Sign language in schools?

[CorSie]

Why isn't sign language taught in schools as standard, rather than Spanish, French, German etc?

It's something I've always wondered but never really put too much thought into it until just recently.

When I was in school our options were French and Spanish and all we were taught was how to order food, ask where toilets were, booking hotels etc which, now, I don't really see as important. Surely teaching children sign language from an early age is more beneficial?

I totally agree. It is quite complex though.

Beneficial in what way? I'm not against learning sign language but there are far more Spanish speakers in the eorld than users of BSL!

Very few people use sign language, and fewer still BSL.

It would be a lot of learning for no real purpose. Most people learn a language so they can live/work/travel more easily.

There are many deaf people who don't sign.

The reason is probably that there aren't that many sign language users, and of those who do use sign language there are a number of different types.

I did in all the schools I went to. My sons Nursery uses signs with the kids so they pick some up. I think most do around here. Maybe it's just your area that isnt very good with sign?

How often do you find you need to use BSL?

I do think it would be great to teach people BSL, but there are other ways of communicating with deaf people such as writing if its not a regular thing.
I can do a bit of BSL, Ive learned it before up to level 2 and I also have several deaf family members, but even then I dont find I use much proper BSL, and the stuff ive learned, ive mostly forgotten anyway since its not regularly used.
I use my french far more regularly, and think it is much more useful in life to know a foreign language

50,000 people use BSL to communicate.

400,000,000 use Spanish.

In the course of a lifetime which one do you think will be the most beneficial?

but there are far more Spanish speakers in the eorld than users of BSL!

But we don't live in the rest of the world we live in Britain and so are more likely to encounter someone who needs to communicate via BSL. It makes total sense to me for schools to teach bsl alongside another language. I hate that they don't teach it at all

There are lots of things that could be taught in schools if there was the time, budget and resources. You would need to get specialist staff in and pay them. You would also need to remove another subject. You would need smaller class sizes. I agree totally by the way and schools with a high number of children who require BSL may well offer this to some extent. However learning a foreign language is so important for reasons that are not yet obvious in primary aged children but opens them up to many other opportunities when they are older.

*50,000 people use BSL to communicate.

400,000,000 use Spanish.

In the course of a lifetime which one do you think will be the most beneficial?*

Well that varies from person to person surely? If you're going to move or be holidaying a lot in Spanish speaking places then Spanish but if not then bsl.
Apart from the fact that at any point you may find a friend/child or relative loses their hearing suddenly so it would be a great help to already know bsl

My local sixth form college teaches BSL.

I think the 'numbers' argument is a bit specious. With that attitude, we'd have kissed goodbye to Gaelic and Welsh.

But we don't live in the rest of the world we live in Britain and so are more likely to encounter someone who needs to communicate via BSL.

Using that reasoning, you would be better off learning Welsh, Polish, Punjabi or Urdu - all of which are spoken by more people in the UK than use BSL.

youre really not more likely to meet someone that needs to use BSL. Most deaf people can also read and write, and you are more likely to be able to communicate properly with them through writing than you ever would by signing unless you were properly fluent and used it continuously. That is unless you work with the deaf or have a close family member which would necessitate you learning it fluently.

I do think it would be great to have sign language courses more easily available and subsidised, but it really shouldnt be at the expense of MFL.

Im sure most of the people who come out with this know neither BSL nor a foreign language, and are just against people learning anything a bit foreign

BSL isn't what's used world wide. It's now ASL.

Learning a non-sign language is not just about learning that particular language but gives the learner transferable skills to pick up other languages especially closely related ones. If you learn Spanish, you will understand some French and Italian, for example.

I'm 4o and have been never met a person who signs. It would have been a total waste.

I do think it would be great to have sign language courses more easily available and subsidised, but it really shouldnt be at the expense of MFL.

Absolutely. The British are bad enough at learning foreign languages already. We don't need to make the situation worse!
Also, rightly or wrongly, the British school system is ultimately geared towards gaining qualifications. I don't know to what extent Sign Language qualifications are accredited or recognised by universities. Happy to be better informed on this matter if anyone knows!

I didn't expect so many replies so fast!

I didn't know about the numbers of people using sign language were so 'low' so that has explained I guess, I was basically just wondering as to why it isn't taught at all.

I've always worked with the public (in supermarkets and now in leisure) and in my experience I've come across more deaf people than I have people who don't speak any English (obviously won't be the case for everybody) I was having a conversation about it recently and I was considering learning sign language myself which is what got me thinking

I agree everyone should have a basic knowledge, as with first aid and knowing how to ride a bike and swim.

Whether school is the right place to learn it?

I learnt a bit at university and then again at work. But my knowledge is very limited and confined really to the alphabet.

Bran I'm not sure if you mean me, but I'm not against anyone learning anything foreign at all. I'm not against languages being taught in schools, as I said I was only wondering why sign language isn't, and now I've read people's replies it's made more sense as to why that is

As everyone has said there just isn't the demand for it. Far more useful would be disability awareness courses where dc could learn how to show respect and compassion to anyone from sight or hearing impaired to mobility problems.

Also, ime only, Deaf people are quite happy using BSL in their own community they aren't that keen on hearing people doing it, except for interpreting purposes.

Myrtle that's something i would never have thought of but that's actually a very good idea

I'm learning BSL now, my toddler daughter is profoundly deaf, although she has cochlear implants and we hope that she'll use English in the future. DH and I thought it was important to learn for her, in case she needs it in the future, plus we've become involved with our local deaf family centre and it's great to be able to communicate with deaf BSL users.

I agree with others that, compared to the number of people who use Spanish/french etc, the number of BSL users is small. But it's an amazing language to learn, and requires a totally different style of learning compared to learning a spoken language. Would love for it to be taught in schools.

It is taught in my daughter's primary school - they were both in a signing choir and have a basic understanding.
Touching moment was when a gentleman picked up her coat in restaurant and she realised he was deaf, and signed to him.
I agree it should be taught

I'm really surprised by some of these comments and can see why most deaf people don't really like hearing people. It's not hard to see why the deaf community are so closed off to "outsiders"