My reasons for learning BSL

[Annieds]

About 50 years ago, when we were very young and just took the world as it came, my siblings and I were taught finger spelling. None of us can remember why. One sister had very poor hearing, but became a fine musician, and I can't remember anyone saying that she was deaf. She died some years ago, so I can't ask. Anyhow, after a career in science I retrained as a science and maths teacher. I have worked alongside some very fine interpreters in mainstream college classes. For one term, I  had a maths student who was profoundly deaf but had no interpreter because, for a reason I never could fathom, one was not provided although he had requested one. He lip read very well but found it hard to make himself understood. I finger spelled and read very slowly. It was a tough term. I had a one-to-one with him before every lesson so that we could go through the work that was to be done and iron out problems, but it was unsatisfactory for us both. I am ashamed to say that it has taken a lockdown three years later for me to get off my lazy bottom and learn! I currently have a chemistry student with a wonderful interpreter. We 'meet' with the rest of the class on Zoom every Tuesday evening. Today I will be able to do more than smile!

Edited April 28, 2020 by Annieds