Stuart Harrison: Fake BSL and the importance of deaf tutors teaching British Sign Language (BSL)

In a recent and unfortunate incident, Tim Scannell, a well-respected British Sign Language (BSL) tutor from the West Midlands, faced a disappointing setback. After being headhunted by the EdTech company Education Technologies Ltd for a teaching role, Tim was ultimately turned down. The reason? The company opted for a hearing BSL tutor, citing concerns that their clients a group of NHS staff, who had completed a foundation course, said that they wouldn’t be able to learn effectively from a deaf tutor. This decision has sparked frustration and concern among Tim’s colleagues and raises significant questions about the best practices in BSL education.

Why Deaf Tutors are Essential for BSL Education

BSL is not merely a language; it is an integral part of the rich and vibrant deaf culture. Learning BSL from a deaf tutor provides students with an immersive experience that goes beyond vocabulary and grammar. It offers insights into the lived experiences, nuances, and cultural context that only a native user can provide.

One of Tim’s colleagues, who reacted to this news, canvassed opinions from their own hearing students and received a telling response: “I don’t think you can get a better learning experience than being taught by someone who has BSL as their first and primary language. I was apprehensive before my first class in Level 1 as I thought I would get embarrassed by not being able to understand, but that wasn’t the case. I’d say this is ignorant bordering on discrimination. I wouldn’t want to be taught by a hearing person who doesn’t have deaf culture as lived experience. It’s also too tempting to talk (with a hearing teacher) which defeats the whole purpose.”

This student’s perspective highlights several key points:

1. Deaf tutors bring an authenticity to the teaching of BSL that is unmatched. Their deep understanding of the language’s subtleties and cultural context enriches the learning experience.
2. Learning directly from a deaf tutor encourages students to rely fully on visual communication, which is crucial for mastering BSL. The temptation to revert to spoken language is minimized, ensuring a more effective learning process.
3. CDeaf tutors embody the culture and lived experiences that are essential for students to understand and respect. This cultural competence is as vital as linguistic proficiency in truly mastering BSL.

Signature’s Position on BSL Tutoring

We approached John Walker, Chair of Signature, the leading awarding body for deaf communication qualifications in the UK, and his response adds weight to this argument. According to Walker, “Signature’s position is that it is not our role to police who can and can’t teach. The requirements we have are that any tutor of BSL has a qualification in teaching and has a BSL qualification two levels above the level they will teach, or have lived experience of BSL.” He further elaborates, “While we don’t police this, we do encourage students to identify a deaf tutor as their first language or preferred language as far as possible. They are able to provide a more complete experience including language used in a cultural context as well as interaction with deaf people they aim to engage with in the first place.”

We put it to Walker that deaf BSL tutors felt that Signature was putting profit before quality by allowing qualified hearing tutor to teach BSL. Walker emphasizes that Signature, as a not-for-profit organization, is dedicated to improving communication for all by creating learning opportunities at every stage of life. “Any income we receive goes towards meeting our charitable objective of improving communication for all, by creating learning opportunities for every stage of life, which includes the GCSE, that only Signature has been working on since 2010.”

The decision by Education Technologies Ltd

After discussing his concerns with me, I encouraged Scannell to push for clarification on the decisions made against him. Education Technologies Ltd provided a response, quoting the NHS group’s contact verbatim: “The consensus of opinions is that we want a hearing tutor because it is what we are used to. If that could be arranged, then I can confirm numbers definite.”

However, Education Technologies Ltd also acknowledged the feedback Tim provided, saying, “Based on the feedback you’ve given as well as the recommendations from various other experts, BSL is best taught by a deaf person as they will be far more skilled at teaching their own language than any hearing tutor could be. In that sense, I will be recommending this to them. However, the decision is ultimately on them. I will make sure to revert back to you immediately should the group decide to continue with you as our recommended tutor.”

It has now been a week since his conversation with Education Technologies Ltd, and Scannell has not had an update.

The Campaign Against Fake BSL Sign Language

This incident comes at a time when Signature is leading a campaign against fake BSL sign language (reported on Limping Chicken 29th July) and highlighted on breakfast TV this weekend. The RE/SIGN campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of authentic BSL education and the detrimental impact of unqualified individuals posing as BSL interpreters or tutors. Signature’s efforts underline the critical need for qualified and experienced BSL educators, further emphasizing why deaf tutors are invaluable in teaching the language.

A Call for Change

The decision by Education Technologies Ltd to choose a hearing tutor over Tim, despite his qualifications and expertise, reflects a misunderstanding of what constitutes effective BSL education. It is not merely about the ability to convey information; it is about providing a holistic learning experience that includes cultural immersion and authentic communication practices.

By honouring their client’s request for a hearing tutor, the company has inadvertently reinforced a form of discrimination, suggesting that deaf individuals are not capable of teaching their own language. This is not only erroneous but also harmful, perpetuating stereotypes and limiting opportunities for deaf professionals.

Tim Scannell and his fellow Deaf BSL tutors in the Midlands say that educational institutions and companies must recognize the invaluable contribution that deaf tutors make to BSL education. They should actively seek to employ and support deaf educators, not only to provide the best learning experience for their students but also to promote inclusivity and respect for the deaf community.

Tim Scannell’s experience and Signature’s RE/SIGN campaign should serve as a wake-up call. It is time to challenge and change these misguided perceptions and practices about BSL. Only then can we ensure that BSL education is both effective and equitable.

After this article was posted, Signature asked to clarify the context of their Chairs’s information due to comments made online.

1. Signature do ‘police centres’ to ensure they meet Ofqual regulations, including the Equality Act;
2. Education Technology is not one of our centres so are unable to police that centre;

Readers seem to be making a link that the centre in question is a Signature centre and this is not the case.