14-Week Curriculum Breakdown

Establish basic non-verbal rules. Focus on physical alignment, finger movements, and BSL syntax fundamentals.

• Learn the complete two-handed BSL fingerspelling alphabet
• Mastering dominant vs. non-dominant hand placements
• Understanding non-manual features (NMF): expressions, head tilts, and shoulder posture

Develop introductory sign loops. Learn how to open, sustain, and politely conclude basic conversations.

• Vocabulary: Greetings (Hello, Morning, Welcome), names, feelings, and status checks
• Numbers 1-20 (cardinal and ordering)
• Grammar: Asking closed vs. open-ended questions in BSL structure

Learn to describe family units, marital statuses, and close relationships, incorporating numerical counts.

• Vocabulary: Mother, father, partner, children, friend, dog, cat, and other common animals
• Numbers 20-100 (tens, values, age placement)
• Grammar: Possessive pronouns (My, Your, Theirs) and placement index points

Identify seasonal cycles, discuss the weather forecast, and build vocabulary around time structures.

• Vocabulary: Rain, snow, wind, hot, cold, spring, winter, days of the week, and months
• Sign timeline: past (Yesterday), present (Today), and future (Tomorrow)
• Interactive dialogue: setting up meeting times based on weather conditions

Master giving directions and describing travel arrangements using spatial layout principles.

• Vocabulary: Car, train, bus, walk, directions (left, right, straight), building locations
• Grammar: Using placement signs to map space visually (spatial representation)
• Giving directions from a relative starting point (e.g., station to office)

Conclude the introductory segment. Undergo live conversational practice and complete your BSL101 assessment preparation.

• Simulated BSL101 one-on-one assessment loops with Natalie
• Video playback reviews to correct hand orientation and facial cues
• Official BSL101 assessment completion

Transition into Unit BSL102. Learn vocabulary and structure for describing properties, room layouts, and domestic life.

• Vocabulary: House, flat, bedroom, kitchen, garden, rent, buy, clean, repair
• Grammar: Using BSL size and shape specifiers (classifiers) to detail furniture layout
• Practice: Describing your home environment to a classmate

Expand communication skills to discuss daily routines, personal schedules, and weekly habits.

• Vocabulary: Wake up, eat, work, rest, shower, sleep, times (o'clock, half-past)
• Grammar: Dynamic BSL timeline shifts for specific times (yesterday afternoon, next week)
• Interactive dialogue: Comparing routines and planning weekend activities

Develop conversational skills centered around dietary habits, dining, shopping, and menus.

• Vocabulary: Tea, coffee, water, vegetables, meat, bread, restaurant, bill, pay
• Expressing preferences: Like, love, hate, allergen alerts, or dietary choices
• Dialogue scenario: Ordering drinks and meals in a cafe setting

Consolidate your conversational skills. Participate in video reviews and final mock assessments for BSL102.

• Advanced dialogue practice: narrative flow and conversation structure
• Mock assessments: 4-minute interactive conversation loops
• Official BSL102 assessment recording

Initiate Unit BSL103. Learn signs related to educational systems, workspaces, roles, and careers.

• Vocabulary: Teacher, doctor, manager, office, school, subjects, retire, salary
• Grammar: Role shift (acting as different entities in a workplace interaction)
• Deaf Awareness: Workplace adjustments, BSL interpreters, and access to work schemes

Focus on social vocabulary: discussing hobbies, scheduling meetups, and sharing weekend interests.

• Vocabulary: Football, swimming, cinema, read, paint, travel, holiday, party
• Grammar: Verb modifications to indicate frequency (e.g. daily, monthly, sometimes)
• Interactive dialogue: Planning a social event and extending invitations in sign

Complete BSL103 practice. Conduct roleplay evaluations and finalize structure checks before your exams.

• One-on-one simulated tests mapping workplace scenarios
• Polishing sign clarity, expressions, and posture transitions
• Official BSL103 assessment recording

Wrap up the program. Discuss exam feedback, celebrate your progress, and explore next steps for BSL Level 2.

• Detailed individual progress feedback and tips from Natalie
• Level 1 completion certificate distribution details
• Level 2 course outlines and progression plan