SPEAKING to a deaf girlfriend, helping an elderly neighbour and preparing for a career in the ambulance service with patients who are hard of hearing are just a few of the reasons Priestley College students have rushed to take the college’s sign language classes.

And the six week introductory course is more popular this year than ever as 50 16-year-olds signed up to learn basic questions, the alphabet and weather signs.

Anne Withington, who was born deaf, teaches the lessons and said she wished she had learned when she was very young.

“It’s much more open now that there’s more deaf awareness. Things have changed a lot.

“The students like practising with each other the most – they can be a bit shy at first.”

Priestley’s range of extracurricular classes are aimed at boosting youngsters’ CVs but students often have more meaningful reasons for taking the course.

AJ Roden, who wants to be a clinical psychologist, said: “My girlfriend is hard-of-hearing and we are both learning just in case she becomes deaf so that I can speak to her.”

Nathan Taylor, 16, said he wanted to learn a new language and decided on sign language because there are around 10 million deaf people in the UK.

He said: “I just liked the idea that someone is struggling to say something and I might be able to help them.”

Another student began signing at primary school and enjoyed it so much she wanted to continue, while others say it will help them with jobs in healthcare, customer service and community work.

Mark Edgington, enrichment co-ordinator at Priestley, said: “Quite a few students have also tried to incorporate the signs into dance pieces, they are thinking about different ways they can use it.

“We hope they will be able to communicate with confidence and not feel awkward.”

To learn more about the enrichment activities at Priestley visit priestley.ac.uk/enrichment.