Success signalled as pass rate in British Sign Language exams hits 100 per cent

The success has been achieved by signing students at York St John University.

They are led by lecturer Amanda Smith who was born deaf and regards BSL as her first language and English as her second.

She said: “Sign language is like learning any other language in that you need to keep practising and enjoy what you’re doing.

“We try to teach with a great sense of humour and encourage a supportive learning environment where nobody is critical – I believe that’s the secret to the success of this course.”

The 100 per cent pass rate comes at a time when the university is experiencing an increasing demand for sign language skills.

Prof Angela Goddard, head of subject for languages and linguistics, said: “BSL is like any language, including English, in that it can be an academic subject for study in its own right, as well as one that develops users’ skills.

“Undergraduates who join York St John’s English Language and Linguistics programme are particularly interested in BSL because they see it as an important skill to have in any future career in teaching or speech and language therapy.

“Equally, public health providers and local businesses recognise the need for communicating with clients and customers from the Deaf community”.

Business School Dean Jackie Mathers puts the pass rate achieved by the 65 students down to “student commitment, inspirational teaching and high quality support.” She added: “We’re absolutely thrilled with the latest results which are well deserved given the hard work that every student has put in over the last semester.”

The York St John business school BSL course allows students to earn level one and two certificates. Level one equips people with the ability to use sign language to communicate simple things such as the weather and directions and have basic conversations.

Level two is more advanced, training students in the use of facial expressions, body language and enabling them to hold a seven minute signed conversation. The university also holds a weekly ‘Sign Café’ where students get together for practice.