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Students learn sign language for hi-tech link with deaf school
THEY'VE already mastered French, Spanish, German and even Mandarin. And now pupils at an Exeter school are using their skills to speak in sign language.
Students at St Peter's Church of England School are using video conferencing to communicate with youngsters from the Royal Academy for the Deaf, in Topsham Road.
The scheme started this term and teachers say it has benefited children from both schools.
Pupils at St Peter's, a specialist language college, already use video conferencing to speak to students in Germany.
Eve Cushing, 13, said: “We also learnt about the culture of sign language and I was surprised to find how each region has it's own dialect.”
St Peter's has provided video conferencing equipment to the academy in exchange for the services of sign language teacher Fiona Wright.
“I also work in other schools but St Peter's is the only one we have set up the video conferencing with,” she said.
“It's working really well and all the children are really enjoying it. It gives the St Peter's students a chance to try out sign language with deaf people in practice after we have finished a lesson.
“If it wasn't for the equipment, the logistics would be very difficult.”
Assistant principal Alison Sykes believes the technology is vital for youngsters to practice what they have learnt and she is visiting the German Education Ministry this summer to urge it to provide a faster internet connection in Germany so staff and students at St Peter's can talk with more schools using broadband.
This week, representatives from major businesses visited St Peter's to talk to youngsters about the importance of languages in the world of work. Staff from EDF, Flybe, Thompson Reuters and Centrax ran workshops for pupils from St Peter's, St James School and Clyst Vale Community College.
St Peter's students are also taking part in a joint recycling project with a German school, organised by youth group UK German Connection.
Molly Keehner, 12, has spoken to students in French and German schools.
“We talked about home and pets and I was able to ask them loads of questions,” she said. “I went on a German exchange in February which was also really helpful.
Rachel Sheehan, 13, said: “We are all surprised by how easy it is to learn another language when you are already familiar with one.”
THEY'VE already mastered French, Spanish, German and even Mandarin. And now pupils at an Exeter school are using their skills to speak in sign language.
Students at St Peter's Church of England School are using video conferencing to communicate with youngsters from the Royal Academy for the Deaf, in Topsham Road.
The scheme started this term and teachers say it has benefited children from both schools.
Pupils at St Peter's, a specialist language college, already use video conferencing to speak to students in Germany.
Eve Cushing, 13, said: “We also learnt about the culture of sign language and I was surprised to find how each region has it's own dialect.”
St Peter's has provided video conferencing equipment to the academy in exchange for the services of sign language teacher Fiona Wright.
“I also work in other schools but St Peter's is the only one we have set up the video conferencing with,” she said.
“It's working really well and all the children are really enjoying it. It gives the St Peter's students a chance to try out sign language with deaf people in practice after we have finished a lesson.
“If it wasn't for the equipment, the logistics would be very difficult.”
Assistant principal Alison Sykes believes the technology is vital for youngsters to practice what they have learnt and she is visiting the German Education Ministry this summer to urge it to provide a faster internet connection in Germany so staff and students at St Peter's can talk with more schools using broadband.
This week, representatives from major businesses visited St Peter's to talk to youngsters about the importance of languages in the world of work. Staff from EDF, Flybe, Thompson Reuters and Centrax ran workshops for pupils from St Peter's, St James School and Clyst Vale Community College.
St Peter's students are also taking part in a joint recycling project with a German school, organised by youth group UK German Connection.
Molly Keehner, 12, has spoken to students in French and German schools.
“We talked about home and pets and I was able to ask them loads of questions,” she said. “I went on a German exchange in February which was also really helpful.
Rachel Sheehan, 13, said: “We are all surprised by how easy it is to learn another language when you are already familiar with one.”