice for the full course and exam fee. We do not offer employers the option to pay in instalments.

  • Full course fee: £800 + VAT = £960

    • There is no VAT on the exam fee.

    PO number and employer financial details required at the time of application.

    Refund policy:

    £768 refundable up to 21 days after the course starts. No refund after 21 days.

    Apply