Basic Conversational South African Sign Language (SASL)
Course information
Format: Wits accredited online short course
Certification: Wits University certificate of competence
Length: 8 weeks
Breakdown: 6 weeks consecutive online lectures, one exam in week 8
Hours per week: 3 to 4
Language: English
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Price*: R 9 563.85
* price includes VAT
Course outcomes
- Describe what is SASL, and use basic SASL to communicate with Deaf people
- Describe your home in South Africa and use basic sentences to describe your family and life in South Africa.
- Describe the various ways to hold a conversation about the weather and transportation.
- Describe the signs related to number system including family ages, money, time and months
- Describe the Deaf culture in a basic conversation with your new Deaf friend
Course Curriculum
- Module 1: Introduction to SASL
- Module 2: Home, Family & South Africa milestones
- Module 3: Weather and Transportation
- Module 4: Using Numbers
- Module 5: Holding a basic conversation!
Certificate of competence

Course Overview
Basic Conversational SASL is a comprehensive and fun course to learn about basic South African Sign Language. In this course, you will be introduced to Deaf culture, basic vocabulary and sentence exercises. You will also gain insight into the skills needed to build your communication relationship with your Deaf family, friend or colleague and the significance of sign language for Deaf people and children.
Prof Claudine Storbeck et al
Lecturer Overview:
Prof Claudine Storbeck
Prof Claudine Storbeck is the Founder and Director of the Centre for Deaf Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand. She has been involved in issues surrounding Deaf Education and Deaf Studies for 27 years.
Robyn Swannack
Robyn Swannack is a lecturer, researcher and coordinator of South African Sign Language resource developments at the Centre for Deaf Studies at Wits University. She is a second-generation Deaf person and passionate about the Deaf community. She holds a Master’s degree in Anthropology from UCT and is the only Deaf anthropologist in South Africa. She founded and coordinated the University of Cape Town SASL classes in 2012 and taught over 450 students in over six years.
Nenio Mbazima
Nenio Mbazima is a video producer at the Centre for Deaf Studies at Wits University. He is also the videographer and editor of the videos in this course. He joined the Deaf community when he was ten years old and went on to write an award-winning book about his amazing experience as a Deaf person. He loves telling stories in sign language through the lens of a camera.
Lecturer Overview:
Prof Claudine Storbeck
Prof Claudine Storbeck is the Founder and Director of the Centre for Deaf Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand. She has been involved in issues surrounding Deaf Education and Deaf Studies for 27 years.
Robyn Swannack
Robyn Swannack is a lecturer, researcher and coordinator of South African Sign Language resource developments at the Centre for Deaf Studies at Wits University. She is a second-generation Deaf person and passionate about the Deaf community. She holds a Master’s degree in Anthropology from UCT and is the only Deaf anthropologist in South Africa. She founded and coordinated the University of Cape Town SASL classes in 2012 and taught over 450 students in over six years.
Nenio Mbazima
Nenio Mbazima is a video producer at the Centre for Deaf Studies at Wits University. He is also the videographer and editor of the videos in this course. He joined the Deaf community when he was ten years old and went on to write an award-winning book about his amazing experience as a Deaf person. He loves telling stories in sign language through the lens of a camera.
Upcoming Courses
- 12 April 2021
- 12 July 2021
- 6 September 2021
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