Sign language is not the typical second language every Nigerian would learn, unlike languages like French, Chinese, and Spanish, which are very common. When you think of learning a second language, signing would probably not come to your mind. However, having learnt the benefits of sign language, you may now be interested.
If you are wondering if Sign language will make you bilingual? Yes, you would be bilingual if you understood sign language in Nigeria.
Most people learn sign language because they have a hearing impairment or someone in their life. People also learn sign language if they are interested in working with the deaf community, want to be a sign language interpreter or have researched the beneficial aspects of learning sign language.
Whatever it is for learning how to sign, we give you a thumbs up. It is a great idea to learn sign language. We would help you understand how to start taking courses in it if you have not started learning it.
How long will it take to learn sign language in Nigeria?
Signing is one of the easiest languages to learn. However, like any language, how long it takes to learn is dependent on each learning style and pace. So, it may take a shorter time to learn sign language than other learners.
It can take up to three months to three years for an individual to be proficient in sign language.
Before you learn and start looking for classes to learn sign language in Nigeria, you should be specific about which sign language. There are several sign languages globally. However, we adopt the American sign language (ASL) in Nigeria. ASL was the sign language used in the first deaf school in Nigeria.
American sign language and British Sign language are common, and many online resources are for ASL and BSL.
While deciding the type of sign language you want to learn, you must know that there are also several native sign languages in Nigeria. So you may want to narrow your decision on whether it is the Yoruba sign language or any other native sign language in Nigeria.
Nigerian sign language is mainly composed of American sign language.
This article focuses on the different Nigerian sign languages and where you can learn how to sign in the language.
Sign Language Classes In Nigeria
As we said earlier, there are several sign languages globally and also several native sign languages in Nigeria. There is no ‘one sign fits all’ in sign language. You can decide to learn the sign language for any country like America, British, Chinese, Australia, French, and of course, Nigeria.
People believe sign language is only for the hearing to communicate with the deaf population, but that is not true. Anyone can learn sign language in Nigeria. Even the deaf and dumb community can communicate with each other by signing.
We have over seven hundred thousand (about 23% of Nigeria’s population) deaf people in Nigeria. These statistics show that learning sign language for your interest will be worthwhile in Nigeria. Asides from being able to communicate with the deaf or dumb, you can use it as a means to learn a new language.
While the Nigerian sign language is adopting parts of the ASL, there are other local sign languages in Nigeria. Local signs are widely in use and more reflective of Nigerian society.
American sign language is the approved school curriculum for Deaf education in Nigeria. Remember, we have stated that other local sign languages are in use.
You can learn ASL online, and it can take 60 to 90 hours to learn the basics.
There are several ways to take classes for sign language in Nigeria. You can decide to hire the services of a private sign language tutor to teach you at home or online. One of the best places to get these private tutors is Superprof Nigeria. You can get tutors for as low as 1000 NGN per hour.
You can also take classes with a sign language school near you, depending on where you are in Nigeria. Several empowerment groups give free or subsidized rates classes for people interested in learning sign language in Nigeria. For instance, the talking fingers ministry gives practically free lessons to people, especially the talking and hearing impaired.
Save the Deaf initiative and Endangered Languages (S-DELI) is another research-based non-governmental organization that promotes Deaf literacy through indigenous signed languages in Nigeria.
As stated earlier, sign language is not just for the hearing impaired or those who want to communicate with them. Taking a sign language class has several benefits, from career to health.
There are several sign language training centres all over Nigeria; you only need to search online for the ones closest to you.
Now, let’s look at individual states and what sign language courses they offer.
Learn Sign Language In Lagos State
Lagos is a southwestern state with the highest population of people in Nigeria. In 2017, the Lagos State Government urged people to learn sign language to accommodate people with disabilities, especially the hearing impaired.
The Lagos state government also encourages sign language by organizing training workshops for some government workers across ministries, departments and agencies through LASODA.
Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) also extends training to people staying in Lagos interested in learning sign language. You can visit their website to get more information on how to join any of the training sessions for all members of the public in Lagos state.
The National President of the Deaf Women Association and member of the LASODA Board of Trustees, Adedoyin Beyioku, advocated the inclusion of sign language in the school curriculum. Though it is yet to be in curriculums, we hope very soon it will be in curriculums across schools in Lagos.
You can also take free classes for sign language by registering with or joining a non-governmental organization (NGO) close to you in Lagos.
NGOs like Friends of the Deaf Foundation, Collaboration of Deaf and Hearing Adults (CODAH) Enterprise, and Speaking Fingers Network provide helpful resources like free hearing aids, including persons with disabilities in their programmes, build inclusive private schools, and provide life skills to support learning and development.
Asides from learning through the government or non-governmental organizations, you can get a sign language tutor in Lagos to teach you to sign. If you search for sign language interpreters or tutors in Lagos state, you will see several people who give private classes to individuals or groups.
To narrow your search in Lagos State, you can search for private classes for sign language on Superprof Nigeria.
There are also several schools in Lagos you can learn sign language, such as:
- Everbest Sign Languge training center
- Friends of the deaf foundation (FDF)
- Wesley schools for the hearing impaired
Learn Sign Language In Kano
Kano state is in the North and is the second largest city in Nigeria after Lagos State. The people in the North have a sign language that is common to them called the Hausa Sign Language or Maganar Hannu.
Maganar Hannu, known as the Hausa Sign Language, means the language of the hands.
Hausa Sign Language is not taught to the Hausas formally. However, the deaf usually learn it amongst themselves and hearing people learn it also the same way.
The first and only school for the deaf in Kano State is the Special Education School Tudun Maliki, where there is a mixture of spoken Hausa, HSL, English and ASL.
If you want to learn sign language in Kano, you can search for sign language tutors or classes in Kano State. One of the best platforms to get several sign language tutors in Kano is Superprof. Most of them offer the first hour of their classes free.
You can also take sign language courses online from the comfort of your home in Kano state. Just search for sign language courses online and start taking sign language classes today.
Learn Sign Language In Abuja
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. Like other great cities, you can learn how to sign in to Abuja.
You cannot learn how to sign in a day, but you can gain an awareness of the challenges facing the deaf community in a hearing world. You can be a part of the Nigeria national association of the deaf (NNAD) in Abuja. Joining associations for the deaf will make you learn how to sign.
You can get a tutor to teach you our to sign from the association of sign language interpreters in Abuja. Learning how to sign can also be done online by taking a course on sign language. The beauty of learning online is that you can learn from the comfort of your home in Abuja and with an international school for signing.
The first thing you need to know before choosing a course online is that the Nigerian sign language adopts the American sign language for signing in Nigeria. Thus, choose a class in American sign language (ASL), which is very common online.
You can learn sign language in Abuja by contacting one of the sign language tutors in Abuja on Superprof. Most of the tutors on Superprof offer the first hour of the sign language class for free. So, you can be sure you are getting value for your money.
We talked about learning how to sign in Lagos, Kano and Abuja. However, if you are not in any of the discussed states, you can learn how to sign anywhere in Nigeria. All you have to do is search for sign language classes or tutors near you. You can start by searching your location anywhere in Nigeria on Superprof for sign language tutors near you.
You can also read up:
The Best Apps And Resources To Help You Learn Sign Language In Nigeria
Tips To Follow For Effectively Learn Sign Language In Nigeria
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