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"Just learning to think in another language allows you to see your own culture in a better viewpoint."
-Gates Mcfadden
Learning a new language opens up our world and allows us to think more openly and have meaningful conversations with people from different backgrounds. Fluency in a foreign tongue is one of the greatest things a person can give themselves. Therefore, schools around the world should ensure that foreign language classes are prioritised for students at a primary and secondary level.
But, what about sign language? The release of the award-winning film The Silent Child about a four-year-old girl who is deaf, withdrawn and unable to enjoy connecting with others in a mainstream hearing world highlighted the need for better provisions in public education for children who are deaf or partially hearing.
Since the story is based on real-life events and illustrates how disabling deafness can be, particularly in education, hearing people have become well aware of how deaf ones often remain invisible and rarely have adequate support in the traditional classroom. This is in stark comparison to physical disabilities that can be quickly seen and that are more commonly catered for.
Also, since deafness is not acknowledged as a learning difficulty, the education system doesn’t cater adequately for the needs of children who cannot hear and as funding is increasingly cut from services across education and schools the fear is that the situation could only become worse. While there are specialists and interpreters for deaf students at city schools, those who live in rural areas do not get the support they need to learn and might have to travel many hours to attend a specialised school that focuses on sign language.
So, what's the solution? Certain questions arise such as, should sign language be taught in schools? Should there be a signing teacher in every school? Or should there be an option for all youngsters to learn to sign as they learn other languages? In today's article, we'll answer these questions to address the needs of deaf students in the United Kingdom.
Should Schools Introduce Teaching Basic Sign Language?
Whether or not sign language should be taught at schools is something that has been discussed and petitioned for in the United Kingdom and other nations. The push to include sign language as a potential learning option is an attractive idea that certain exam boards are open to; however, is teaching sign language in UK-based schools a realistic possibility?
As with all parts of the curriculum, both funds and the inspiration to overhaul it or introduce new subjects are limited. Therefore, although it seems many young people would welcome the opportunity to learn British Sign Language at school, it’s not likely to become available across the country; perhaps even less of a possibility in rural areas.
Nonetheless, the question arises, should British Sign Language be taught in elementary and secondary schools across the United Kingdom? The answer is YES!
First and foremost, there are plenty of deaf students in education centres throughout England that would love to learn and practice their sign language alongside their classmates and teachers. This would lead to feelings of inclusion for deaf youngsters rather than experiencing isolation. Even if not all students in a class learn to sign fluently, if the deaf students have a few hearing friends they can sign with, beautiful friendships will be created that embrace differences and contribute to unity.
Secondly, by teaching and promoting British Sign Language, hearing students develop an awareness and sensitivity to the deaf and hard of hearing community which enhances understanding and significantly reduces prejudices and bullying. Some secondary school students might become fascinated with the deaf culture and sign language that they could develop an interest in becoming an interpreter.
Also, it's worth stating that we're not saying that in-depth and complex aspects of British Sign Language should be taught to all students but rather the fundamentals so that basic communication is enhanced. Therefore, to ensure that the basics of British Sign Language are taught in schools, we urge those who are passionate and interested in the deaf community to put pressure on government officials who are in charge of education curriculums.
What are the Advantages of Learning Sign Language at an Early Age?
Ever heard the expression, children are like sponges? Well, it's entirely true. Kids have the unique ability to capture and assimilate all the information that is set out in front of them. In fact, for most adults, it's quite enviable!
Therefore, it's highly recommended for primary school students to learn sign language as young as possible. The following are some brilliant reasons why sign language educators should teach both deaf and hearing children sign language ASAP:
- Awareness of Deaf Culture: humans are not born with prejudice since it is something that is taught; therefore, to break the mould, it's in a parent's best interest to encourage their son or daughter to learn sign language because it will motivate them to embrace and learn about the deaf community. When kids learn about something cool, like sign language, they develop a strong appreciation for deaf individuals, their traditions, and customs. Open-mindedness is so important for the next generation of free thinkers!
- Future Career Opportunities: from a young age parents should prepare their children for a wide variety of employment opportunities. Having a few languages under your belt is something that employers across all sectors greatly appreciate. So, sign language should be learned from primary school age. Interpretation jobs are readily available for qualified BSL enthusiasts who are both flexible and well-paying. Additionally, professionals in public and private agencies such as teachers, counsellors, therapists, and other mental-health specialists sometimes need to use BSL to communicate with hard of hearing and deaf ones.
- Communication: because there are more than 150,000 British Sign Language users in Great Britain, it can rightfully be called one of the most spoken languages in England. Therefore, when learned from a young age and throughout the formative years, BSL unlocks communication barriers with the hard of hearing and deaf individuals. As was mentioned earlier in the article, using BSL allows children to speak and bond with their deaf classmates.
While it is true that there are so many worthwhile things to learn at a young age, mothers and fathers should do their best to motivate their kids to strongly consider learning sign language. Also, there should be pressure put on exam boards and elected officials in education to give learning British Sign Language a chance in public schools.
What are Some Tips to Learn Sign Language Effectively at Schools?
Suppose you are taking a sign language course at a qualified academic institute or learning by yourself. In that case, there's one thing that everyone needs to successfully master the basics of BSL: access to helpful tips from experts in the field. But, what are some of the best suggestions to learn British Sign Language? Let's take a look at the list below:
- Watch Videos Online: since BSL is a visual language, learners can easily find and watch informative videos online on sites such as YouTube that highlight the fundamentals of using basic signs. Using videos to learn British Sign Language allows learners to pause and watch the video again to master the signs in question.
- Ask Your Deaf Friends to Teach You: if your child is learning British Sign Language at the same time as hard of hearing or deaf individuals, it's a brilliant idea to ask them questions when you need help.
- Use an App: Are you a learner who loves acquiring useful skills such as BSL on the go? If so, we greatly suggest using a sign language learning application such as the 'Sign BSL' app which is essentially a British Sign Language dictionary. A brilliant learning tool to complement your acquisition of British Sign Language.
- Hire a Private Sign Language Tutor: the fastest way to learn and master BSL is by attending classes at your school while simultaneously taking private lessons with a qualified tutor. But, where? On Superprof. There are plenty of in-person and virtual British Sign Language tutors that are available for hire nearby.
Following the four previously mentioned suggestions will help both young and slightly older learners to master the basics of British Sign Language without too many issues.
In conclusion, the answer is yes, British Sign Language should be taught in schools across the United Kingdom. Hopefully, in the next few years, sign language will become more widely used by young ones to increase our collective understanding of the deaf community.
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This is very interesting to read. I am currently studying Disability studies at university and for my dissertation I am asking the question Should sign language be taught in all schools? and this article has really helped thank you! If anybody knows of any research papers that could help me with this also please Email.