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The British Sign Language is the language of the deaf or hearing impaired ones – a common belief that the majority of the people hold. However, it is no longer used by the deaf only; rather, people who can hear properly are also widely using British Sign language these days.
In fact, it is now the fourth most used language in the UK.
According to Weston College, “Over 125,000 adults in the UK use British Sign Language, and many more people know how to communicate using it.” As people are gradually becoming interested in learning this language, the need for BSL courses is increasing too. Whether you choose an online or an offline course, you need to know which course is suitable for you.
So, this blog has been prepared for those keen to know about how to learn BSL and how to get started to learn the language.
The acronym BSL stands for “British Sign Language.” BSL involves a combination of facial expressions, hand gestures, upper body movements and lip patterns. It uses a two-handed alphabet and is completely independent of the English Language.
The British Sign Language is itself a separate language. BSL was recognised by the UK government as an official minority language in 2003. Like any other language, it has its own vocabulary, syntax and grammatical structure.
The British Sign Language is not universal. This sign language is as varied as spoken languages. BSL is similar to Australian Sign language, but it is entirely different from American Sign Language (ASL).
Are you looking for a BSL course? If your answer is a yes, you can have the opportunity of learning British Sigh Langauge from the comfort of your home. Join Lead Academy British Sigh Langauge online course and enrol at a discounted price. Register today!
The number of BSL users is gradually increasing as this sign language is now also used by some professionals along with the hearing impaired ones. According to the British Deaf Association Sign Langauge Week, “the total number of BSL users in the UK is 151,000 and that 87,000 of these are Deaf.”
| Region | Deaf BSL Users | Total numbers of BSL Users |
|---|---|---|
| England | 73,000 | 127,000 |
| Scotland | 7,000 | 12,500 |
| Wales | 4,000 | 7,200 |
| Northern Ireland | 3,000 | 4,300 |
| Total | 87,000 | 151,000 |
The British Sign Language is also used by-
There is a common belief that the deaf only use BSL. Whether you have a hearing impairment or not, you can still learn BSL and use it for communication. BSL can serve various other purposes to hearing people as well. The reasons for learning BSL can be-
1. To connect with the deaf people:
People with hearing impairment can feel isolated if they cannot communicate spontaneously. As a society, our responsibility is to address this issue and encourage the widespread use of an effective means of communication that can be employed. By learning BSL, one can ease the communication between the hearing impaired and those who can hear.
2. To strengthen the bond with the hearing impaired ones:
If you love to make new friends, then there is a whole community of deaf people in the UK with whom you can be friends! Learning BSL would allow you to meet new people and build relationships.
3. To communicate better:
You might be in a music concert trying to talk to your friend, but your friend might not understand anything because of the loud music. How can you communicate then? If you know BSL, you can easily convey your message to your friend through hand gestures.
BSL can also be used while talking from a distance or in a place where silence is preferred, like a library or a doctor’s chamber.
4. To achieve a new skill:
Learning a new language means achieving a new skill. Imagine in a public place, someone with hearing loss or speech impairment is trying to say something using gestural language, but no one is able to understand the signs. In a scenario like this, your knowledge of BSL can help the person from unwanted embarrassment.
5. To pursue a different career path:
You can also choose to learn BSL to pursue a different career path. If you are tired of your 9-5 job, you can learn the British Sign language.
The knowledge of BSL would also allow you to work as a communication support worker, teacher of the deaf, provider of deaf social services and so on.
There are some specific situations where deaf people rely on BSL interpreters, for example, a medical emergency. In such a situation, interpreters can play a crucial role. According to Indeed, “The average salary for a sign language interpreter is £17.82 per hour in United Kingdom.”
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This comprehensive British Sign Language (BSL) course is designed to enable learners to develop their skills to communicate with Deaf people using British Sign Language (BSL) in a range of everyday situations. This British Sign Language (BSL) course will set you up with a solid foundation in British Sign Language (BSL) and develop more advanced skills. | By Lead Academy
This question does not have any specific answer as it would depend on the individual and how much they are using BSL in their daily lives. Learning the British Sign Language can be as difficult as learning a traditional language, requiring the same amount of effort.
People who are born deaf and grow up signing learn to sign in the same way a hearing child learns to speak. While some people learn easily, for others, it is more challenging. Since each student has their own learning pace, it can take up to 3-4 years on average to become fluent.
You can learn BSL easily with conscious effort, but to be a professional, you have to be patient and practice sincerely to obtain the qualifications.
There are many providers of BSL courses like:
You need to spend a bit of time to find out who is offering BSL courses in your area and to see which provider is most suitable for you in terms of cost, location and time.
However, it would be easier for you to get started with an online course. Lead Academy is a great place to learn BSL from home with easy access through any of your devices.
The topics to be covered in each level of a BSL course would depend on the course providers and how they have designed a particular course; however, it’s more or less the same for every BSL course. Each level would possess some specific aims and objectives. With each level, students achieve the required competency to communicate in BSL.
Level 1 is for beginners with no prior knowledge of the British Sign Language. At this level, learners are usually taught simple, everyday language. BSL grammar is introduced at level 2, along with some routine conversation. Level 3 includes BSL linguistics, so by this time, students can have a standard conversation in BSL.
If you are an advanced learner and want to become a BSL interpreter, you need to opt for Level 6. Level 6 is equivalent to degree level. This level teaches complex British Sign language to help you operate proficiently in a wide range of work situations.
While learning BSL can be overwhelming, always remember that practice is the key to learning the language. Besides, your will and effort would help you to grasp the language. However, you can consider the following points while trying to learn British Sign Language.
Start with the basics:
Start off your BSL learning journey with the basics like numbers, colours, household items and days of the week. Continue with the basics until you master them. You can learn 60 signs in a month if you target learning and practising two new signs a day.
Enrol in an online course:
You can opt for an online course to learn British Sign Language. You would be able to learn at your convenient time from anywhere since the courses are accessible from any device. You would also find a tutor to assist with your learning and you will be certified upon completion by a recognised accreditation body.
If you are looking for an online BSL course, check out Lead Academy and find your desired British Sign Language course. Click here to learn more.
Visit deaf events often:
Learning BSL becomes a lot easier by mixing with deaf people and attending deaf events. You can be more fluent by meeting deaf people, observing them and trying to communicate with them. If you find the time, try to join any deaf club or visit deaf events at your nearest deaf centre.
Observe and mimic interpreters:
You can easily pick up signs by watching BSL interpreters. You can often find them at deaf events or on TV during news or live events.
Take a challenge:
A sign language challenge could be kept within the family, friends or fellow learners by simply signing words or alphabets to each other and counting how many signs each gets right.
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The British Sign Language (BSL) uses a two-handed alphabet, unlike the American Sign Language, which uses a one-handed alphabet. The hand you would use to sign is your dominant hand (typically, the right hand) and the other hand is called the base hand.
If you are a left-handed person, your left hand would be your dominant hand and your right hand would be the base hand.
To learn how to sign the alphabet in detail, check out the blog How to Learn British Sign Language Alphabet.
To learn how to sign the alphabet in detail, check out the blog How to Learn British Sign Language Alphabet
While as a beginner, you start off with the basic vocabulary, alphabets, numbers and greetings. As you proceed, you would be promoted to an advanced level learner where you would need to learn the longer phrases along with the conversational questions and answers.
By learning the complete phrases, you would be able to communicate fluently in BSL and continue any conversation with confidence.
Some of the important phrases are:
Learning a new language is always challenging and when it comes to sign language, it becomes even more difficult. Here are some tips suggested for you that you can apply to smoothen your BSL learning journey.
Set goals:
Setting goals can motivate you to be consistent in learning BSL. You can set daily, weekly, or monthly goals and check your progression. Your goals can be-
Practice:
Just attending classes and taking 2 or 3 hours of lessons weekly will not be enough to learn BSL. Like any other new skill, BSL requires regular practice. After every lesson, practice the signs taught by the instructor. This will help you to remember the signs you are learning.
Work on your facial expressions:
Try to provide facial expressions while signing in BSL. Deaf people use different facial expressions that determine the mood of a conversation. By doing the same, you can gain expertise like BSL skills.
Do not be ashamed to make mistakes:
Making mistakes is a significant part of the learning process. Do not stop trying new signs with an expert in fear of judgment; instead, try to learn from your mistakes.
Learn according to your convenience:
Every learner is different and so is their learning style. If you find learning the phrases easier, then go for it. There is no such rule that you have to start with the vocabulary first.
Today, we’ll look at what’s the difference between ASL and BSL. Although both of them are sign languages, they are fundamentally different from each other
Just like any other sign language, there are many advantages of BSL. Some of them you may not have even guessed. So let’s explore them in detail here.
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