The benefits of learning a second language are well documented, from the cultural insights that it can give to the wonders it does for your brain, it’s difficult to argue the case for staying monolingual. While the perks of speaking a language like Spanish, French or Mandarin have been discussed in abundance, one that rarely gets the spotlight is Sign Language.
A language like any other, Sign Language offers all the benefits you will find in learning a spoken language with some added uses that can’t be found elsewhere. Although delving into everything that studying Sign Language can do for you would require much more depth on the topic, below are the top 3 reasons we believe prospective students should consider it.
What is Sign Language?
The term Sign Language refers to the generic form of communication used by deaf and hearing-impaired people around the world. Sign Language uses hand gestures rather than spoken words and can be used to discuss topics in as much variety and detail as any language you may speak.
Much like each country has its own official language, even if they are simply variants of the same language, Sign Language can differ depending on where you live. English speakers may well have heard of ASL (American Sign Language) and BSL (British Sign Language) but an official form of this language can be found in almost every country.
In fact, the types of Sign Languages with the highest number of users include CSL (Chinese Sign Language), Brazilian Sign Language and Indo-Pakistani Sign Language with over 25 million combined.
With the World Health Organisation reporting that over five per cent of the world are deaf or hearing-impaired, there is always a need for more users of this unique language.
Studying Sign Language academically
Choosing to study Sign Language at an academic level can be compared to learning any other language in this environment. Study of the language will mainly include structured practical learning with experienced users as you build upon your knowledge of the language to a high level.
Much like those studying Mandarin in higher education will often have seminars and terms dedicated to learning about Chinese culture and the history of Mandarin Chinese, Sign Language students will also delve into such topics.
These may include subjects that will frequently surround deaf culture, the history of Sign Language and diversity in the workplace when it comes to disability. Students are expected to graduate with a great level of fluency in the language as well as working knowledge of its practicality. Many universities offer language learning as part of your degree, and this can include Sign Language (country-specific).
1. Sign Language helps you communicate with more people
One of the first things many potential language learners look for when deciding which language to learn is how many speakers it has. This is especially true when someone is learning a language for its career benefits, rather than personal reasons.
This is due to one of the main benefits of language learning being the fact that it increases the number of people across the world that you can communicate with.
For example, if an English speaker was to stay monolingual, they are limiting the number of people they can successfully communicate with their language to some degree. By learning a second language they significantly increase this number.
While Sign Language does not have the same number of users as a language like Russian or Portuguese, by just knowing it you can communicate with deaf people in a way that would never have been possible before.
2. Sign language looks great on a résumé (CV)
While you may pique a potential employer's interest when you tell them how fluent you are in French or Swedish, an employee knowing Sign Language can be a great asset to a company just in the office alone. It’s a great skill to have on your CV.
Looking at the UK, with over 150,000 individuals using BSL as their main form of communication, it’s more than likely that someone would meet many of these individuals over their working lifetime. Being able to speak the language, rather than having to rely on other means, will not only make people feel more comfortable but will also make any business you’re working for more accessible.
3. Makes you a better learner
Study after study has detailed the importance of language learning for your brain as it gives it a unique workout that it may never have had before, and Sign Language is no exception.
By picking up a second language, you are teaching yourself to learn in completely new ways and can apply these new skills to your education going forward. From retaining more information to improving your overall visual and listening skills, studying Sign Language can make you a better student overall.
When choosing to study a topic at university, there is a lot to think about and a lot to choose from. This is particularly true with language learning, as there are so many unique and useful ones to consider.
With all that it has to offer, Sign Language is a great option for international students to consider making part of their higher education journey.
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