Sign Language
I will start my BSL practice by joining the BSL class in September and it should be fun!
The reason I will start BSL practice is that you know when hearing people are deafened later in life, I can imagine with empathy that I am going deafened and may not hear anything at all later on.
When I will reach an old age (long way off 
) I will be totally cut off from the hearing world and maybe cut off from deaf world as well.
Never too late to learn and hopefully in a few years time Des will be buying me a pint in Newcastle.
I met Des in York railway station and he, as a fluent BSL user, totally rely on BSL and to be honest I have been waiting all day for him to understand my sign!
I knew what he meant when he signed (in BSL) to me:
“This time next year if you passed stage 1 I will buy you a pint on Newcastle”.
Although he did it slowly and repeated 3 times I got it .
I just want to be able to sign fluently and quick… so here is a picture of Des and me at the station.
P.S I am the good looking one on the left!!
Fintan - exactly how tall are you?
And yep, you have to pass your BSL … I’m holding you to it!
Long time I got measured!
I am 6ft 3.
Hi. I am an “early” late-deafened adult, having become deaf at age 17. I have to say that what you are doing - learning BSL now in preparation for becoming fully deaf later - is the best thing you can do. I tell you, when I began taking ASL at the age of 18, I began to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Knowing ASL has made all the difference in my life and success.
The only thing I’d like to share is that you understand that BSL or ASL cannot be learned overnight. It takes time. I spent 4 years in ASL classes before I could really call myself fluent. “Quickly” and “Fluently” do not match. Everything worth doing well takes time and practice. Don’t give up! Sick with this goal. It will be a beacon to you in your future!
~ LaRonda
Good luck to you, Fintan!! Will you be vlogging in BSL too? ;o)
@LaRonda
Thanks for your encouraging comments
.
I am not one for giving up and I do know it will take a while to be fluent.
I think BSL lessons will be the one I will mostly enjoy and I cant wait!
@Jen
Yes I will try and VLOG in BSL so watch this space
Was talking to Des last night on MSN and he asked if I was a vegetarian, told him no.
Everything I picked in cafe was vegetarian , but all the meat dishes was mixed with swede and I can’t stand eating swede
The vegetarian sausage roll was the only one not to contain swede!
Fin
Just start signing.. and then one day you will be signing AND talking, and we can’t shut u up!
Not that we can now
Twit! Twit!
Tony,
Before long I be signing to Des and talking to a hearie on a different subject at the same time.. wouldn’t that be cool
Fintan…a question?
WHERE IS YOUR DRESS?!
@JGJones,
Underneath my manly gear is a dress
Ahhh, so you were who Des was going to meet in York! I met Des the day before, and he mentioned he was going up north for the weekend, with a stopover in York to visit a friend, i.e. YOU!
Schweet!
Bloody nass, Fintan — you made me laugh out loud with your snappy comments!
I am ENJOYING this blogsite.
R-
Hi.
Good design, who make it?