Student-led British Sign Language Club

The club is currently open to Stage 1, Stage 2 and 3 students, who are learning BSL with the Languages for All, the Institution-Wide Language Programme. 

If you are a Stage 1 student you’ll need to know the basics of BSL grammar and vocabulary, so you can get the most out of these meetings.  

If you are interested in coming along to future sessions, or have any questions, please email Ugo Marsili, u.marsili@reading.ac.uk. 

Join over 125 students from across the University by signing up to a BSL course with the University of Reading's Languages for All Programme, which allows you to learn a language as part of your degree for free as credit, or as paid extra as non-credit students.  

Languages for All also offers modules in Arabic, Mandarin, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Modern Greek and Spanish. To find out more about learning a language at UoR, the BSL course, and how to sign up, visit the Languages for All website.

"BSL has given me a new, accessible way to interact with people. The course allows me to be more knowledgeable about the language and it is going to be very helpful in opening up opportunities for me to be able to give more assistance to more kinds of people once I complete my psychology degree." - Mieszko, BSc Psychology

Throughout the academic year, Ugo Marsili, the University’s Language Lead in BSL and a Diversity and Inclusion trainer in the Department of Languages and Cultures, organises BSL film screenings. 

These film screenings offer students and staff the opportunity to practise their ‘receptive skills’ and understand the importance of non-verbal cues, such as facial expressions, lip patterns and body language, alongside the signing itself.

Daisy Thompson, one of the students who attended the film screening, said: “I am currently in Level 1 of learning BSL and wanted to expand my knowledge further by seeing BSL in action. The film was both moving and exciting, and I valued meeting new people who share the same interest for learning about Deaf culture and sign language as I do. Being part of such a kind, supportive and passionate audience was a great experience that I will not forget throughout my time at university.”

Angela Buckingham, Programme Director from the Academic Practice Programme in CQSD, said: “For me, it was powerful to be sitting in the room next to Deaf teachers, students of BSL and others who may have had similar first-hand experiences of stigma, struggle and overcoming trauma. Huge thanks to Ugo Marsilli for organising such a thought-provoking and ultimately inspiring event for staff and students to attend.”

Upcoming film screening:

Tuesday 18 March, 18:00 - 20:00

Palmer Building G10, Whiteknights Campus

This free event is open to everyone. Spaces are limited so please make sure you register to attend.

Join us for the 4th edition of our Sign Language Film Club & Deaf Awareness Event and enjoy a free filming screening of "Children of a Lesser God (1986)" in American Sign Language (ASL) with English subtitles for people who are Deaf and hard of hearing. The screening will be followed by an optional Q&A.

Children of a Lesser God is a powerful drama exploring communication, identity, and the experiences of the Deaf community. This film challenges stereotypes and encourages empathy, making it a must-watch for students and the younger generation.

British Sign Language will be taught as a GCSE in England from 2025. Susan Daniels, Chief Executive of the National Deaf Children's Society has said that this GCSE will celebrate "the rich culture and history of of British Sign Language". At the University of Reading this will mean that future students who studied BSL as part of their GCSE's, will be able to continuing their learning with Languages for All. 

Within the University there are also projects to work towards creating more inclusive teaching across the University and beyond. Ugo Marsili is undertaking research analysing the benefits of using Sign Language to support students in the classroom and develop their productive skills and learning strategies in a foreign spoken language. His research also looks at aligning BSL Assessment and Marking Criteria with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for visual languages. 

Learning BSL can also benefit degree courses, such as Speech and Language Therapy, Psychology, Clinical Sciences and Early Years Education.

"The topics I learn about when studying BSL tend to crossover with those in Psychology. I also value how widely applicable sign language is to be able to communicate with and accommodate Deaf people and others who may use BSL as their primary form of communication." - Daisy, BSc Psychology student

BSL resources to help support your independent learning:

• British Sign Language Video Dictionary

• 'The enchanting music of sign language' TED Talk by Christine Sun Kim

• Follow The Signs by Chris Fonseca and Harry Jardine

• New British Sign Language allows people to talk about climate change

• Basics of BSL: Empowering Neurodiverse Individuals

•The YouTube channel 'Command Your Hands' has games to help with learning BSL

•  The University of Reading's Winter and Spring 2024 Children's Lecture with BSL Interpreters: The Magic of Languages, Imagining the Imaginary with A.F. Harold