The role of BSL in the teaching of English as an additional language

Content

This webinar presented the findings of two separate, but connected, research projects which explore the role of British Sign Language in the teaching of English as an additional language to adult deaf sign language users.

The webinar firstly presented an exploration of the language practices of a teacher and his learners through the lens of translanguaging.

The second presentation presented the findings of a study, inspired by the work of the BSL Glossary Project. It explored how teachers, working across all provisions, including primary and secondary, refer to metalanguage in the context of teaching English to sign language users, and specifically, how these are realised by practitioners in BSL.

Participants said:

"For me, I just learned a lot about BSL and found it an incredibly enriching webinar."

"Presenter was engaging and interesting."

Target Audience

Qualified teachers of deaf children, teachers of the deaf in training, secondary school staff, college staff, speech and language therapists, audiologists, parents/carers, Level 6 B students, and professionals involved in teaching English to sign language users.

Presenters

Russell R Aldersson, City Literary Institute Teacher, affiliated to the Centre for Deaf Education

Russell is currently a teacher of deaf adults at the City Literary Institute and doctorate student at the Institute of Education, University College London. His research interests lie primarily in the field of applied linguistics, sign language linguistics and deaf studies and education. His current research focus explores translanguaging and linguistic repertoires and the role of British Sign Language in the teaching of English to deaf adult learners.