The Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies at De La Salle University teaches Filipino Sign Language or FSL every year. You can learn FSL online or offline via a series of classes held by deaf teachers at the school. Learning from deaf teachers is best since they are native speakers, and can share more about the life of deaf people, especially since Deaf culture is part of the program. Those new to FSL start with FSL 1, while those with a basic understanding of FSL (including returning students) can choose FSL 2 or 3.
Why learn Filipino Sign Language
Like any new language, learning sign language opens your world to a community of people you’d otherwise never correspond with. Learning popular “foreign” languages like French or Italian can be fun, but it also means you have to travel abroad to strengthen your ability. Learning sign language however connects you with your Deaf neighbors and community members right where you are.
It also strengthens your ability to connect with people through gestures and facial expressions. It makes you more expressive, and more attentive too. In some ways it has also made me a better artist, because I have become more at home with using visuals to communicate whether it be through pictures or my face and hands.
Learning sign language can also help you become a more empathetic person. Deaf people are overlooked and ignored in terms of job opportunities, relationships with hearing people in general, and even mere everyday conversation. Everyone lives a full life and has a story to tell, and learning sign language is another way for us to broaden our perspectives.
Learning sign language also opens up another career pathway – interpreting, education, and social work are some avenues one can take. It also demonstrates one’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
There are 3 official languages in the Philippines: Filipino, English, and Filipino Sign Language. Many Filipinos know the first two, but sign language has yet to catch on in terms of speakers – or signers, rather.
How to learn Filipino Sign Language
You can learn either online or offline with the Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies at De La Salle University. Classes can either be taken online or face-to-face. It is definitely best to learn in person, but the online option is available for those living outside Metro Manila and even those living around the world.
Register now, or share this with someone you know who might be interested in giving Filipino Sign Language a try. Learn more from the Benilde School of Deaf Education on their Facebook page below.
Register here: http://bit.ly/4lDF7bD
Pay here: https://bit.ly/FSLLPPayment
Learn more from the Benilde School of Deaf Education Facebook page here