Speech on Should Schools Teach Sign Language?

Basic languages are offered at almost every school. The language which is not taught in schools is not a speaking language but the language of the unspoken i.e. sign language. It is a popular and a very important language that a number of people use all around the world to communicate.

Sign language is a mode of communication for people who are deaf and hard of hearing. There are more than 300 sign languages around the world, which vary from country to country. The popular sign languages are American Sign Language (ASL), British Sign Language (BSL), and Australian Sign Language (Auslan). To promote sign language at schools and educational institutions, the International Day of Sign Languages is celebrated every 23rd September. Different countries and regions have their sign languages, where the symbols are arranged linguistically, using gestures. Below, we have highlighted a 2-minute speech on ‘Should Schools Teach Sign Language.’

Check out the latest update on all board exams 2024

Also Read: Speech on Is There Value in Homework

Also Read: 1-Minute Speech on Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)

2-Minute Speech on Should Schools Teach Sign Language Speech?

‘Good Morning my friends and teacher(s). Today, I stand before you to present my speech on ‘Should Schools Teach Sign Language?’ Sign languages are used for communication by people with hearing impairments and those around them. It involves the use of hand signals and body movements to communicate. Due to technological developments, a lot of people can connect with deaf people using sign language.’

‘The concern is at the beginning stage. Students and young people with hearing impairments find it difficult to communicate at school and home. Their parents and friends often find it difficult to communicate with time, as they don’t have an understanding of sign language and how beneficial it can be.’ 

‘Schools must promote sign language with different programs not only for students with hearing impairments but also for others, who can communicate with deaf people outside school. Learning sign language will allow students to effectively communicate with deaf people. It can help develop communication a better understanding of their own and others language.’

‘Benefits of learning sign language are not limited to communication with deaf people. It can also improve academic performance, as it can enhance a person’s cognitive skills, such as problem-solving, reading comprehension and strong memory to remember information.’

There are a large number of people in the world that use sign language as a mode of communication. A total of about 70 million people use sign language worldwide, and the percentage of teenagers among them is 13%. The sign language being taught in schools can allow the students as well as teachers to communicate with their peers with hearing impairement and hence, will allow them to have a much more smoother and easier time communicating with others.

‘Some of the popular sign languages are American Sign Language (ASL), British Sign Language (BSL) and Australian Sign Language (Auslan). In India, there are several NGOs, out of which, the National Deaf Society (NDS) is the most popular one. These NGOs have different sign language programs for people with hearing impairment, which can help them with their education, socialization, and employment opportunities. Under NDS there is a Primary School for Deaf Children, which is only for deaf or hard-of-hearing students.’

‘NGOs like NDS are doing a brilliant job of spreading awareness of sign language, but must also take initiatives and actively participate in sign language programs. Therefore, schools should teach sign language to students so that they can communicate with others with hearing impairments. 

Thank you.’

Also Read: 1-Minute Speech on Human Rights for Students

Also Read: 1-Minute Speech on My Hobbies for Students

5 Most Popular Sign Languages

Currently, there are more than 300 sign languages in the world, most of which are local. Millions of people around the world communicate with people with hearing impairments using sign language. Here are the 5 most popular sign languages.

American Sign Language (ASL)

ASL is a complete natural language that has the same linguistic properties as spoken language. It involves the use of handshapes, facial expressions, body movements, and other visual cues to convey meaning. It contains all the fundamental features of language, with its own rules for word formation, pronunciation, and word order. It is a spatial language, and the space around the signer is used to represent different elements of language. It has its own grammar and sentence structure. It does not follow the same grammatical rules as English. For example, the subject-verb-object order in English is not necessarily followed in ASL.

British Sign Language (BSL)

British Sign Language (BSL) is the visual-gestural language used by many Deaf individuals and their communities in the United Kingdom (UK). In BSL, you start with the main subject or topic. After that, you refer to something about the topic. BSL primarily uses manual communication, including handshapes, movements, and facial expressions, to convey meaning.

Australian Sign Language (Auslan)

The term Auslan is an acronym of Australian Sign Language, coined by Trevor Johnston in the early 1980s, although the language itself is much older. Auslan primarily uses manual communication, such as handshapes, movements, and facial expressions, to convey meaning. It is a visual-gestural language that relies on the spatial aspect of signs. Its grammar and sentence structure are very different from English grammar. The order of signs and facial expressions contributes to conveying meaning in a grammatically correct way. There are regional variations and dialects in Auslan.

Indian Sign Language 

Due to the rich diversity of India, there is no uniform sign language. However, different dialects and hand signs are used by deaf communities and NGOs in different parts of the country. ISL is often used in Deaf schools and educational institutions to facilitate communication and learning among Deaf students.

Chinese Sign Language

Chinese Sign Language is used by the Deaf community in China and is different from spoken languages such as Mandarin or Cantonese. Chinese Sign Language is a complete and independent visual-gestural language with its grammar, syntax, and vocabulary. It is not simply a signed representation of the Chinese spoken language.

FAQs

Related Articles

Speech on Pros and Cons of Online Learning	Speech on Social Media Bane or Boon
Speech on If I Had A Superpower for Students	Speech on Benefits of Yoga
Short Speech on Technology for Students	Speech on I Wish I Were ____
Speech on The Best Lesson I Have Learned	Speech on Women Should Rule The World

For more information on such interesting speech topics for your school, visit our speech writing page and follow Leverage Edu.