Sign-language users use much more than their hands to communicate. An aspect of Sign Language is Non-manual Features, e.g. bodily and facial expression, mouthing words and general gestures. We have found over the years that our pupils, having learned the language since the age of 3, are more in tune with similar modes of communication when people speak in that they have had to rely on such aspects of communication when they are learning Irish from a very young age; picking up on the facial expressions, intonation and body language of the teachers in the Foundation Stage. To build on this skill, thanks to St Joseph's Centre for the Deaf in Belfast, we run a four-week Sign Language course for the children, delivered by their wonderful facilitator, Johannahir. Focusing on the alphabet, greetings and general social language, the children get the chance to learn the basics of sign language and generally develop their range of communication skills.
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