Introducing myself

[Leah Tomison]

Hi everyone,

My name is Leah. I am 23 years old and I'm a complete beginner to BSL. I am a primary school teacher and despite having no children in my school who currently use sign language I've always been super keen to learn it. Due to having a lot of time now with the current situation, I thought it is a great opportunity for me to learn and give me something to do while being stuck in a small room on my own for who knows how long.
It would be great to find some people to practise with to check I'm doing the right thing etc.

 

Edited April 3, 2020 by Leah Tomison

[Robin]

Hi Leah - likewise - but i'm not a teacher - I just want to learns something new!, let me know if you want some practice time!

[[email protected]]

Introducing myself:

I'm Sally, 53 and a Civil Servant in Wales.

I am learning BSL as home isolating and also have severe hearing loss.

[Robin]

would be great to practice Sally - drop me a line or post?

[Lmobbshill]

Hi everyone. Excuse my first attempts, it is easier when I don’t have an audience but I need to push myself out of my comfort zone otherwise what is the point of learning?

I have always wanted to learn. I have also signed my kids up, who I am helping to teach and practise.

[Leah Tomison]

Hi Louise... you are 44, from Birmingham and a teacher? Am I correct? Nice to meet you

[Leah Tomison]

1 hour ago, Robin said:

Hi Leah - likewise - but i'm not a teacher - I just want to learns something new!, let me know if you want some practice time!

Would be great to! 

[Robin]

maybe we could do a zoom with everyone - or even a open houseparty?

[Scott Ellis]

Hi I'm Scott,

I had started learning BSL but the class got put on hold due to COVID 19. Looking for a way to continue to practice and learn new things. We had passes 1.01 and had started on 1.02. Let me know if you're interested in chatting!

Scott

[Robin]

would be great - would houseparty - or zoom better?

 

[Leah Tomison]

Zoom would be better I think

[Robin]

agree - 

and will start a zoom now if anyone wants to join - 

is it secure to share email addresses - or should we get the BSL website to arrange this?

[Robin]

53 minutes ago, Lmobbshill said:

Hi everyone. Excuse my first attempts, it is easier when I don’t have an audience but I need to push myself out of my comfort zone otherwise what is the point of learning?

I have always wanted to learn. I have also signed my kids up, who I am helping to teach and practise.

good on you!- out of comfort zone! - and your doing very well!

[Lmobbshill]

Thank you.

Hi everyone. Excuse my first attempts, it is easier when I don’t have an audience but I need to push myself out of my comfort zone otherwise what is the point of learning?

I have always wanted to learn. I have also signed my kids up, who I am helping to teach and practise.

[Lizzie Poole]

Hello Everyone :) Similarly, I have signed up to learn BSL as a 1:1 LSA at Primary. I currently use a small amount of Makaton at school with another child but keen to use any free time to improve my skills :) 

 

[AmyF]

Good morning all,

Fellow Primary School Teacher looking to learn a new skill. Some children in my school learn Makaton and one of them may be in my class next year so hoping to learn some things to help them. Learning alongside my fellow Year 1 teacher (2 form entry) so hopefully we can practise with each other!

[Emma_B]

Hello Everyone, 

I'm Emma, I'm 23 and I'm a PhD student in Food Science. I have always had an interest in signed languages, so when I discovered a sign language society at my university I decided to join. I've been learning the basics since October, but due to COVID-19 cancelling our classes, when I saw the British-Sign course advertised I wanted to continue learning. I don't know anyone who has BSL as their first language, but having worked on a few shows at my university theatre which have used BSL I've been motivated to understand it. 

[agirlcallednaomi]

Hi everyone. I'm learning BSL as I'd like to be able to support the D/deaf community if I ever need to. I also have a neurological disorder which affects my speech so sometimes I find it easier to sign when I'm unable to talk. My stepmum can finger spell which helps but it can be difficult having to finger spell everything. BSL is something I'm hoping my new PA can learn so we can communicate together. I also feel that BSL should be taught as a language in schools; maybe even mandatory basic BSL. I feel it's an important life skill. Also being dyslexic I was unable to learn oral languages but I'm finding with BSL it's much much easier and I think if BSL was taught in school it could help a lot of children wether they have dyslexia too or are D/deaf/hard of hearing or have another disability etc.

[ShinyRodgers]

Hi everyone

Im Alan, Ive been trying to get started on BSL for a while now. What i really need is people to practice with. Im wondering if there are people on this course who would like to start some kind of Zoom or other platform sessions up for us all to practice with each other on. This lockdown jazz does nothing for the simple ability of human interaction on a face to face level, which as we know is obviously a large factor of learning a language that requires a visual aspect.

Im with you if your'e nervous about doing any of this in front of other people, but i think if im going to actually learn properly its going to have to happen.

I have done the level one course in various places or forms 3 times now and each time i let it slip to the curb because i find it difficult to find people to practice with. Now im not socially shy or lazy but we all get a little apprehensive about putting ourselves out in front of others.

Id like to try and find a few people, the more merrier obviously, and get this learning jazz going. 

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