Breaking barriers in education: DCG lecturer's dedication leads cohort of deaf students to success

Emily Woodgate, Lecturer of Teacher Training at Derby College Group has just had her first experience of teaching a cohort of deaf students. There were 12 students in total – all Deaf, one student with partial hearing with the aid of a cochlear implant.

Emily started as a teacher on the Supporting Teaching and Learning Programme before transitioning into teacher training and has been with the college for almost four years.

The students were studying for a Level 3 Award in Education and Training. Which is aimed at those already in a teaching/volunteering role or those who are potentially interested in starting their career as a teacher.

Those in the cohort, who have recently completed the course, were wanting to volunteer/gain employment as teachers of British Sign Language (BSL). One student in the group was a business owner and wanted to gain more knowledge and experience of education and training to support her in training her staff members, and also, to improve experiences offered to service users within the Deaf community. The course had a 100% pass rate.

Alongside delivering on the teacher training programmes, Emily has also completed her Level 1 BSL and is currently working towards her Level 2 BSL, something she has wanted to do for a long time. This experience has therefore presented the ideal opportunity to develop her own knowledge, skills and professional practice whilst also supporting Deaf students on their own professional journeys. It has been very much a reciprocal process. 

Emily commented “I thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity and I am very much looking forward to working with other deaf students on future programmes. Whilst education and training is something I have been doing for years, this was a completely new experience for me."

Emily continued: "The encouragement and support given to me from the cohort during my time learning BSL was inspiring and gave me the determination to stick with it! It was also great to work with the Communication Support Workers and interpreters within Derby College, who without, I could not have successfully delivered the programme!  I now have a heightened awareness and a renewed respect for the Deaf community and it has been extremely rewarding to integrate into this community.” 

There have been many benefits to those who have completed the course including:

• One student has become a university lecturer of BSL
• Others gained employment as teachers of Level 1 BSL
• Going onto volunteering roles within education establishments delivering BSL courses and progressing into paid employment delivering BSL courses.
• Having increased confidence and skills in roles they were currently employed in before starting the course.

Angela, a student on the course commented: “I found the course very interesting and it has stretched my mind regarding teaching skills. I am now shadowing as a tutor to teach BSL with various groups. It has given me several job opportunities. I would recommend the course to the Deaf community; it is most certainly worth it.”

More information about this year’s Teacher Training Courses can be found here.