The benefits of learning sign language

 What do you get out of learning BSL?

1. Stimulates you brain - 

Learning any languages will help to stimulate your brain and give it a good workout. It can enhance its cognition, your creative thinking, brain functionality, memory, spatial awareness, mental rotation skills and more.

2. Introduces you to the deaf culture and community - 

When you learn a new oral language, you get to learn a lot about the country, the culture and the people of the country of that particular language and learning sign language is no different.

3. Meet new people - 

You can now be involved in the deaf community and meet new people you may never have been able to or share your interests with others. 

4. Improve peripheral vision and reaction time - 

Sign language users have better peripheral vision and reaction time because it’s so visual-focused, you are more alert and your “visual field response” will benefit from this, something which is is highly beneficial in many sports and even driving. When speaking in sign language, it’s not just about looking at the hand gestures but it’s also about the facial expressions, lip reading and also observing the body language.

5. Become better at spelling - 

There is a sign for most words however if there isn't one or you do not know the sign for it you have to spell it out

6. Helps you become a better listener -

Speaking in sign language requires you to fully focus and concentrate on the person speaking to you. Not only eye contacts is very important but you can’t possibly sign words without physically looking at that word. By constantly focusing on the person speaking to you in sign language, it will make you a better listener.

7. Boosts you business and creates more opportunities - 

The most obvious profession that allows you to use sign language regularly is to be an interpreter. However, even basic sign language can go a long way to serve your customers. If you are looking at a career in the health sector or as a support worker, knowing sign language could be a useful tool.

8. Be able to help when required - 

If you happen to be at a restaurant or a shop, and you spot a possible communication barrier between two people, you could assist. If you are volunteering at an organisation and you spot someone who is alone because they are the only deaf person, you can make them feel comfortable. Even in your own job, you can overcome any communication barriers with deaf customers by speaking in sign language.