Centre for Deaf Education Courses at City Lit
City Lit has provided support for deaf people at its heart right from our establishment, in 1919. Some of the first courses ever offered by City Lit were lipreading classes for deafened soldiers returning from World War I. Over the years, we have grown to become an internationally-renowned centre of a wide range of provision - it is the largest centre of its kind in Europe. Our staff is a mixed group of deaf and hearing professionals; all highly skilled in their own areas of specialist expertise. Learn British sign language with City Lit today.
In order to join our deaf English, maths and computing courses, you need to have an interview and initial assessment first.
As well as courses, we also offer support and services for deaf people.
- Introduction to BSLCourse start date: Tue 20 May 2025 (and 10 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Alexia LumleyInterested in learning British Sign Language? Learn some basic vocabulary and grammar, and decide if you want to progress to the level 1 qualification.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £259.00 Concession £181.00 - Become more lipreadableCourse start date: Fri 23 May 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Lorraine BragginsDo you know a hard of hearing or deaf person who needs to lipread you? Find out how lipreading works and how you can make some small adjustments in order to become more 'lipreadable'.
This course will be taught in spoken English and not in sign language.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £69.00 - Beginners BSLCourse start date: Wed 4 Jun 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Alesia Parshutsina
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £90.00 - Living well with hearing lossCourse start date: Wed 25 Jun 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Lisa CoxThis course will give you practical strategies for coping with your hearing loss and will help improve your confidence and well-being.
This course will be taught in spoken English and not in sign language.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £45.00 Concession £35.00 - Communication with older people with a hearing lossCourse start date: Fri 27 Jun 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Lorraine BragginsThe course will cover the features of age-related hearing loss and how these relate to what, and how, older people hear and understand. Participants will learn communication strategies so that older people can understand them better.
This course will be taught in spoken English and not in sign language.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £69.00 - English grammar for deaf people (entry 1) - part 1Course start date: Mon 8 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
This course is suitable if you have enough vocabulary to be able to read and write basic sentences. During this course, you will learn more vocabulary and grammar to help you talk, read and write about yourself, your family and friends and complete forms, short sms and e-mails. This course has no exams.
This course is free for learners who have not achieved a GCSE grade C (4) and higher in English. For more information Click here
Full fee £0.00 - English for deaf people: Getting started with vocabulary - part 1 (pre-entry)Course start date: Wed 10 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
This course is suitable if you have recently arrived in the UK from abroad and/or missed out on the education at school due to communication barriers. This course will help you to develop your basic communication skills in various social settings such as starting, maintaining and ending the conversations, confirming your understanding of the conversation flow and/or ask for clarification if/when necessary, asking and answering questions on various social topics etc. You will develop your basic vocabulary linked to everyday life, spelling and punctuation.You will also develop basic study skills to help you to complete simple tasks and do homework on your own. This course has no exam. To be able to participate in this course, you will need to have basic BSL skills.
This course is free for learners who have not achieved a GCSE grade C (4) and higher in English. For more information Click here
Full fee £0.00 - English for deaf people: Reading for pleasure (entry 1) - part 1Course start date: Thu 11 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
The aim of this course is to develop your reading skills in a friendly and supportive environment. During this course you will read various book stories chosen by the tutor. You will also be discussing your reading materials in BSL, learning new vocabulary and exploring the structure of English. This course has no exams.
This course is free for learners who have not achieved a GCSE grade C (4) and higher in English. For more information Click here
Full fee £0.00 - Lipreading and managing hearing loss: improvers module 1Course start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Nicola HicksDevelop your lipreading skills and strategies for face-to-face communication and keep up-to-date with relevant equipment and services. This course is suitable if you have a basic understanding of lipreading consonant and vowel theory, can finger spell and have also either completed beginners modules 1, 2 and 3 or have completed a year’s lipreading classes in the past and want to re-join a course.
This course will be taught in spoken English and not in sign language.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £155.00 Concession £120.00 - Lipreading and managing hearing loss: beginners module 1Course start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Nicola HicksThis class is suitable for total beginners who have little or no experience of lipreading or who have completed a lipreading class at any level in the past, but want to go back to basics. You will learn how to recognise some sounds that are visible on the lips and how to use other tactics to support lipreading and how to manage hearing loss.
This course will be taught in spoken English and not in sign language.
See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £155.00 Concession £120.00 - Lipreading and managing hearing loss: beginners module 3Course start date: Mon 20 Apr 2026 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Christine HathwayThis class is suitable for if you have completed beginners modules 1 and 2 or have completed a lipreading class in the past and already have a basic understanding of lipreading theory and fingerspelling. You will develop your lipreading and fingerspelling skills and build your confidence.
This course will be taught in spoken English and not in sign language.
See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £155.00 Concession £120.00 - BSL level 1Course start date: Thu 1 May 2025 (and 8 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Antony RabinHave you always wanted to learn British Sign Language and communicate with Deaf people? Develop the skills you need to gain the level 1 BSL qualification, accredited by Signature. The fees for BSL level 1 courses include a year's subscription to Signworld.
You may wish to study BSL without the pressure of an exam, or just for fun. We can arrange for you to be taught without a formal final assessment and you will receive a certificate of attendance.Full fee £629.00 Senior fee £528.00 Concession £477.00 - Lipreading and managing hearing loss: beginners module 2Course start date: Thu 1 May 2025 (and 6 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
This class is suitable for if you have completed module 1 or an introduction to lipreading class at City Lit. You will develop your lipreading and fingerspelling skills and build your confidence.
This course will be taught in spoken English and not in sign language.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera. (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook). The classes work best using a desktop device. Please avoid accessing the class using a tablet or phone as the screen size will limit your ability to lipread or join in with the class.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £115.00 - BSL level 1 for Deaf peopleCourse start date: Tue 23 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Peter BrownThis course is for Deaf learners who already use sign language in their everyday lives and want to further develop their skills in British Sign Language at level 1.
You will be able to communicate in BSL in a range of everyday topics and achieve a level 1 qualification, accredited by Signature.
This course is FREE if you are a resident in London and your preferred language is BSL
Full fee £0.00 - English for deaf people: Communicating confidently at work (entry 2) - part 1Course start date: Wed 24 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Do you want to develop your communication skills to participate, express and progress at work? This course will use a range of techniques to teach you how to get ahead in work situations. You will be introduced to practical language, vocabulary and skills. You will learn through realistic activities that are based on various work situations. This course has no exam.
This course is free for learners who have not achieved a GCSE grade C (4) and higher in English. For more information Click here
Full fee £0.00
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