Frequently Asked Questions
- General
- For Singapore Sign Language
- For Speech-to-Text Interpreting
General Questions
Go to our Programmes Catalogue to check out which are open for registration. If registration is closed for one you’re interested in, or the schedule doesn’t fit yours at the moment — no worries. Head to the individual programme page and register your interest, so that you can get notified via email once the next intake is launched.
At the moment, SkillsFuture credits are not applicable for our programmes.
No, there is no refund once payment is made unless the programme is cancelled.
Discounts can only be applied when checking out during course registration. They cannot be added after the registration process is completed.
Sign language interpretation and speech-to-text interpretation are available upon request. Trainers will also incorporate descriptions of meaningful visual information and provide materials in accessible formats. Please email us about your access arrangement and we will work towards it together with you.
We will prefer participants to be of at least 18 years old. Those who are keen to enrol but are below the age of 18, please first email us at training@equaldreams.sg.
Some of our programmes do, while some don’t. Please head to the individual programme pages to find out whether there are any prerequisites!
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You can also head to the individual programme pages to fill up your details in the interest form so that you can get an email once the next intake is launched.
At Equal Dreams, we believe in not letting financial woes be a deterrent to your learning. Please email us at training@equaldreams.sg to discuss the alternatives.
Can’t find your answer?
For general matters related to programmes, please send us an email.
for Singapore Sign Language classes
Course fees differ for each level. You can find the details under the Pricing section on the respective pages:
Singapore Sign Language Level 1
Singapore Sign Language Level 2
Singapore Sign Language Level 3
There is a minimum requirement of 8 participants for the class to commence. Additionally, each class typically accommodates up to 12 participants to ensure a quality learning environment.
We run classes quarterly with intakes in January, April, July, and October each year.
This depends whether the other classes within the same intake have open slots. If the other classes are all full, we won’t be able to shift you over. Please email sgsl@equaldreams.sg to request a transfer.
Please consider enrolling in other classes available in the same intake. Alternatively, you can fill out our interest form to be notified if a slot opens up or when the next intake is launched.
While we do offer Zoom classes, we cannot guarantee the availability of additional Zoom classes.
We strongly encourage you to join our in-person classes, and here’s why:
Feedback from past participants and instructors who have experienced both the online and in-person classes, consistently indicates that the nature of Singapore sign language which uses 3-dimensional space, body movement and facial expressions, is much easier to pick up and practice in person. Past participants have reported significant improvements in their language competencies. The immersive environment of in-person classes allows for direct engagement with both the language and the instructor, facilitating better learning outcomes and enhancing receptivity.
Yes, you can only miss up to 2 lessons. If you were to miss more than that, you might not be able to keep pace with the rest of the class. Students who miss more than 2 lessons will also not be allowed to sit for the assessment and be awarded a certificate.
If you foresee that you will miss many classes, we encourage you to sign up for the next intake instead so that your learning experience is not compromised.
There are no make-up lesson for students who are unable to make it for any lesson. We understand that clashes in schedule may occur and will provide a video recording when requested. Please note that a student is only allowed up to 2 recordings, in line with the 80% attendance requirement, where only 2 absences are allowed to be eligible for the assessment.
Sorry, we understand that you really want to join in as soon as possible! However, once registration is closed, we don’t accept any more sign ups. Hope you can join us for the next intake instead. Fill up the SgSL interest form to get an email once the next intake is launched!
Alternatively, follow us on our social media to get the latest updates: Facebook | Instagram
Yes, students currently enrolled in the SgSL programme may register for the next level for the next intake.
Yes we offer private lessons including:
1. For one or up to 12 participants per class
2. Corporate group classes
You may find the details and provide the necessary information on our Singapore Sign Language Private Classes page. Do note that the pricing is tiered based on the number of participants in the class, i.e. the more participants, the cheaper it is per pax. We will be able to provide more information once you provide more details at the above webpage.
Can’t find your answer?
For any matters related to Singapore Sign Language, please send us an email.
for Speech-to-text interpreting Programme
Yes. The minimum typing speed of 80 wpm applies to those who are interested to join our accessibility team to take up paid assignments. This factor will be assessed with other skills for us to invite suitable participants to join our mentorship programme upon the completion of the course and eventually join our accessibility team.
Fret not, if you do not have the required 80 wpm speed. You are still welcome to join the programme to learn more about the work of STTI. You may face some challenges during our simulation exercises but you will still be able to pick up the knowledge and techniques, which you can practice on your own to hone your skills better or apply to your work. You can always join our mentorship programme or accessibility team at a later time when you are ready.
At Equal Dreams, we believe in not letting financial woes be a deterrent to your learning. Please email us at training@equaldreams.sg to discuss the alternatives.
Please let us know your interest in the programme through our interest form. By submitting this form, you will be the first to know via email when the registration for our next intake is open!
For STTI Training Programme Session 5, we will be inviting Deaf guests to share about their experience with the STTI service and their lived experience, and experienced speech-to-text interpreters to share about their experience on-the-job. Our past participants have responded with numerous positive feedback about the session being rewarding and enriching. As Session 5 is a live session with our guests, we won’t have any make-up session.
Another major component of Session 5 is the summing up and assessment key competencies you have picked up throughout the training programme. Your performance for the assessment will also be considered for entry into the STTI mentorship programme.
All in all, if you were to miss session 5, you would be missing out on a key learning opportunity of the training programme.
At the end of each session, there will be session notes provided for reviewing the content. These session notes may also contain additional readings and resources for you to further explore related topics.
The assessment will be conducted at the end of the final session. You will be simulating a speech-to-text interpretation assignment, where the service user is attending a 20-minute lecture with you as their speech-to-text interpreter.
The Certificate of Completion will be awarded as long as the 80% attendance requirement is met. The purpose of the assessment is to gauge your competency in speech-to-text interpretation as consideration for our offer to the STTI mentorship programme.
The participants’ skills and performance will be monitored throughout the training programme. Upon completion of the assessment at the end of the final session, participants will be evaluated based on the competency in utilising the techniques of speech-to-text interpreting. Only suitable participants will be invited to join the mentorship programme.
Upon completion of the mentorship programme, mentees who satisfy the criteria will be invited to join the Equal Dreams accessibility team. We are open to flexible arrangements including full-time, part-time, freelance, traineeship, or internship arrangements.
Employment is not guaranteed. However, if you would like to work towards becoming any access professional, we’d be happy to provide you pointers after the programme is over to support you in your journey. Please write to training@equaldreams.sg if you’d like to do so.
Yes, you are welcome to join the programme to connect with like-minded people, learn the skills and knowledge, and apply them to your daily life and work. We have had past participants joining our team to be involved in various accessibility projects in pro-bono capacity or according to what is allowed by their employment status.
Can’t find your answer?
For any matters related to Speech-to-Text Interpreting, please send us an email.