if you think sign language is “JUST another language”…

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Israel
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Hello! Welcome to this channel. My name is Israel (sign name). This video doesn’t have sound. Why? Look at me, I’m signing! My signing is far from perfect or fluent, but I hope to show you my progress, show the beauty of sign language, show how much I enjoy it. Of course, the subtitles are there for you.

I’ve been learning BSL for two years. It’s been a slow process. When it comes to other languages, I feel confident in just one year. It’s basic but I can communicate. But with sign language, I keep trying, but I still lack confidence. Yes, I’m learning a lot, but I fail to use it. But recently, my relationship with sign language
has completely changed. What do I mean? Let’s go back to the beginning.

That’s right! Finally, a language learning update! Are you interested in languages? Over here, we have lots of different topics. Click subscribe and join us!

Now, history. I started BSL in early 2022. Before, I’d learnt some online, but that course was like…a dictionary. I see the signs, I learn them, that’s it. And then I joined a university course. It was expensive! The students didn’t pay, but as a PhD student, I paid a fortune for it. There, the classmates were hearing, the teacher was hearing, everyone spoke all the time. It wasn’t great.

And then a friend let me know the Manchester Deaf Centre had a level 1 course for free! I was lucky to join it. The teacher was Deaf, they signed very clearly and told many stories. They were the first Deaf person that I’d properly communicated with. Slowly, I was getting used to watching them sign, guessing, and understanding the meaning (kinda).

This autumn, everything changed. Why? Before, I’d been learning as a hobby. I didn’t really have a goal. Then, the University of Manchester’s BSL Society started, and I became a member. This semester, it grew by a lot, lots of people kept coming. Deaf and hearing students meet every week to sign, communicate, practise. I really enjoy it.

Now I have Deaf friends, or signing friends. This year on my birthday, I received my sign name. Now, I have a use for sign language, I have a reason and a goal, I’m motivated and want to get better.

Then in October, I went to London. Why? There, I saw a new film. It’s from Hong Kong, Its name is… in Hong Kong Sign Language. In (Sign-Supported) English, it’s The Way We Talk. The film is about Hong Kong Deaf people, their identity and community. After the film finished, I met some Hong Kong Deaf people who are living in Britain. Our BSL are both basic, and we communicated well. Sometimes I feel weird because they’re Hongkongers but we’re signing British Sign Language. Anyway. Now, we practise, learn, improve together.

Then in November and December, at the Manchester Deaf Centre, there were BSL socials. EVERYONE came: the university’s BSL Society, my BSL class, Hong Kong people, online friends, pub friends, and so on and so forth. Everyone went voice-off and talked all night. It was so enjoyable.

That was it! I realised what’s really important is…✨COMMUNITY✨. For example, I know quite a few languages. I always start out of interest and curiosity. I learn some of them alone, my motivation slowly disappears, and I stop learning. In others, I find a community, I make friends, and I actually communicate. I love it. And with BSL, I’m arriving at that point.

Sometimes Deaf people ask me: how long have you learnt BSL? What’s your level? You communicate pretty decently. You…(quote unquote) I understand everything.

And I think: you understand me? That’s a really low bar!. What I’m hoping for (eventually) is fluency, a high standard. And then I realise: Deaf people always put in extra effort, trying to understand hearing people. So when they can understand me easily, when they see me trying, they’re already very welcoming.

Learning sign language and spoken language is so different. When learning spoken language, having a community is better, it helps me learn faster. But if I just sit at home and watch TV, I can still learn. Meanwhile, signing means connection, making friends, community.

Now, I’m comfortable expressing myself in sign. Sometimes… For example yesterday, I went to the Christmas market, and ran into a Hong Kong Deaf friend. His friends asked me: in the future, do you want to become an interpreter? I said, I’m not sure. The future is far. Now I’m just focusing on improving.

When it comes to productive skills (kinda like speaking), I have my secret techniques. I could fake fluency. But I want to focus on receptive skills. It’s really hard! It’s partly because English is my second language. When I grew up, I only read and wrote English, I didn’t speak it. So when it comes to watching people’s lips when speaking, I have zero experience. I hope I’ll get better soon.

Now, will I continue BSL in the future? I don’t know. But now, today, BSL is part of my life. And that’s what I really enjoy and love.

Thanks for watching. I’ll see you in the next video. Bye!