A DEAF teacher will become the first in Rossendale to offer students a degree course in British Sign Language.

For profoundly deaf Ayesha Gavin it is the next step towards achieving her goal of being able to teach interpreters.

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Several of her students also nominated her for a special Signature Award for enriching the student experience. Nominations for the award close in September when a shortlist will be drawn up.

Ayesha, 39, of Weir, set up Ayesha Communications in 2010 and has been teaching Level 1, 2 and 3 BSL, holding workshops in schools and working towards teaching the degree equivalent Level 6.

She said: “The course starts in October at The Boo in Waterfoot and I have six students at present, another two possibles and I can accommodate 10.

“The course will be taught on a Sunday every other week until next summer and students will have a lot of independent work to do in their own time.

“Most students on the course would like to become interpreters or communication support workers, and I am planning to be trained to deliver the interpreters qualification next.

“As part of the course, the students also have to experience the deaf community so we will have social events when they will only be able to hold a conversation in sign language as a group. We will go out for meals or go to the theatre.”

Ayesha is married to Mark and they have two children Evie, eight, and Alex, four, and both are able to sign, when they want to. Although deaf, she has always been able to talk and as a result her deafness was not discovered until she was four.

At school, she was told that becoming a teacher was not something she should consider, but she proved the experts wrong.

Ayesha said: “When I stand up in front of a new class for the first time I am really nervous, but I am also excited at the same time and I love it. It has taken me a year to set up being able to teach Level 6 and there is a niche for it locally as the nearest locations for a similar course are Manchester, Stretford or Blackpool.

“It is most rewarding when students realise how important learning sign language is and what a difference it makes to a deaf person when someone can speak their language.”To find out more text, 07508 378250, email ayeshagavin @gmail.com or visit www.ayeshacommunications.com