See what our amazing students have to say
Take a look below to see what our fantastic students have to say. I always love getting feedback from my students. If you like to send me your testimonial, you can reach me on kelly@usign.co.nz
I have been in Kelly's class for nearly 3 years learning sign language. Kelly is an amazing teacher. She is focused, funny and hard working for her classes. She is amazing in how she can teach to anyone's ability whether fast or slow learners. Which helps as her classes rang in different ages and abilities.
Kelly is a great teacher with just the right amount of enthusiasm and attention to detail the ensures hearing people learn NZSL as Deaf culture and experiences.
She knows the importance of real situations to practice a language, and she uses her links with Deaf community to provide invaluable opportunities for students to meet people and practice communicating in real situations.
She is proud of her culture and works hard to make it more accessible to hearing people in a relaxed and fun way. Thank you Kelly.
Kelly has taught my daughter and I for the last 2 years in sign language. These lessons are the highlight of our week. Kelly gives you opportunities to further enhance your studies by introducing others who use sign language on a daily basis. I would not hesitate to recommend Kelly and her classes.
Kelly is fantastic NZSL tutor who was great at pitching her introductory class to various styles of learners those quick to pick it up and those who struggled. She kept us all engaged and provided meaningful homework to help us practice. I really enjoyed how she didn't just teach NZSL but introduced us to Deaf culture and services. I'd highly recommend Kelly's classes to everyone.
I have completed Level 1a - 1c NZ Sign Language classes, presented by Kelly from Usign. I enjoyed every minute of it! Kelly is such a great teacher, easy to understand with lots of patience. I love her sense of humour too!
I am 52 years old teacher.I have been studying sign language for three terms and I really enjoy the dynamic of the class. What I really like about learning this language is that I can use it to communicate with people embracing diversity as this language is not only useful for deaf people but also for others with different needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
To enter Level 1b you must have completed Level 1a. If you have not completed the previous level with me, I will need to assess your NZSL skills to ensure you can cope with the next level. If you attended previous levels with another teacher, I will need to see proof of your attendance. This is could be a certificate or letter from your previous teacher. The other option would be a one-to-one assessment for me to see your NZSL skills.
No. It’s the same as spoken languages, there are many throughout the world. While some countries may have similar signs, no two are exactly the same. For example, NZ Sign Language (NZSL) and Australian Sign Language (Auslan) are both based on British Sign Language (BSL) but there are differences.
It depends on the number of people who will be joining the private session. Generally, if it’s one person, it’s $40/hr. If there are 2 people, the cost is $35/person/hr etc.
It’s the same as any other language, just more visual. To ensure you succeed, you should regular attend all the classes in a term and complete the homework that is assigned each week.
It depends on the level. For Level 1a, the minimum number of students is 16. For other levels is can go down to 12 students.
Yes. It is important to learn from a qualified Deaf Teacher. A Deaf Teacher also teaches about the Deaf community and culture. Learning about the Deaf community and culture is an important part of learning NZSL.
Maybe not. Altogether I provide 12 levels of class over a 3-year period. Depending on demand, some classes will be repeated next term, but for my level 2 and 3 classes especially, it may only be offered once a year. For example, this year I am teaching Level 2a in Term 1 so most likely will not offer it again until Term 1 next year. To move up to the next level a student has to have attended 80% of the classes in a term or made arrangements with me to have private lessons to catch up.
I currently charge from $130 to $200 for Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced. Costs would be different depends on locations.
Yes. I have students as young as 12 or 13. If a student is 14 or younger, then a parent/guardian or older sibling must enrol in the class, and attend, with the young person. There needs to be a responsible adult with them in class.
I work with businesses and will usually require a 12-person minimum to run a private class. The more people there are, the cheaper the rate per person. If I am travelling to teach a class, there may be travel costs involved too. Please contact me so we can work out the best option for your business.
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Learning New Zealand Sign Language with us is fun, & flexible. Our unique beautiful language courses are a comprehensive introduction for anybody who is interested in learning NZSL.