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http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/9425196.Reporter_tries_her_hand_at_sign_language_classes/
News Shopper reporter ABIGAIL WOODCOCK loves learning new languages. But how did she fare when she went to Bexley Deaf Centre to learn sign language?
LEARNING new languages has always interested me, so when the deaf centre in Whitehall Lane offered me an introduction to sign language, I jumped at the chance.
Joining a class of five people who were studying towards their British Sign Language Level 1, I watched awestruck as they used their hands to have conversations about their weekend and their families.
Then it was over to me.
Very patiently, they taught me how to sign my name, please and thank you, Happy New Year, and for good measure, let’s party.
They also taught me the letters of the alphabet, which they said would be a helpful aid for when I did not know a word.
I learnt that sign language is not only about what you do with your hands- it is also about your facial expressions and your lips.
Pronouncing words clearly as you sign can really make a difference as many deaf people are able to lip read.
Exaggerating facial expressions is also really helpful in communicating the mood of what you are trying to say.
Bexley Deaf Centre offers a range of introductory courses for people who want to learn to sign.
It also holds a deaf job club, where people who are deaf can get advice and support finding a job.
For more information, go to bexleydeafcentre.org.uk
Darren Lunney has been studying towards his British Sign Language Level 1 exam at Bexley Deaf Centre since September.
His five-year-old son is profoundly deaf.
The father-of-four of Ashburnham Road, Belvedere, said: “My son is the reason I’m here.
“The sense of isolation a deaf person feels when they are limited in who they can talk to is one of the reasons many of us here are learning to sign.
“By us doing this takes it outside the box.”
Darren and his partner began to realise something was wrong with their son shortly after he was born.
The 42-year-old said: “We noticed a non responsiveness at a very early age.
“His head was tilting to one side which we didn’t think was normal, so we took him to a hearing clinic.
“To be told you have a deaf child is devastating.
“My heart sunk.
“There was an element of fear when I was wondering how we would cope.
“All children want to play and explore and interact, but as parent, not being able to say “yes” and “no” made it really difficult.”
Darren says sign language is a really important skill to have to communicate with deaf people.
He added: “Even learning something as basic as the alphabet is amazing to see how far you can go with it- you can say hello, give directions and help people.”
Natasha Hobbins, 46, learnt the basics of sign language at an early age.
The mother-of-one of Albyn Road, Deptford said: “When I was about nine, my school friend showed me a picture of the alphabet in sign language and suggested we learn it so we could talk behind the teacher’s back in lessons.
“We spent most of our lunch times learning it, but the only problem was, we weren’t very good at spelling, so it would actually take us ages to say anything.
“But it’s never left me.
“Schools should have sign language on their curriculum- learning the alphabet is a skill you keep with you and if you meet any deaf people, you’re able to communicate with them.”
News Shopper reporter ABIGAIL WOODCOCK loves learning new languages. But how did she fare when she went to Bexley Deaf Centre to learn sign language?
LEARNING new languages has always interested me, so when the deaf centre in Whitehall Lane offered me an introduction to sign language, I jumped at the chance.
Joining a class of five people who were studying towards their British Sign Language Level 1, I watched awestruck as they used their hands to have conversations about their weekend and their families.
Then it was over to me.
Very patiently, they taught me how to sign my name, please and thank you, Happy New Year, and for good measure, let’s party.
They also taught me the letters of the alphabet, which they said would be a helpful aid for when I did not know a word.
I learnt that sign language is not only about what you do with your hands- it is also about your facial expressions and your lips.
Pronouncing words clearly as you sign can really make a difference as many deaf people are able to lip read.
Exaggerating facial expressions is also really helpful in communicating the mood of what you are trying to say.
Bexley Deaf Centre offers a range of introductory courses for people who want to learn to sign.
It also holds a deaf job club, where people who are deaf can get advice and support finding a job.
For more information, go to bexleydeafcentre.org.uk
Darren Lunney has been studying towards his British Sign Language Level 1 exam at Bexley Deaf Centre since September.
His five-year-old son is profoundly deaf.
The father-of-four of Ashburnham Road, Belvedere, said: “My son is the reason I’m here.
“The sense of isolation a deaf person feels when they are limited in who they can talk to is one of the reasons many of us here are learning to sign.
“By us doing this takes it outside the box.”
Darren and his partner began to realise something was wrong with their son shortly after he was born.
The 42-year-old said: “We noticed a non responsiveness at a very early age.
“His head was tilting to one side which we didn’t think was normal, so we took him to a hearing clinic.
“To be told you have a deaf child is devastating.
“My heart sunk.
“There was an element of fear when I was wondering how we would cope.
“All children want to play and explore and interact, but as parent, not being able to say “yes” and “no” made it really difficult.”
Darren says sign language is a really important skill to have to communicate with deaf people.
He added: “Even learning something as basic as the alphabet is amazing to see how far you can go with it- you can say hello, give directions and help people.”
Natasha Hobbins, 46, learnt the basics of sign language at an early age.
The mother-of-one of Albyn Road, Deptford said: “When I was about nine, my school friend showed me a picture of the alphabet in sign language and suggested we learn it so we could talk behind the teacher’s back in lessons.
“We spent most of our lunch times learning it, but the only problem was, we weren’t very good at spelling, so it would actually take us ages to say anything.
“But it’s never left me.
“Schools should have sign language on their curriculum- learning the alphabet is a skill you keep with you and if you meet any deaf people, you’re able to communicate with them.”