Teach Primary Issue 19.6

One language, many variations We all manage variation in English every day (e.g. yes , yep , yeah ). When you look up words via online BSL dictionaries, you’ll also discover variations. Simply pick the first option for the word you want, as it is likely that it’s one of the more universal signs. If you have a sharp eye, you might also spot other variations, such as where deaf people position their fingers when they are signing vowel letters. You might also spot that left-handed people use a mirror image of some right-handed signs. Trying to teach such variations to your children can quickly overcomplicate things. Remember: keep it simple and keep it fun. BSL vs Makaton Let’s clear this up quickly. BSL, used by deaf people, is not the same as Makaton. Invented 50 years ago, Makaton helps children with learning difficulties and does incorporate some BSL signs (e.g. thank you, good morning). But Makaton also has many of signs of its own. Both have value. O ne of my favourite questions to ask to get to know my pupils is the ‘magic wand’ question: “Imagine I gave you a magic wand. You can use it to change anything about your life. What would you wish for?” I’ve asked it many times, and got all sorts of wonderful answers, but one deaf Y3 child’s answer was simple, yet a little bit heartbreaking: “I wish everyone knew how to sign.” We might not be able to make his wish come true, but we can take simple steps to help that boy and many others in our classrooms. Deaf children would benefit, of course, but there are plenty of pros for hearing children, too. Learning sign language can enhance children’s concentration, social skills, and empathy, for a start. Most of us weren’t lucky enough to learn sign language at school, so let’s quickly cover the basics before we dive into how you can fire up your children’s learning... BSL vs Sign Supported English BSL focuses on key words and, when you ask a question, you omit unimportant words ( is , did , be , etc). For example, “What is your name?” becomes “Name you what?” or simply “Name… what?” If you are new to signing, you may find BSL grammar difficult. Fortunately, Sign Supported English (SSE) comes to your rescue. SSE uses the word order of spoken English alongside BSL signs. Because it uses BSL signs, SSE is often referred to as BSL or BSL/SSE. 46 | www.teachwire.net It’s a SIGN Unless your school has a resource provision for deaf children, it’s likely that you’ll communicate using SSE. This is your cue to expand the horizons of all your pupils – deaf or hearing – with BSL, says Aaron King ... “Learning sign language can enhance children’s concentration, social skills, and empathy, for a start”