Lifelong and Family Learning at WDPC

New for 2008/9

Literacy and Numeracy for Deaf Adults

(entry level OCR courses provided with the help of funding from the LSC’s Skills for Life programme through Walsall Life Long Learning Alliance)

Basic skills in literacy and numeracy are essential for educational achievements, for work, and for accessing information and services through the internet. These courses will be fully accessible to BSL first language users and the teaching methods will be modified to be appropriate for people with limited or no useful hearing.

British Sign Language (BSL)

BSL is the main language of the Centre

Learn BSL from beginner to NVQ3

Book an interpreter if you have Deaf clients

If you are a BSL user, enjoy using your language.

(For a calendar of start times, fees and requirements click here)

Learn BSL

We offer a range of courses in British Sign Language. All of our tutors are Deaf and have appropriate qualifications

BSL for Beginners (CACDP Level 1)

This is the starting point for anyone wishing to learn BSL

Once you have passed BSL for Beginners we offer two different paths for learning:

BSL for Beginners Plus

This course is designed to help your confidence and vocabulary before you embark on CACDP Level 2

Professional BSL

If you need formal qualifications and certificates from an examining body (The Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People (CACDP); we provide the following courses

CACDP BSL Level 2 – a one year tutor-led course

CACDP BSL NVQ3 – A tutor supported process of gathering evidence of competence in BSL in work and social situations.

We have applied for accreditation from CACDP to provide NVQ4 which is the level necessary to register as an interpreter

Work Based Sign Language – this course is an intensive course delivered over four full days (consecutive or over a period of weeks) designed to give employees who have limited but important front line contact with Deaf people, a range of useful skills and phrases to meet and greet, find out what the Deaf person wants or needs etc. It can be provided at the Deaf Centre or at a client’s own venue.

Social BSL

We also offer the following courses for those wishing to improve their BSL skills in order to communicate with Deaf relatives and friends , but do not want or need formal examinations and certificates. These course are designed by our highly experienced tutors to give you the language skills and vocabulary you need to communicate with friends and relatives in social settings and daily life. These courses do not cover work issues and work vocabulary, and are not suitable for learners wishing to learn BSL for use in their employment

First steps in BSL conversation

BSL for Social Communication

Active Membership in WDPC Signing Club is a key element in these courses. Certificates from trustees of WDPC will be given to those who complete the courses to the satisfaction of our Deaf assessors.

BSL Signing Club

WDPC Signing Club meets fortnightly on Wednesdays at 8.00pm There is a small charge of £2.00 per session to cover costs. This is an informal group meeting in the social club to put into practice the Sign Language that has been learned in the classroom, and most importantly to use the language to converse with Deaf first language users of BSL. We believe this informal activity is crucial to the development of fluency in BSL and of moving from English constructions into true BSL constructions. Although this group is designed primarily for students of BSL at the Centre, anyone wishing to use their BSL skills is welcome