BSL.

[falcon]

I'd appreciate it if any MNs who know BSL could tell me where they were taught it.

I'm looking to learn BSL as I'm currently on a nursing course and it'll be of great use for my future career plus my role as a volunteer.

Unfortunately I've just missed a BSL class at my local college which started earlier than the other classes, it's partly my fault but they put BSL not under languages, the obvious place to list it, but under general interest

I don't want to wait another year to begin learning it.

PS Why on earth isn't it taught in schools? It makes no sense at all not to do so imho.

[2shoes]

sorry can't help as I do sign a long(bit like makaton)

[falcon]

Perhaps sign a long is something I should also be looking into.

Is it widely used?

[falcon]

Yes but I think it'd be useful to learn those too, I'll have a look at the online sites too thankyou, I never thought of that.

[bigcar]

That's a pain isn't it! If the course has only just started may be you could explain the circumstances and they might let you join a couple of weeks late. You could also try phoning the education authority and ask to be put in touch with their teacher of the deaf who may be able to point you in the right direction. Makaton (based on bsl) might be another option if you're thinking of working with people with special needs.

[falcon]

Thankyou Bigcar I think I might just do that.

I'm furious that they didn't put BSL under languages, what is it if not a language?

[Nymphadora]

You should point out to the college that BSL is LEGALLY a language :-)

You could also try the local deaf group/centre. Most areas have one.

[UniS]

Try and get on course a few weeks late. If your wiling to work and catch up- use internet resourses to help you- you should be OK missing a few weeks.
The typical 1st BSL intro course is pretty basic and inculdes usefull info to help you communicate with Deaf and hearing imparied people. STage 1 is a bit more in depth and stage 2 pretty serious. Stage 3 is a BIG commitment.
I failed my stage 2- missed too many classes- dispite being a pretty confident signer.

[supportman]

I have got to know most of Makaton just by learning as I have gone along at work. I have a lets sign pocket dictionary which was about £10 and has around 1000 signs in it which is useful for anything I am not sure about. You can find books and videos for self teaching at libraries.

[smartiejake]

If you contact your local BDA they should be able to point you in the direction of a local course. Or lots of local evening class schools run BSL courses often run by deaf tutors.

Sign dictionalries and on line resources are very useful in terms of learning vocabulary but BSL has its own grammar so its not just a matter of learning the signs from a book and signing as you talk (this is known as Signed supported English or SSE)To learn BSL proper you would really need an evening class.

BSL level one is quite basic and the course is about 60 hours usually 2 hours a week for three terms.

BSL level 2 is much harder and notoriously difficult to pass. This is usually a 2 year course where the expectation is 2 hours a week. They also recommend you spen time at deaf clubs or with members of the deaf community to practise skills.

Makaton is much simpler but quite alot of the vocabulary is the same as BSL.