Category: Courses

Learn to sign in 2022!

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Thinking of a New Year’s resolution for 2022? Why not learn a new language: Not only will learning a new language help improve your communication skills, it will also look great on your CV and possibly open up some doors for you. There are 75,000 deaf people in the UK whose first language is British Sign Language (BSL) and 1 in 6 people have some form of hearing loss.

Rose Ayling-Ellis’ appearance on Strictly Come Dancing has led to a huge surge in interest in learning British Sign Language, with the Google search for learning sign-language seeing an increase of 488%!

Register now to attend our upcoming BSL Workshop running in Bournemouth. Suitable for anyone with an interest in learning BSL or wishing to practise their BSL in a safe, friendly and supportive environment.

Enrol now for our Autumn Term BSL courses!

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We are pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for British Sign Language (BSL) Level 1 and 2 courses starting in September 2021.

Our BSL Level 1 course with Lynn will run on Tuesday evenings 7-9pm at Bournemouth Deaf Club starting on
Tuesday 7th September 2021 (32 weeks)

Our BSL Level 2 course with Louise will run on Wednesday evenings 6:30-9pm at Bournemouth Deaf Club starting on
Wednesday 8th September 2019 (36 weeks)

We are also running the following non-qualification courses suitable for those of you who are looking to further develop your skills and put your learning into practise:

BSL Conversation Class with George and Amber will run on Tuesday mornings 10am-12pm at The Eco Hub (Dolphin Centre), Poole starting on Tuesday 2nd November 2021 (5 week block).

BSL Level 3 Access Class with George and Louise will run on Thursday evenings at Allendale House, Wimborne starting on Thursday 16th September 2021.

Please contact Zoe at admin@wdda.co.uk or phone/text 07793284109 for further information.  WDDA is able to offer a concessionary rate to those with hearing loss in both ears/have dependants with hearing loss.  Course fees can also be paid in instalments to help spread the cost.

FREE Online Bite-Sized Deaf Communication Skills Training!

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Fancy learning something new in lockdown?

Thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund we are able to bring our popular Bite-sized Deaf Communication Skills training sessions to you online for FREE as part of our ‘Make It Clear!’ Campaign.

The session is for anyone that wants to know more about how varying degrees of deafness impacts on the daily lives of Deaf and Hard of Hearing people. It provides some useful skills that can be quickly mastered to begin communicating with any deaf or deaf blind person as your patient or their family member, colleague, or acquaintance.

On completion you will be issued an individual certificate of achievement. In addition, customer facing groups and teams will receive a, “We are Deaf Friendly” certificate for public display.

Various dates available.
Places are limited. Booking essential.

https://forms.gle/eRoo37KuGoewgHZf6

Time to learn something new?

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With coronavirus having put the world on hold for so many of us why not use this time to build your skillset and learn something new?

Given the current Covid-19 crisis we have temporarily moved all of our BSL classes online.  This means you can join our next ‘BSL Workshop for Beginners’ from home.

Qualification: None – Informal teaching and assessment.

Entry Requirements: There is no prior knowledge or experience required.

Course Details: The aim of the workshop is for you to develop and practice BSL skills at your own level. You will meet and sign with other students and tutors in an informal and fun online environment. It is a fantastic opportunity to prepare for the start of formal courses or assessments.

Assessment: There is no formal assessment, but the tutors will provide continuous feedback on your progress throughout the sessions.

Progression: The workshop will enable you to make informed decisions about other courses of study from Level 1 to 3 that you could move on to.

Workshop date: Saturday 12th December 2020

Time: 10am-1pm

Duration: 3 hours

Course Venue: Online via Zoom video conferencing platform

For more information, or to book, please contact admin@wdda.co.uk or complete and return the online enrolment form below.

Online BSL Workshop Enrolment Form

Learn something new in lockdown

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With coronavirus having put the world on hold for so many of us why not use this time to build your skillset and learn something new?

Given the current Covid-19 crisis we have temporarily moved all of our BSL classes online.  This means you can join our next ‘BSL Workshop for Beginners’ from home.

We are using the Zoom video conferencing platform.  You do not need a Zoom account to join a meeting.  You can join the workshop using a smartphone or tablet or laptop/PC.  All we will need you to do is ensure that you set yourselves up in a quiet space and sit 3-4 ft away from your device to ensure that your full torsos, hands and faces are visible on screen to all participants.

 

Day: Saturday 30th May 2020 10.00am – 1.00pm

Duration: 3 hours

Qualification: None. Informal teaching and assessment

Entry Requirements for BSL Workshop for Beginners: There is no prior knowledge or experience required

Cost: £15 (includes a certificate of attendance should you require one)

To find out more, or to book, please contact Zoe at admin@wdda.co.uk

 

 

Changes amidst the Covid-19 pandemic

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Wiltshire and Dorset Deaf Association is working hard to keep our learners and teaching staff safe from the Coronavirus during these unprecedented times.

We have responded to the Covid-19 crisis by moving all of our BSL (British Sign Language) courses online in order to minimise the disruption to our BSL Conversation Class and our Level 1, 2 and 3 qualification courses.  We’ve launched our BSL classes in a virtual format and will be providing online courses instead of our usual face-to-face courses for the foreseeable future.

We understand that disruption to regular classes and the cancellation of exams will be unsettling for many of our learners.  As with any other language, it is important for learners to practise their BSL skills on a regular basis.  Thanks to our awarding body, Signature Deaf,  we have been able to offer all our Level 1, 2 and 3 learners FREE access to a comprehensive online library of video clips and support materials to help learners understand the assessments, develop vocabulary linguistics skills, and practice receptive BSL skills from wherever they are.  BSLHomework is accessible 24 hours a day on a range of devices.

THANK YOU to our BSL Tutors, Stefy and Lynn, and our current cohort of students for your commitment, resilience and willingness to adapt at this uncertain and worrying time enabling us to keep classes running throughout this health crisis.

We are also looking at the new possibilities open to us at this time.  With schools closed and families forced to stay at home we are launching an online BSL Family Signing Class for parents/carers with children aged 10+ who are interested in learning BSL together.  Sessions will run online on a Monday evening 6-8pm for 10 weeks starting on Monday 6th April 2020.  Thanks to George and Louise for coming together to offer this new class.

Stay at home.  Protect our NHS.  Save lives.

 

WDDA launch NEW Baby & Child Signing Sessions!

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Wiltshire and Dorset Deaf Association is pleased to introduce NEW Baby & Child Signing sessions in Dorchester AND Bournemouth!

The sessions are open to all ages, mums/dads/carers and pre school children particularly welcome.

Have fun learning some basic signs used at home and sign a simple song or two using British Signing Language (BSL) signs.

If you are interested in attending our FREE Taster Session in Dorchester on Monday 24 February please click on the link to register online.  http://www.123formbuilder.com/form-5247990/booking-form

If you are interested in attending our FREE Taster Session in Bournemouth on Thursday 27 February please click on the link to register online. http://www.123formbuilder.com/form-5259693/booking-form-bournemouth

 

If you would prefer to print off a registration form please contact admin@wdda.co.uk

BOOKING ESSENTIAL!

*NEW* BSL Level 1 course for September 2019

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In response to demand we will be holding a second BSL Level 1 course again in the 2019/20 academic year.

This course will run on Thursday evenings at Beaufort Community Centre, Beaufort Road, Southbourne, Dorset BH6 5LB with WDDA Tutor Lynn Preston.

Our Tuesday evening BSL Level 1 course will run at Bournemouth Deaf Club with WDDA Tutor Stefy Bella. *ALMOST FULLY BOOKED – 1 SPACE AVAILABLE!*

For more information, or to book, please email Zoe at admin@wdda.co.uk or download an enrolment form here  BSL Level 1 enrolment form (Beaufort) (534 downloads)   Concessionary rates available for those who are d/Deaf or caring for d/Deaf dependents.  Instalment options available.

BSL Level 1,2 & 3 – Apply now for September 2019

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We are pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for British Sign Language (BSL) Level 1,2 & 3 courses starting in September/October 2019.

Our BSL Level 1 course will run on Tuesday evenings 7-9pm at Bournemouth Deaf Club starting on
15 October 2019 (32 weeks) BSL Level 1 enrolment form (556 downloads) .

Our BSL Level 2 course will run on Wednesday evenings 6:30-9pm at Bournemouth Deaf Club starting on
25 September 2019 (36 weeks) BSL Level 2 enrolment form (400 downloads) .

Our BSL Level 3 course will run on Thursday evenings 6:30-9pm at Bournemouth Deaf Club starting on
12 September 2019 (38 weeks) BSL Level 3 enrolment form (393 downloads) .

Please contact Zoe at admin@wdda.co.uk or phone/text 07793284109 for further information or to request an enrolment form.  WDDA is able to offer a 30% discount to deaf people or their carers.  Course fees can also be paid in instalments to help spread the cost.

*NEW* BSL Level 1 course at Beaufort Community Centre 2018/19

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In order to help meet demand we are pleased to announce that we are putting on a second BSL Level 1 course for the 2018/19 academic year.

This course will run on Thursday evenings 7-9pm at Beaufort Community Centre, Beaufort Road, Bournemouth (5 minute drive or 20 minute walk from Bournemouth Deaf Club on Morley Road in Pokesdown).  The course will start on Thursday 20th September 2018.

Our British Sign Language (BSL) Level 1 course is perfect for people with little or no experience of sign language.

There are no entry requirements and the course is open to deaf and hearing applicants. The qualification is designed to enable learners to communicate with Deaf people in British Sign Language on a range of topics which involve simple, everyday language use.

Please contact Zoe at admin@wdda.co.uk or phone/text 07793284109 for further information or to book.

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