Why I'm Learning BSL

[Play Ranger Ben]

I have kind of touched on this in my intro post. To add meat to those bones... I want to learn BSL for a number of reasons:

1. Professionally. I am a playworker and work with school aged children all over Gloucestershire. I would like to be able to welcome anyone to our play provision and learning BSL will hopefully allow me to introduce myself and make any children/young people feel welcome. I also work in a Special Educational setting and they use a combination of BSL and makaton to help the pupils understand what is being asked of them, it would be great to start conversing with the pupils in this way too.

2. I have friends who use BSL and I would love to speak with them using the skills picked up on this course rather than them having to lip read me and/or translate.

3. Ever since I watched Four Weddings and a Funeral when Hugh Grant's character and his brother use BSL during the first wedding, I thought that would be cool to learn. There was always something that prevented me from taking the plunge. Half laziness, half anxious about learning a new language i guess! I am currently a furloughed worker so there is no better time than now to learn and achieve my goal from so many years ago.

[JENNY55]

Hello, my name is Jenny Chalmers, and I am 65.  I am interested in learning BSL and have been on an online course on Facebook

for the past fortnight.  I would value some practice sessions if possible, to help me keep up with the first few signs that I have

been able to memorize.  Thank you.