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British Sign Language
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I'd like to learn British Sign Language but I'm not sure how to go about it. I'd like to do it for a job. Where should I start?
I don't want to end up doing a course that is mostly for basics and doesn't lead anywhere. Can I do this part time as I'm a housewife and mother?
I don't expect many replies but does anyone know a serious, dedicated course I can do?
I don't want to end up doing a course that is mostly for basics and doesn't lead anywhere. Can I do this part time as I'm a housewife and mother?
I don't expect many replies but does anyone know a serious, dedicated course I can do?
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Perhaps you could volunteer at a deaf centre or something?
I've learnt a little sign language from when I was working with someone who was deaf, the best way to learn is by doing it with other people.
It's a great skill to have even if you dont use it for a job, it's good in noisy environments for instance. I hoestly think it should be taught as a second language.
ive thought about doing a signing class also, so that i can teach my daughter too when she is older. my mother in law is in childcare, and can sign through courses she attended. she days that most local authorities run classes, and you can find the information through your local library and council offices.
This seems like a good site- with lots of links to courses.
If you want to start I suggest you contact the University of Wolverhampton as they run a degree programme that covers everything. You don't need much to enter as there is a foundation year.
If you don't live anywhere near there and can't move then the next best step is to take level 1 and level 2 classes near where you live. You'll probably go once a week and it will take you a year for each level. Level 2 is equivalent to GCSE and gives you enough to communicate. Level 3 is equivalent to A level, but to do this you need to be working with deaf people. To be a qualified interpreter you need Level 4 and to be on the register.
Start by looking to see if there are any level 1 classes in your area. They may be taught at a local college or voluntary centre. If you can't find anything doing a search on the net then try asking the main deaf orgainisation if they know of anywhere, RNID, BDA (British Deaf Institute) and RAD (Royal association for the Deaf).
Hope that helps. It's worth doing even if you only get to level 2 and there are plenty of jobs you can do with level 2 - but you won't be an interpreter.
Some might think that's rather stereotypical, but trust me, they aren't easy to work with at all. It must be something to do with always relying on others to put accross a point, or something, but it's very difficult to reason with a deaf person, and even more difficult to change their mind once it's made. The money is great, but i really don't think it would be worth the stress.
Learning BSL was a lot of fun but it was a steep learning curve because our tutor was deaf and did not have strong speech skills so we had to learn to understand him quickly. I was told The Level II and Level III qualifications increase steeply in difficulty..
I will do level II one day but I don't have the time at the moment .. although once you know the basics there's a lot you pick up from deaf people and from resources on the net.
I just did the course for the hell of it. I don't know any deaf people but it has come in useful when I meet them and it's extremely useful for communicating drinks orders to my sister if she's at the bar in the pub (she took the course too
The courses were offered at my local adult education centre but are based on a syllabus from the CACP (Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People). The BDA also have a qualification system. To qualify as an interpreter you have to so several levels - details are on the website
www.cacdp.org.uk
http://www.cacdp.org.uk/Qual_Training/PDFs/Qualifications.pdf
Thank you Diediemydarling for the other point of view. I will definitely take that into consideration because I was thinking there would not be a lot of stress involved (apart from the learning aspect)
If you wanna learn BSL, I advice you to contact your local "Deaf Club" or any other town.
Paul
Have a nice day.
Like in English you would say "what is your name".
In BSL you sign.. "name your what"
In longer sentences I find it a bit harder but getting there.
Personally I'd like to see this taught in schools so it becomes part of us - I learnt French etc which is not of a great use to me whereas BSL would be of far more use as I'm more likely to meet people with hearing problems in everyday life than the French
My uncle is deaf and I'd love to be able to communicate fully with him, but I just don't see him enough to take the time out to do these courses etc.
Couldn't you have just written notes to each other?
If you do it at local Adult Ed, you do the first six weeks basic course, then do a test; so long as you pass you then spend the rest of the year doing Level 1. I'm learnning it to communicate with deaf members of my Church. I also do a lesson at Church every week where I learn basic BSL and Church terminology. The Adult Ed class is great, we all get along well and don't mind laughing at ourselves if we get it wrong.
It was hell of sight because they were nose to nose arguing then giving each other room to tell each what they thought of each other then nose to nose again.
I seen something very similar in Glasgow a few years back
That's actually a Yorkshire thing.
North = "name what?"
North west/east = "what name yours?"
Wales = "current name?" or "sign name?"
South = "your name?"
South west = "name, what's it?"
Edit: Just realised we can't see dialects/signs in this post.
I know what you mean my sister in -law and her husband are deaf they are unbelievebly stubborn we've had quite a few arguments with them Lol:)