How to learn sign language as an expat
Which country are you moving to? There are different families of sign languages. For instance, if you know Austrian Sign Language, you'll find it easier to understand and learn German Sign Language. The same goes for Dutch and German Sign Languages. However, if you know Italian or Australian Sign Languages, you might find it harder to adapt to Austrian, Dutch, and German Sign Languages. These are general trends, and much depends on your personal language skills and learning style. Just like spoken languages, there are various ways to learn a new sign language.
Learning at school
You have several options depending on your situation (international student, employee, self-employed, trailing spouse, etc.). If you are a student, your university might offer group classes to learn the country's sign language and help you integrate. If you are working, a trailing spouse, or a retired expatriate, look for associations of the deaf or hard of hearing and/or sign language associations in your host city. Consider specialized sign language schools. If you prefer individual lessons, many instructors offer remote learning, allowing you to start learning even before your move.
Training on YouTube
Whether it's British (BSL), South African (SASL), American (ASL), German (DGS), Italian (LIS), or Korean (KSL) Sign Language, there are numerous YouTube channels where you can learn your host country's sign language. Online learning is economical and flexible, letting you learn at your own pace. However, practicing with a teacher is invaluable for feedback on your signing skills. Online courses are nonetheless an excellent starting point.
Books
One might think that sign languages, being visual, do not lend themselves well to textbook learning. Yet, like all languages, sign languages have their textbooks. Buy a manual that also presents the history and culture of the host country's sign language. Ideally, preview the book before buying to ensure that the illustrations are clear. There are excellent sign language books that effectively convey the complexity of these visual languages. However, books should ideally complement rather than replace practical lessons.
Sign language: How do you adapt to your host country?
Even if you begin learning the host country's sign language, the first days there can be challenging. There is often a gap between theory and practice. Adaptation will come as you interact with locals. But how do you communicate with people who do not know your sign language? Everyday situations can become complex, whether at the airport, on your way home, at the supermarket, or in the street.
Using oral techniques
To overcome misunderstandings, you might consider oral techniques (the ability of a deaf person to speak verbally). These were particularly developed when sign languages were either banned or unrecognized in the respective country. They aim to facilitate dialogue between a deaf person and a hearing person. However, oralization remains a challenging and tiring exercise. Moreover, speaking in a foreign country assumes that you understand the spoken language of the host country. But if you have been practicing oralization for a long time, you will likely continue to use it in your host country.
Practicing lip reading
This involves reading lips, assuming you understand the spoken language. Lip reading can help you grasp the main points of a conversation but can be exhausting, especially over extended periods.
Using a notebook, smartphone, or tablet
This might be the simplest daily technique. You can quickly make yourself understood by writing or drawing; your counterpart can respond. These devices, along with simple signs, will facilitate dialogue. They are excellent survival tools as you gently adapt to life in your host country.
There's not one, but many sign languages
It's common to refer to “sign language” as though it were universal. However, just as there is no universal spoken language, there is no universal sign language. Sign languages are fully-fledged languages, each reflecting a country's history and culture. They vary significantly, with unique expressions and signs. Regional sign languages also exist, like Spanish versus Catalan Sign Language in Spain or French-speaking versus Flemish Sign Language in Belgium.
All spoken language variations—accents, speech patterns, vocabulary—are mirrored in sign languages. The gestures' amplitude, fluidity, or choppiness differentiate these languages. Like any language, sign languages evolve over time.
Not all deaf people use sign language
Contrary to popular belief, being deaf does not necessarily mean using sign language. Many deaf people speak orally, practice lip reading, or use cued speech (a system that visually represents the phonetics of a spoken language). Cued speech is not a sign language, as it is based on a spoken language. A sign language is an independent language with its own signs, expressions, syntax, grammar, and expressiveness.
Is there an International Sign Language?
The confusion surrounding sign languages may stem from the existence of an international communication system: International Sign Language (ISL). Designed to be understandable by all deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, ISL is derived from various sign languages, mainly European and American. It is primarily used at international gatherings such as the International Day of Sign Languages or the Deaflympics, the Olympic Games for deaf people. However, ISL is not a language per se. It serves merely as a means of understanding among people who do not speak the same language in very specific situations.
