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GCSE British sign language to be taught in schools

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By *usman 199 OP   Man
47 weeks ago

Stockport

What a great subject to study. Wish it had been around when I was at school. I would think there will be plenty of students taking it . Morning everyone

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By *uzie69xTV/TS
47 weeks ago

Maidstone

This is amazing news...

We are only about three decades behind schools in Europe and USA where kids can learn sign language instead of a foreign one.

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By *ittleMissCaliWoman
47 weeks ago

all loved up


"What a great subject to study. Wish it had been around when I was at school. I would think there will be plenty of students taking it . Morning everyone "
that is really good. But I hope rhey will start teaching it earlier in the school life. Much more relevant than French or Spanish

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By *hristopherd999Man
47 weeks ago

Brentwood

It's taught in some primary schools, should be taught in all schools

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By *ittleMissCaliWoman
47 weeks ago

all loved up


"It's taught in some primary schools, should be taught in all schools"
very few... I'm learning it currently x

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By *inaTitzTV/TS
47 weeks ago

Titz Towers, North Notts

It's a great idea. I wish that sign languages were universal, as German and French sign languages are different

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By *ittleMissCaliWoman
47 weeks ago

all loved up


"It's a great idea. I wish that sign languages were universal, as German and French sign languages are different "
all countries seem quite different. Even im the uk.. local areas have different signs x

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By (user no longer on site)
47 weeks ago

In know ISL and it is so different to other countries, but I guess it like speaking different languages and there can even be different dialects. It's great that it will be thought in the schools but as you say, it's so far behind some other school systems

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By (user no longer on site)
47 weeks ago

Very cool

The world would be a lot cooler if everyone knew it and you could sign speak across the pub or in a loud club

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By *hriscooperMan
47 weeks ago

Warrington

Not very often that the powers that be introduce a subject that could actually be useful..

Maybe there is hope after all that other useful subjects may be taught, like managing money, growing food, foraging and managing mental health.

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By *icolerobbieCouple
47 weeks ago

walsall


"Very cool

The world would be a lot cooler if everyone knew it and you could sign speak across the pub or in a loud club "

Yeah, but the downside would be everyone in the pub would know what you were talking about.

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By *iamondsmiles.Woman
47 weeks ago

little house on the praire

Teach it in some primary schools here

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By *entlemanrogueMan
47 weeks ago

Motherwell

it should be

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By (user no longer on site)
47 weeks ago


"What a great subject to study. Wish it had been around when I was at school. I would think there will be plenty of students taking it . Morning everyone "

I’d have left school with a comprehensive knowledge of all BSL swear words and “fancy a shag?”.

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By *ichaelsmyMan
47 weeks ago

douglas

it is usually taught once a class has a user in it. then they learn naturally between the kids and the schools realises that deaf children can/should be integrated, along with all disabilities

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By *uzie69xTV/TS
47 weeks ago

Maidstone


"In know ISL and it is so different to other countries, but I guess it like speaking different languages and there can even be different dialects. It's great that it will be thought in the schools but as you say, it's so far behind some other school systems "

Irish Sign Language is not a million miles different from BSL. I have BSL to Stage 3 so sufficiently fluent to go on holiday with Deaf friends. We have been mistaken for Australian (and I presume New Zealand) they have same British root.

The international sign language seems to be American Sign Language because the brightest and best Deaf people from across the world attend Gallaudet University (Washington DC)... Which because Gaullaudet was French emigrant has signs with strong French influence.

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By *hromosexualsCouple
47 weeks ago

Near Abercynon

This is good news.

Sign language is very handy...

Sorry

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By *nightsoftheCoffeeTableCouple
47 weeks ago

Leeds

About time. Now mr tumble can have a day off.

The mr

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By (user no longer on site)
47 weeks ago

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By *ie n MashCouple
47 weeks ago

Back in Malice

Superb news. I am currently trying to learn this in my late 50s and it is a huge challenge for me. Hopefully being taught it at an earlier age will make it easier for the youngsters.

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By *uri00620Woman
47 weeks ago

Croydon

It's great, all classes at my place learn it already. Would be an excellent move to offer as an exam class!

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By *a LunaWoman
47 weeks ago

South Wales

Great idea.

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By *ealMissShadyWoman
47 weeks ago

St Albans/ Welsh Borders


"About time. Now mr tumble can have a day off.

The mr "

Mr Tumble uses Makaton

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By *opinovMan
47 weeks ago

Point Nemo, Cumbria

Good - it's about time.

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By *ad NannaWoman
47 weeks ago

East London

They need to start from Nursery school.

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By *ealMissShadyWoman
47 weeks ago

St Albans/ Welsh Borders


"They need to start from Nursery school.

"

We use Makaton in our Nursery

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By (user no longer on site)
47 weeks ago


"They need to start from Nursery school.

"

There’s a basic one isn’t there? The one Justin (CBeebies) used to do. I picked it up and brought my kids up with it. I wonder if they still know it.

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By (user no longer on site)
47 weeks ago


"They need to start from Nursery school.

There’s a basic one isn’t there? The one Justin (CBeebies) used to do. I picked it up and brought my kids up with it. I wonder if they still know it.

"

I'm pretty sure that's Makaton.

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By (user no longer on site)
47 weeks ago

Such fantastic news, it should absolutely be taught in schools.

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By *ealMissShadyWoman
47 weeks ago

St Albans/ Welsh Borders


"They need to start from Nursery school.

There’s a basic one isn’t there? The one Justin (CBeebies) used to do. I picked it up and brought my kids up with it. I wonder if they still know it.

"

Communication used alongside verbal language using signs and symbols whereas BSL is a stand alone language for deaf or hard of hearing people. Makaton is ideal for small children and babies because we want that verbalisation to develop but Makaton allows children who can't communicate verbally for whatever reason to still communicate using sign and symbol

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By (user no longer on site)
47 weeks ago

Great idea but difficult to implement. Teacher shortages as it is and this will be shoehorned in since the curriculum is already taken up with subjects such as Ethics and PSHE. I can see this being taught by non specialists that would only be one chapter ahead. If you think about how many secondary schools there are ( about 4000 ish) that's a lot of sign language teachers to find.

Looks good on paper though.

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By (user no longer on site)
47 weeks ago


"Not very often that the powers that be introduce a subject that could actually be useful..

Maybe there is hope after all that other useful subjects may be taught, like managing money, growing food, foraging and managing mental health. "

Couldn't agree more

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By (user no longer on site)
47 weeks ago


"They need to start from Nursery school.

We use Makaton in our Nursery"

All nurseries should teach it. Very useful.

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By *ondonguy10Man
47 weeks ago

london

I would’ve loved to study that in school. One of the most useful languages to learn.

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By *exy_HornyCouple
47 weeks ago

Leigh

Can't see any need for it at all. Completely useless.

A foreign language is much more useful.

All this will do is reduce the numbers taking foreign languages as the number of GCSEs able to be taken are limited (generally to between 8 and 10) due to timetable constraints.

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By *ackformore100Man
47 weeks ago

Tin town


"What a great subject to study. Wish it had been around when I was at school. I would think there will be plenty of students taking it . Morning everyone "

Yeah i heard that... And initial thoughts were... What the fuck is that all about... And then thought, what a great idea and opportunity and door opener. To be honest a refreshing and rather revolutionary innovation. Next they'll be teaching health and hygiene and happiness...and how to switch the fuse box back on.

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By *ackformore100Man
47 weeks ago

Tin town


"They need to start from Nursery school.

"

Sure that's true of all languages though.

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By *ie n MashCouple
47 weeks ago

Back in Malice


"Can't see any need for it at all. Completely useless.

A foreign language is much more useful.

All this will do is reduce the numbers taking foreign languages as the number of GCSEs able to be taken are limited (generally to between 8 and 10) due to timetable constraints."

I can imagine that if I worked in a different role, I would probably share this view. Working where I do with pupils with severe autism, I cannot agree that it is completely useless. Learning something like Makaton as standard would open up opportunities for more people to communicate with these children. This has to be a good thing, as it will give them more of a voice and would allow more of the general public to share the sheer brilliance of these wonderful individuals.

I can appreciate your concerns about not learning other languages.

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By (user no longer on site)
47 weeks ago


"They need to start from Nursery school.

There’s a basic one isn’t there? The one Justin (CBeebies) used to do. I picked it up and brought my kids up with it. I wonder if they still know it.

I'm pretty sure that's Makaton. "

I just looked it up , yes, that’s the one.

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By *assy69Man
47 weeks ago

West Sussex and Wales


"What a great subject to study. Wish it had been around when I was at school. I would think there will be plenty of students taking it . Morning everyone "

Have just been signed up to a BSL course at work and am really looking forward to it ……. Used to use Makaton in a previous life, but this is going to be so much more useful

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By *uzie69xTV/TS
47 weeks ago

Maidstone


"Can't see any need for it at all. Completely useless.

A foreign language is much more useful.

All this will do is reduce the numbers taking foreign languages as the number of GCSEs able to be taken are limited (generally to between 8 and 10) due to timetable constraints.

I can imagine that if I worked in a different role, I would probably share this view. Working where I do with pupils with severe autism, I cannot agree that it is completely useless. Learning something like Makaton as standard would open up opportunities for more people to communicate with these children. This has to be a good thing, as it will give them more of a voice and would allow more of the general public to share the sheer brilliance of these wonderful individuals.

I can appreciate your concerns about not learning other languages.

"

You are being too polite to a misinformed view...

"Completely useless"? A tad bombastic? How many of us who did learn a foreign language can actually say it's been useful?

The education system used to make Deaf children sit in their hands and vocalise ... It was tantamount to cruelty.

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By *exy_HornyCouple
47 weeks ago

Leigh


"Can't see any need for it at all. Completely useless.

A foreign language is much more useful.

All this will do is reduce the numbers taking foreign languages as the number of GCSEs able to be taken are limited (generally to between 8 and 10) due to timetable constraints.

I can imagine that if I worked in a different role, I would probably share this view. Working where I do with pupils with severe autism, I cannot agree that it is completely useless. Learning something like Makaton as standard would open up opportunities for more people to communicate with these children. This has to be a good thing, as it will give them more of a voice and would allow more of the general public to share the sheer brilliance of these wonderful individuals.

I can appreciate your concerns about not learning other languages.

You are being too polite to a misinformed view...

"Completely useless"? A tad bombastic? How many of us who did learn a foreign language can actually say it's been useful?

The education system used to make Deaf children sit in their hands and vocalise ... It was tantamount to cruelty."

Not misinformed at all. According to the RNIB approximately 25,000 people in the UK use BSL as their main form of communication. That's about 1 in 2500 of the population.

So the chances of having to use BSL are vanishingly small for me.

French, on the other hand, is used for a month or more every year on holiday. It is arguable that Spanish or Chinese would be more useful but the only options were French and German when I was at school.

So a foreign language is useful. BSL is useless.

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By (user no longer on site)
47 weeks ago

If I'd have been taught bsl in school 20 odd years ago, I'd have used it not a single time by now.

School was a big waste of time as it was for me, glad I didn't waste more.

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By (user no longer on site)
47 weeks ago


"If I'd have been taught bsl in school 20 odd years ago, I'd have used it not a single time by now.

School was a big waste of time as it was for me, glad I didn't waste more. "

What kind of job do you do?

You use english skills on your profile, maths skills when paying your bills.

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By *uzie69xTV/TS
47 weeks ago

Maidstone


"Not misinformed at all. According to the RNIB ... Blah blah blah"

Errr.... RNIB is a Blind charity. This thread is about Deaf... ? There is a difference? Misinformed indeed!

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By (user no longer on site)
47 weeks ago


"If I'd have been taught bsl in school 20 odd years ago, I'd have used it not a single time by now.

School was a big waste of time as it was for me, glad I didn't waste more.

What kind of job do you do?

You use english skills on your profile, maths skills when paying your bills. "

I'm a grave digger.

My first words weren't in English, my parents taught me a great deal as they learned. School I wasn't interested in but I've always loved reading in my own time and I've picked up a great deal from there. Maths I'm terrible at but what i did learn came from helping with my parents business. I attribute school to maybe 5/10 percent of my applied knowledge in life.

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By (user no longer on site)
47 weeks ago

It's bloody brilliant!

Wish they'd of bought it in sooner tbh.

Miss S x

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By *exy_HornyCouple
47 weeks ago

Leigh


"Not misinformed at all. According to the RNIB ... Blah blah blah

Errr.... RNIB is a Blind charity. This thread is about Deaf... ? There is a difference? Misinformed indeed!"

You are of course correct about the typo however if you substitute RNID then the rest of the post is correct.

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By *tanley FunseekerMan
47 weeks ago

stanley


"What a great subject to study. Wish it had been around when I was at school. I would think there will be plenty of students taking it . Morning everyone "

Wonder if colleges will do it too, it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while

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