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Teachearlyyears.com 61 RESOURCE REVIEW Introducing BSL need to learn signs for family and relationships, for example, then you can go straight to that section. There are also opportunities to upload your own signing videos to a learner forum for feedback from other signers. It cannot be overemphasised how extremely useful this is, particularly where you have nobody to practise your signing skills with – how can you ever know if your signing can be understood otherwise? Every time you dip into this course you will find something new. You can amuse yourself creating fingerspelling animations for words you don’t come across in the training, and then practise signing them back to yourself in the webcam, using appropriate facial expressions to give emphasis. Or try the fingerspelling challenge, where you have to see how many words you can read in two minutes. You can adjust the speed yourself as your competence and confidence improves. Throughout, learners set their own pace and do the assessments when they’re ready. The assessments, however, can be retaken as many times as a learner needs. Overall, the content of this course is engaging and fun and covers all of the topics most beginners will need. The website is fuss-free, easy on the eye and simple to navigate. The outlay for this training should be seen more as an INTRODUCING BRITISH SIGN Language is an online course that uses video clips to teach learners how to communicate with people who are deaf or who have hearing impairments through using gestures, facial expression, and body language. It’s an incredibly accessible, flexible and user- friendly programme; the developers really have thought of everything. For example, you might expect that if you are right-handed then your primary signing hand would be your right hand. This might seem like a minor issue but it really isn’t. I write with my left hand but found that I sign the alphabet primarily with my right hand. Switching from right to left is confusing, so imagine how befuddling it must be for anybody trying to follow it. It’s important then that you don’t skip the introductory sections unless you already have signing experience. It is worth mentioning here that if you’ve already done accredited training for signing with babies and young children then you’ll be pleased to find that you have a slight advantage, for you’ll probably already know how to sign a selection of emotions, animals, family members, and how to finger-spell, for instance. Lessons and assessments are broken down into categories, so if you’re at a point where you really Visit: british-sign.co.uk THE VERDICT • Essential for inclusion, integration and diversity • Excellent value for money • Very user-friendly • Accessible, convenient and flexible • An advantage when job-hunting or seeking promotion at work • Rewarding and fulfilling SIGN UP IF… You want to be part of the change that is breaking down communication barriers for those we live, learn, play, work and socialise with, so that despite our differences we can all enjoy equal opportunities and feel valued and included. investment than an expense, and you can even gift a course enrolment to a friend or loved one. It costs £25 for individual enrolment, but there is a discounted rate for multiple enrolments: 6–19, £20 per learner; 20–49, £16 per learner; 50+, £14 per learner. Get to grips with British Sign Language with this comprehensive and easy-to-use online course… AT A GLANCE • Learn from a desktop PC, laptop, smartphone or tablet • Forum and chat rooms to practise with other learners and to share learning experiences • Mirror function via device webcam so that you can see yourself signing and perfect your technique • Learn at your own pace – anywhere, any time, and for as long as it takes • Ever-expanding online dictionary and ‘word of the day’ REVIEWED BY ANDI TURNER