British Sign Language (BSL) is a visual language in the UK that uses signs, facial expression and body language to communicate. It is the most commonly use sign language in the UK.
Sign language gives Deaf people, and the people they interact with, a way to communicate by using hand shapes, movement, body language and facial expressions to convey concepts, words and sentences.
Learning BSL can be a fun and enriching experience that will give you a new skill and help you understand, communicate and engage in more meaningful ways with Deaf people.
BSL can benefit individuals and organisations in a number of different ways. The benefits of being bilingual – or multilingual – and culturally-aware can enable more effective communication for a range of different people from different backgrounds.
Sign language is taught in levels; starting at level one up to level six. For people or organisations with an interest in developing basic BSL skills, levels one to three are usually adequate. To become fluent in BSL (level six) can take several years to achieve, but offers many rewarding careers, including as a communication support worker, BSL interpreter, teacher of the Deaf, and many others.
Learning BSL is not as difficult as it may seem, but does take time, effort and practice. It’s a visual language, so you’ll need to learn a combination of individual signs, facial expressions, body language and BSL language structure. Learning a new language can be challenging, but once you get into the swing of things, learning new signs and how to use them to communicate can quickly become second nature.
For those who are not Deaf, learning British Sign Language is one way to ensure that Deaf people are included in everyday interactions and provides a perfect example for others to follow. With time and effort, learning BSL will open up the Deaf world for you to explore and be part of. Read on to find out how you can start your BSL journey.
Why is BSL important & why should you learn it?
Imagine waking up one day to the world around you using a language that everyone understands but you. Without BSL, this is exactly how members of the Deaf community feel every day.
Learning BSL, even if it’s just basic sign language to begin with, will help not only broaden your communication with individuals, it will also increase inclusivity and accessibility for the Deaf community.
The benefits of learning BSL
Learning sign language comes with several benefits, including:
Creating a more accessible & inclusive work environment
Many benefits come from creating an inclusive workplace culture. By learning BSL within your business, whether it’s putting staff on a Deaf Awareness Training course, or getting them to learn the basic signs, you will instantly create a more accessible environment for any current or future employees who are Deaf or hard of hearing. It can also help you provide an even better customer experience to members of the Deaf community.
Break down common misconceptions about Deafness
The common perception of being Deaf and being hard of hearing is seen as something negative, and lacking. Learning BSL and educating yourself and others will allow these misconceptions to be challenged and replaced with more accurate representation.
Sign language in your career
Becoming fluent in sign language can boost your career in a number of ways. Professionals from different sectors have been able to use their sign language skills to enhance services delivered for Deaf people. This has included police officers, solicitors, mental health nurses, counsellors, to name a few. these professionals combined their existing career skills with British Sign Language to make their services accessible.
Celebrate diversity in your community
Communication is a key part of life and so being a BSL user will allow members of the Deaf community to feel included in activities, gatherings, and day-to-day life. Celebrating the diversity of individuals around you will encourage hearing people to learn BSL, but also highlight the skills and talent within the Deaf community. It is important to recognise that Deaf sign language users are educated, skilled and want to contribute to society.
How to start your BSL journey
If you want to gain your certificate in British Sign Language, there are a number of BSL training courses you can enrol on. Learning BSL can take from as little as a year, up to 7+ years, depending on how much you want to learn and in how much depth.
Sign Solutions offer bespoke BSL courses in levels one to three for groups of interested learners. We do not provide single person BSL courses, however we work hard to tailor all our courses to suit individual organisations’ needs.
Our central location in the heart of the Midlands mean we are ideally located to provide our award-winning training services anywhere in the country. Alternatively, we can offer remote sessions via any video platform of your choice.
Our bespoke courses include:
- Introduction to BSL – Level 1 Award – Unit 101
- Level 1 Award in British Sign Language
- Level 2 Certificate in British Sign Language
- Level 3 Certificate in British Sign Language
Please contact training@signsolutions.uk.com for more information, or click here to contact a member of our team.
