Empowering Deaf Young People in a Hearing World Gain insight into how Exeter Deaf Academy approaches language acquisition and development through the use of British Sign Language (BSL) and other communication methods.

1. How BSL enhances
our language and
develops Deaf
identity.

2. •Nikki James

3. True or False?
• Deaf people cannot talk
• Deaf people can read Braille
• Deaf people are different
• Some deaf people use sign language
• Deaf people cannot enjoy music
• Deaf people can hear everything with their hearing aids or cochlear
implants on

4. • Deaf people can go to university and have a job
• Deaf people cannot drive cars
• All deaf people can lip-read
• Deaf people can’t use the phone
• Deaf people are not smart
• Deaf people do not watch TV because they can’t hear it

5. Aim of Session
• To focus on the importance of language acquisition for a deaf student.
• Examine how Exeter Deaf Academy supports deaf children to develop
in a bilingual environment.
• Examine how Exeter Deaf Academy develops links between home and
school to allow the student to achieve their full potential.

6. Deafness

7. Pre-lingual Deafness
• This can greatly affect the student’s ability to use English. It is harder
to acquire spoken and written language because the
exposure/interaction to language and grammar is severely limited.
• As they become adults, spoken language skills and understanding of
abstract concepts may be less developed. Sign language may therefore
be their first or preferred language.
• Maths and other more abstract subjects can also be difficult to grasp,
mainly due to the language involved.

8. Post-lingual Deafness
• The student will have already acquired English language skills in both
spoken and written English before their hearing loss develops. They
will have already learned how to speak, read and write and will
normally want to continue with English as their preferred or first
language.

9. Communication

10. Why we support students to develop
bilingually?
• We provide Sign bilingualism – using BSL and spoken/written
language at Exeter Deaf Academy. Why do we use this?
• Difficulty achieving a sense of belonging
• Social isolation
• Nerves or anxiety with every day communication
• Withdrawal

11. English Idioms

14. What is British Sign Language?
• British Sign Language is a language in its own right.
• It has its own syntax and vocabulary
• BSL has its own structure and grammar.
• It is NOT a signed version of English.
• It has its own regional variations just the same as spoken English.
• Other countries have their own sign language e.g. ASL is American
Sign Language.

15. • British Sign Language is a visual-gestural language. Deaf people have
been using it for hundreds of years.
• A hearing child learns language by hearing sounds and words. A deaf
child cannot learn in the same way as the hearing child. To have
access to BSL means that a deaf child can learn language through BSL.
• You can use natural gestures.
• Use pointing to clarify communication.
• Facial expression is important in BSL.

16. Facial expressions
• Facial expressions are used for communication for deaf students.
Hearing people use emotion and intonation in their voice. We use
emotion within our facial expression.
• Think of an object you like.
• Think of an object you don’t like.

17. BSL Communication
•Touching
•Eye Gaze
•Pointing

18. BSL Qualification Table
Level Informal learning Qualifications (non-
accredited)
Accredited qualifications
Informal Deaf club or signing group
Entry 1,2 and 3 Introduction to
BSL/Family Sign Language
NVQ 1/GCSE D-G BSL Level 1
NVQ 2/GCSE A*-C BSL Level 2
NVQ 3/A level BSL Level 3
Certificate of Higher
Education HNC/NVQ4
BSL Level 4
Intermediate HNC
HND/Foundation Degree
Honours degree BSL Level 6

19. Lip Reading
Only 25% of words can be lip read - some grammatical structures & sounds
are impossible to lip read.
Some people cannot be lip read as foreign or regional accents, beards,
moustaches or facial coverings make lip reading impossible.

20. Gestures
• Use gestures and mime to perform these activities without using your
voice:
• Planting a seed in your garden.
• Blowing up a balloon that pops!
• Reading a book.
• Making a phone call.
• Riding a bike.

21. How we support Students
and Parents at Home

22. Family Sign Language Weekend
What’s included:
• To explore ways to develop visual communication with deaf children
• Family
• Communicating with people
• Feelings
• Things we do every day
• Outdoors
• Toys and games
• Mealtimes

23. Deaf Teenagers Day
What's included:
• School, college and jobs
• Technology
• Food and fitness
• Mind
• Self-esteem and body image
• Relationships
• Sexual health
• Slang signs and phrases in BSL
• Deaf community and belonging

24. Summary
The deaf student will always be deaf. Cochlear implants and hearing
aids are great technology for deaf people to use to access sound and
for some to access speech, but at the end of the day when they take
their implants and aids off, they are still deaf.
Here at the Deaf Academy, we know students and their family comes as
a package, so we want to support them all in both BSL and English to
give the student the best start in life. Keep a look out for our free
Family Sign Language weekends, contact the Deaf Academy for more
information, which will support family members and professionals to
communicate with their child.