DEAF CLASS 3-5-2025

Introduction

• Overview of the discussion on language and education for deaf students.

• Mention of transitioning from traditional signing methods to oralism.

Historical Context

• Deaf students experienced frustrations due to a shift to oralism, which lasted for about 100 years.

• The education system for deaf individuals faced significant challenges during this period.

• Transition to MCE (Manually Coded English) and total communication models in an attempt to improve education for the deaf was implemented but showed little progress over 25 years.

Job Market Insights

• Current job market expectations generally require some level of education or training:

  • Tech schools

  • Community colleges for two-year degrees

  • Universities for four-year degrees

• Historical jobs available for deaf individuals included:

  • Printing shops

  • Mechanic roles

  • Tailoring and seamstress positions

The Importance of Educational Approaches

• Emphasis on how deaf students can excel in academics when provided proper education.

• Key messages include:

  • The necessity of bilingual, bicultural education.

  • Success achieved when students are taught in both their natural language and English.

• Mention of a deaf educator illustrating the need for effective educational frameworks that support learning.

Bilingual-Bicultural Education Approach

• Goals of the bilingual-bicultural (buy-buy) educational approach include:

  • Helping students acquire English while maintaining their natural language.

  • Ensuring students do not fall behind in their education.

• Importance of content and context in language acquisition:

  • Understanding concepts is critical; otherwise, language remains meaningless.

• Research indicates that this approach benefits students whose first language is not English (e.g., Spanish-speaking in the U.S., Russian speakers in Canada).

Research Findings

• Evidence supporting the effectiveness of bilingual education:

  • Greater academic success for students trained in a bilingual environment.

• Discussion on programs across the U.S. that cater to diverse linguistic backgrounds.

Application in Schools

• Importance of maintaining a strong foundation in a natural language, including:

  • Utilizing sign language as an essential educational tool.

  • Gradually introducing English skills through reading, writing, and possibly speaking, while reinforcing natural language skills.

• Emphasis on utilizing ASL (American Sign Language) to aid in learning English and enhancing overall communication skills.

Conclusion

• Sessions on bilingual education to continue with further topics.

• Opportunity for questions and discussions about the bilingual education approach and real-world applications.