Career Opportunities
Proficiency in BSL opens up career paths in teaching, healthcare, social work, the media, customer services or even as a BSL interpreter. Holding a BSL qualification is a great way to stand out from the crowd in the jobs market.
Enhanced Communication Skills
Learning British Sign Language (BSL) will significantly enhance your communication skills. BSL is so much more than a signed version of written or spoken English; its syntax and vocabulary differ greatly.
You’ll Be Making Society More Inclusive
Learning BSL allows you to have conversations with deaf and hard of hearing people on their terms. Sign language breaks down communication barriers and enables the building of relationships between people that might otherwise have remained strangers.
You’ll Be Learning An Officially Recognised Language
The British Sign Language Act 2022 enshrined BSL as an official language in England, Scotland, and Wales, with plans afoot to make BSL a GCSE option within the next few years!
You’ll Be Part Of The Solution
The number of deaf individuals in the UK is approaching 100,000 – but this is only a small proportion of UK adults that suffer from some form of hearing loss. The Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) estimates that there will be around 14.2 million adults with hearing loss by 2035 in the UK. Learning British Sign Language will make you part of the solution – whilst opening up rewarding career paths that pay well.
You’ll Get To Experience Deaf Culture
Far from being hung up on the limitations of a shared medical condition, deaf culture is a rich and vibrant community centred around sign languages and heritage. Joining this community will provide you with a deeper understanding of human diversity.
It’s Fun
The visual and expressive nature of sign language makes it fun to learn and use. Check out the sign language for ‘persuade’ and ‘drunk’ for example!
