Rebecca Durkin

British Sign Language Tutor

Helping you achieve your goals in signing

Hi, I’m Rebecca! I would love to help you achieve your goals in signing. Why not get in touch?

My Story

Rebecca Durkin was born profoundly deaf into a hearing family. The youngest of two girls, she first learnt BSL at primary school at Frank Barnes School for the Deaf in London and later attended Nutfield Priory School for the Deaf. Whilst at these schools she perfected her communication skills, both orally and through sign, allowing her to grow up in both the hearing and deaf worlds.

After leaving school she worked in the printing industry for 20 years, as a graphic designer. In her heart, this was not what she wanted to do for ever. Her goal and driving force was to became a trained BSL teacher and teach people to sign as well as working more closely with other deaf people in the community. The draw of this and the dedication to promote deaf culture grew too strong and in 2006 she took the leap to learning to teach. She gained the relevant qualifications and since then has been teaching all standards of both hearing and deaf people in BSL. Rebecca has been able to realise her other dreams and now works as a Support Worker with Deaf clients and has been accepted as an External Assessor for Signature BSL Level 2.

Rebecca has been teaching people to BSL levels 1, 2 and 3 to accredited standard and has been coaching others towards attaining level 4 and 6. She has also undertaken workshops for local businesses and both local and county councils for groups of staff to differing levels.

Rebecca feels that she is able to give something back to people through her work and help to break down the barriers and prejudices between the hearing and deaf worlds. She has been described by many of her students as being professional and incredibly patient in her teachings and at present has a 99% pass rate for BSL Level 1 and 98% for Level 2. (Please see the testimonies for more information).

Nothing can hold Rebecca back. She is the mother of two hearing daughters, and whether it be sky diving or Scuba Diving, “I can’t do that!” does not feature in her life. She is very well known in the British deaf scene and looks forward to the many nationally and locally organised events. She was lucky enough to be selected to play for the Deaf England Football Team. One of her favourite pastimes is Scuba Diving and she has been able to use her PADI Advanced Open Water qualification to great effect with a number of dives with friends including trips to The Red Sea. Rebecca also loves swimming, walking, running and working out at the local gym.

My Approach

Each student is an individual and needs to be treated as such while teaching. A method that works for one person may not be appropriate for another so my methodology in teaching is to deliver the courses I do in bespoke ways, tailor made to each student.

In group settings obviously much of the course will be tailored to suit the majority of abilities in order to make progress. In one to one sessions my approach will be to adapt the course for the student.

I look forward to meeting you in the future.

Qualificiations

Teaching

NVQ BSL Level 6
Training as Sign Language Teacher City & Guilds Cert
Delivery Learning
Stage 1 Tutor City & Guilds 7407/1
Basic Linguistics of BSL
Deaf Awareness Trainer
Communication Tactics Trainer
Signature trained Assessor

Other

Photoshop trained

Rebecca is assessed annually at Richard Collyers College in Horsham and also by Aspire at different locations always achieving “Outstanding” in her assessments.

Karl

Karl is hearing and was introduced to the deaf world in late 2010. Since then, Rebecca has been coaching him and he is now BSL level 2 qualified.

He is Rebecca’s Personal Assistant and interpreter for Access To BSL and can be contacted via 07810 484462. He will be able to answer any queries or concerns you may have.

Karl says,

“I have really enjoyed learning and conversing via BSL. I have been lucky enough to meet Deaf and Hard of Hearing people through BSL and consider many of them to now be great friends.

I am surprised how useful sign language has been to me, both in my personal and work life, and recommend to anyone to seize the opportunity and learn through Access to BSL.”