Are there any deaf mners around tonight? Thinking of continuing with BSL............

[Aero]

....or anyone who knows a bit about this.

Have been thinking more seriously what I would like to do after ds2 starts school. I'm a trained nursery nurse, but want to change tack now really and I'm thinking I might like to work as an interpreter. I have already done BSL stage 1, but willl need to refresh as since having children, I've had no opportunity to practise my signing and have forgotten a lot of what I'd learned. My SIL's sister and her dh are both deaf and I'd really like to be able to communicate with them both better, although I don't see them often.

I'm very much a people person and enjoy communicating and I believe I could do this, although I understand it would not be easy, but I should be able to pick up the basics again fairly quickly. I know it's late on a Sunday night, but if anyone is around who knows a bit, or works an this field, I'd be greatful for your input.

[Aero]

grateful! duh!

[Dimpled]

I know a bit.

If you are going to do stage 2 it would be great to set aside some formal time every wek with your SIL and her DH (make sure it is BSL they use not SSE as can be very confusing.) If you have passed stage 1 I odn;t really see why you would have to brush up before doing stage2 - the variance in level at the start is quite great. Once you haev passed stage 2 (in my day!) you could register as a 'communicator' for emergancy situations where they need someone local who can sign.

Stage 3 is very different as it seems the only way that people can cope with this is through daily contact with BSL users, either through work or family.

Interpreter level requires even more of a commitment.

It is quite a long slog, but with family contact it may be possible. Are you in a town? any chance you could get soem work with BSL users? It makes the wold of difference.

[WriggleJiggle]

Mmmm, I keep thinking about this. Have also got Stage 1, but am scared of the jump in difficulty between stage 1 and stage 2. Would like to use it in my teaching though I think.

[Aero]

I wish I could spend some more time with them as they are lovely, but they are in NI and I'm in Kent. I felt regret and a bit recently on seeing them that I couldn't remember more tbh!

I think I'm worried at the jump in variance between stage 1 and 2 and that I might feel lost before I start.

There is possible opportunity for regular contact with a deaf mum at school, who seems lovely and always smiles a greeting. I'm thinking of approaching her about it, as I'd like to get to know her a bit, but not sure I remember enough even to get that far!

[MrsWho]

Its a while since I did my stage 2 ( 7 years ) I work as a signer in a SN school but now am very rusty if I meet anyone out of my safety zone IFSWIM.I always planned to do NVQ 3 and interpret but it was just too complicated as there are no courses anywhere near (3 hours away is the nearest) and have never done any more, my job share is just completing level3 and is then will have to do level 4 and trainee interpreter before she is fully qualified .Different interpreting jobs need differnt levels too, police/court /hospital etc need level 4.

Don't want to put you off because if you can get the regular practice it should be easier.

[MrsWho]

Is there a good Deaf community locally that you could get involved in ?though lots are reluctant to speak to people as they feel used by lots of signers practicing on them.

[Aero]

Yes, Mrs Who, that would be my worry, but my aim is to be able to communicalte with many more people that I feel I have no other way of getting to know without learning the language. I'm not sure, but I guess there would be some sort of deaf community locally.

I'm sure I can do stage 2 locally, but not sure if it goes any further than that.

[Dimpled]

good advice Mrs Who

[MrsWho]

CACDP for courses

[Dimpled]

Califru - I love the ASL alphabet but know someone who get RSI from it!

[Aero]

Thanks for the link MrsWho - at least I should be able to do the next stage - there are a few courses locally.

I understand your moan Califrau if my efforts to learn weren't welcomed, I'd probably feel the same, but I can see it from the other side too. I have been in a deaf club before and tbh, we weren't really welcomed, although no-one was rude either, but folk were just there to relax and our presence probably didn't help. If I do get further with this idea, I will somehow find the courage to approach this Mum at school and try to muddle my way through a conversation for advice re refreshing my very bacic knowledge. It's another year until ds2 starts school, but he'll be at pre-school every morning from now, so I can research a September start.

[Aero]

If I was at home, I'd ask SIL's BIL (not confusing at all that, is it ) to help out as he's so communicative himself, and most welcoming of anyone trying to learn signing, despite not using speech at all, whereas SIL's sister lipreads, signs and has some speech which her close family easily understand.

My BSL teacher for stage 1 also had no speech, but made himself perfectly clear and we all bar 1 person managed to pass.

[Aero]

lol @ elephant hide!

[MrsWho]

Yeah I used to go to deaf club with a friend but she moved away.Our local area is quite isolated anyway without adding the very isolated deaf community into it which leaves them quite insular.
I went on a course in Warrington a few years ago and the people at the deaf club practically dragged me in but they tended to mix with other groups and the centre ran alotof courses so they were more used to people coming and going.Friend is on course at UCLAN and said Preston is quite friendly too.

[MrsWho]

IME majority of signing teacher are deaf BSL users and it makes you learn

Califrau- I did keep meaning to ask about ASL and how different it is to BSL.

[Aero]

Right - I must get to bet now. Thanks so much for all the input - certainly given me food for thought and some sort of determination to at least attempt stage two, which I really wanted to do straight after stage 1, but a house move and being pg with ds1 got in the way, and since then I've thought about it on and off, but now with the youngest coming up for school in the not so distant future, there seems to be a window of opportunity arising which I am going to do my best to take.

Education was wasted on my youth, but I feel I could make up for it now one way or another.

Thanks all and night night.

[Aero]

oops - bed, that is.

It really does make you learn MrsWho.

[Dimpled]

ca;li - I found ask easier to learn because I had BSL - you might be surprised - like learning Spanish is easier if you have already learnt French I guess.

If you cn't get into the Deaf club without feeling like an outsider you could see if there are any BSL schools near you and volunteer a morning a week or something. I did that for a year and my langugae came on in leaps and bounds (as did my swearing in sign language!)

[Nikki76]

Hiya

I'm deaf - I can do basic BSL, but mainly lipread etc. I also found deaf clubs very antisocial places - they seemed to resent me because I could speak normally...it was as if I wasn't properly deaf...weird feeling!!

Agree with volunteering idea - would help your sign language no end!

[Dimpled]

califru

is it your ds that collects foreign coins?