Language in Your Hands (LYH) offers sign supported language learning which aims to support speech and language development with the support of visual signs and music. Our work is targeted at children under the age of 6. The systems of signs developed in Language in Your Hands relates to the child’s daily routines as well as first concepts relevant to the learning in the preschool curriculum (such as concepts of weather, colours, seasons, numbers and letters and topics such as the world around us)
The underlying concept of this method is the understanding that information and skills can be accelerated through the use of the kinaesthetic sensory system which is in this case is implemented through the use of symbolic gestures and supported by music.
It can be used with:
- preverbal children: it has been recognised that signing can provide preverbal children with the skills necessary to bridge the communication gap between what they can understand and what they can verbally express (Joseph Garcia, 1994, Marilyn Daniels, 2001, Jenifer Machett, 2011). This practice is known as baby signs and is widely used in USA and increasingly in UK and some other European countries.
However further work and research has proven for sign supported method to be extremely useful also in the following learning scenarios:
The underlying concept of this method is the understanding that information and skills can be accelerated through the use of the kinaesthetic sensory system which is in this case is implemented through the use of symbolic gestures and supported by music.
It can be used with:
- preverbal children: it has been recognised that signing can provide preverbal children with the skills necessary to bridge the communication gap between what they can understand and what they can verbally express (Joseph Garcia, 1994, Marilyn Daniels, 2001, Jenifer Machett, 2011). This practice is known as baby signs and is widely used in USA and increasingly in UK and some other European countries.
However further work and research has proven for sign supported method to be extremely useful also in the following learning scenarios:
- in inclusive classrooms where children who do not speak the language of instruction as their first language
- The methods have been proved to be valuable for all children and in particular those with additional communication difficulties. The methods can give confidence to the children and improve their communication skills quickly.
- The methods have also been successful in teaching English to children learning English as a second language in countries across Europe. It has provided to be an ideal way of introducing children to an additional language from the age of 2 onwards. Since most of the basic signs are iconic, children can remember and copy them very quickly. Therefore signs serve as a bridge between the mother tongue and the second language.
