Deafness


	MFL & INCLUSION

DEAFNESS
& foreign language learning

Learning and teaching

Experience indicates that it is very difficult for foreign language (FL) specialists who have not previously worked with deaf students to fully understand the difficulties they face and to see how teaching strategies might be adapted to better suit their needs. FL specialists therefore frequently rely on Teachers of the Deaf, interpreters or other communication assistants (all here referred to as support specialists), whether or not they are familiar with the language being taught, to mediate the lesson in its usual form. Another so-called 'solution' sometimes adopted is for the student to be advised to concentrate on other subject areas, thus excluding them from an important part of the curriculum, and, arguably, from skills needed to participate in the modern world.

Against seemingly impossible odds, some d/Deaf and hearing impaired students do succeed in achieving amazing results (example). How do they do it? And how are they supported in their efforts? Very little research has been done in this field, but there is lots of anecdotal evidence of good practice which suggests that the key to success lies in effective collaboration between foreign language specialists and support specialists. Evidence also suggests, however, that time to engage in effective collaboration is rarely available.

How can we facilitate effective collaboration? How can we collect, collate and disseminate good practice?

This page is my contribution.


	SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS
	DEAF AND MULTILINGUAL A practical guide to teaching and supporting deaf learners in foreign language classes Written by Judith Mole and Mireille Vale, both experienced linguists and support teachers, and myself, a former teacher of French, this inexpensive ebook provides information and advice on how to plan effective support for deaf students in Modern Foreign Language classes. It can be purchased and downloaded here: http://www.deafshop.co.uk/ashop/catalogue.php?exp=&cat=22&shop=1


	For further advice on how to plan effective support for deaf students and others, see Workshops 1 and 2 on this site.


		A STUDENT'S PERSPECTIVE
	A deaf student's account of her experiences at university, the hurdles she faced and the measures she took to overcome them, developing in the process a stronger personality and skills in five languages!
	Download 'Disabled and Multilingual' (pdf)


	SOME LINKS TO ARTICLES ON DEAFNESS AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING, DRAWN FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES

From the Linguanet Forum: Foreign languages and deaf children: http://www.scilt.stir.ac.uk/Links/FLanddeafchildren.htm

Empower '97: Workshop 3: Foreign language learning and deaf children: (link currently being verified; please check later. HM)

From the Association for Language Learning's archive: Listening skills and the hearing impaired child: http://www.ittmfl.org.uk/modules/inclusion/3c/


	See also: David Wilson's website on foreign language learning for learners with special educational needs: http://www.specialeducationalneeds.com Follow the 'sensory and physical difficulties' link to the section which provides further links to articles from several European countries


	SSC workshop on Modern Languages On 9th November 2005 the Scottish Sensory Centre in Edinburgh held a day of workshops for teachers of the deaf on access to the curriculum. The workshop on Modern Languages was presented by Angela Brown and Hilary McColl. Link to Angela's presentation here: http://www.ssc.education.ed.ac.uk/courses/deaf/dnov05b.html Hilary displayed resources for teaching modern languages and English as a foreign language which have a strong visual and kinesthetic components. You can link to these resources here: http://www.mlgpublishing.com Handouts included the matrix on supporting deaf learners in modern languages (see above); notes on English verb forms (see below); and a general information sheet which can be downloaded here:

		Information Sheet

Let's Sign

Some everyday signs available as posters or place mats in BSL as well as in German, Gujarati, Bengali and Urdu sign languages. See the series at http://www.deafsign.com/ds/index.cfm?scn=booknews

Langue des Signes Française (LSF)

For some lively resources from a French producer who is herself Deaf, see http://www.monica-companys.com


	This tipsheet from Mobility International USA includes advice on teaching foreign languages to visually impaired learners: http://www.miusa.org/ncde/tipsheets/foreignlang


	French sign language The website of deaf actress and author Monica Companys set up to market her own educational products teaching LSF (Lange des Signes Française) http://www.monica-companys.com/

New EU Project: European Master in Sign Language Interpreting (EUMASLI)
Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh has recently secured EU funding to develop, in partnership with Finland and Germany, an innovative European Master's degree programme called EUMASLI: European Master's in Sign Language Interpreting.

The project aims to develop and pilot a course that qualifies participants for research, development, and management functions in the area of sign language interpreting in their respective countries. The programme is thus intended to contribute to the development of the professional field of interpreting between deaf and hearing people in Europe and will have significant implications in relation to education and employment, sign language planning and policy, social affairs (minority language communities and disabled people's access to information, goods and services) and research.

The Master's programme will eventually be offered on a part-time basis including elements of blended learning (on- and off-site activities using a variety of media) . Participants will be expected to have a first degree as well as professional experience as sign language interpreters. Participation in the programme will include learning experience in all of the three participating countries.

Here's a link to the official EU press release: http://www.alynsmith.eu/News/2006/Jun06/Signlanguage%20HW.pdf

The project should have a website operational shortly. The contact meantime is Professor Graham Turner g.h.turner@hw.ac.uk

IT'S A IDEA!

I recently taught a hearing pupil who was very adept at signing (her parents are profoundly deaf). Inspired by a talk by Steven Fawkes at a conference two years before, I had been learning some basic signing (along with the rest of the class); we connected some of what we learned to appropriate signs. The effect on the class - and on me - was very beneficial! I didn't do this in any profoundly scientific way; it was quite simply very interesting to see how quickly the pupils can learn vocabulary through signing: I just had to make a sign and at least 90% of the group could remember the vocabulary. There was a twofold benefit in that they were learning French with pleasure; they were also learning some basic signing as well as becoming aware of the needs of the profoundly deaf. The pupil in question gained some recognition for her skills as well!

Reproduced with the teacher's permission. (Similar contributions welcome...)


	21.1.08 Find here the outline and then the transcript of a talk given by Ian Sutherland, of Gallaudet University as part of a telel training event hosted by Mobility Internationa USA. It addresses a situation in which deaf and hearing students are together in the same language class. http://www.miusa.org/ncde/spotlight/outline3 http://www.miusa.org/ncde/spotlight/transcript#ian-sutherland-on-deaf


	OTHER RESOURCES THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO THOSE SUPPORTING DEAF LEARNERS


	MLG Publishing produces highly visual and tactile materials which can be used to promote active learning of vocabulary and syntax in for any language, including English. Find their catalogue here: http://www.mlgpublishing.com

		My own notes to accompany MLG's Vital Verbs Kit, showing how English verb forms might be grouped for work with Deaf students:

	Vital Verbs (notes) (pdf)
	Here's another list of irregular verbs in English from the Churchill House School of English: http://www.churchillhouse.com/english/verbsheet.pdf

English/BSL Glossaries for Science, Engineering , Art, Mathematics, English and ICT

Four glossaries from DirectLearn:

http://www.sciencesigns.ac.uk
http://www.engineeringsigns.ac.uk
http://www.artsigns.ac.uk
http://www.slcresources4ict.net/index.php

Forest Bookshop has a 'Signs for Education' CD-ROM series which covers English, mathematics and information technology. Go to Forest books and search for Signs for Education: http://forestbooks.com/

Direct Learn

Direct Learn Services Ltd has two main activities: running online conferences on a variety of topics; publishing of e-books, primarily aimed at d/Deaf people and those working with d/Deaf people. For further information about these services, go to:
http://www.directlearn.co.uk

Some examples of publications related to language learning:

Deaf and Multilingual (see above)

International Perspectives on Interpreting: Selected proceedings of the Supporting Deaf People online conferences 2001 - 2005
International Perspectives on Language Support: Selected proceedings of the Supporting Deaf People online conferences 2001 - 2005. (Many of the featured papers have been revised and updated and there is also a summary of each conference discussion.)

See also Direct Learn's biligual ebooks for children in BSL and English.

More information at Direct Learn's online shop.
http://www.directlearn.co.uk/ashop/catalogue.php

Deaf Planet

A website specially made for deaf children. It's a Canadian site so the language options are English/American Sign Language (ASL) or French/Langue de Signes Québecoise (LSQ), with subtitles and sound in either language.
http://www.deafplanet.com/

RNID Publications

RNID produces a number of booklets designed to make teachers aware of how they can make their teaching more accessible to deaf learners. Some titles:

- Teaching strategies to use with deaf and hard of hearing students - advice for lecturers in Further and Higher Education.
- Guidelines for mainstream teachers with deaf pupils in their classes.
- Inclusion strategies - a resource pack (ring binder and CD ROM) which provides practical strategies and background information on a range of inclusion issues.

For further information: http://www.rnid.org.uk or contact the informationline@rnid.org.uk

Citizenship

The Scottish Parliament has produced a a British Sign Language video which explains the ways in which people can get involved in the work of the Parliament. Find details here: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-03/pa03-058.htm

Using ICT effectively with deaf children

An article from the Guardian, looking at how information technology is opening up new avenues of communication for deaf children.
http://education.guardian.co.uk/elearning/story/0,10577,1175181,00.html


	Translating, Interpreting and Communication Support Services across the Public Sector in Scotland: A Literature Review. Joanna McPake & Richard Johnstone with Jo Lo Bianco, Hilary McColl, Gema Rodriguez Prieto & Elizabeth Speake. Scottish Central Research Unit 2002.

Online distance learning tutor training initiatives

Sign On-line is a project which develops online materials to support teachers, assessors and learners of British Sign Language,
particularly those in colleges and universities who are teaching, assessing and learning BSL at advanced levels.

The materials have been developed by three of the leading universities in BSL teaching and you can access the materials in both BSL and in written English. Each of the three universities has focused on one aspect of BSL teaching: The University of Central Lancashire produced materials about curriculum development; City University produced materials about BSL Linguistics: Wolverhampton University produced materials about teaching skills. RAD and CACDP are also involved.

http://www.signonline.org.uk

(Thanks to SCoD for this information)

Revising Science with British Sign Language

An A to Z of BSL signs for specialised vocabulary and equipment used in Scottish national Certificate Science courses. This is in very basic form at the moment; I'm told a more elaborate interactive version will be available on the same site shortly.


	Some other sites provding help with BSL Almost 500 common words and phrases are demonstrated here: http://www.britishsignlanguage.com Fiding out about sign language and deafness: http://www.deafsign.com/ds/ Fingerspelling animation: http://www.british-sign.co.uk

Websites for sign language users

The contents of two sites, spearheaded by two Tayside-based interpreters, have been replicated on the page through British Sign Language by using video. The project aims to give profoundly deaf people using sign language as a first or preferred language better access to the internet. The idea has been incorporated into the homepages of deaf interpreters Morag Doig and Jennifer Ramsay. The sites serve as a model for other sites seeking to improve access to information for BSL users.

Read the BBC article about the development here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/5315782.stm
View Jennifer's site: http://www.jenniferramsay.co.uk/
View Morag's site: http://www.moragdoig.co.uk

Provision for Community Language Learning in Scotland

Report of a study by Joanna McPake of Scotish CILT and the University of Stirling. Published September 2006. Available to download at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/09/07093013/0

This study offers the most comprehesive account currently available of languages in use among Scottish schoolchildren. It includes consideration of provision for British Sign Language and Makaton.


	BBC Schools Here's a link to BBC 2's signed programmes for primary schools 2006-7: Hands Up!


	The Scottish Sensory Centre offers an extensive programme of Seminars and Workshops for professionals working with pupils who have hearing impairments. Consult the SSC website for current courses on offer: http://www.ssc.education.ed.ac.uk/courses/list.html


	IN THE NEWS

	Deaf Action has plans to send sign language tutors to Malawi and Swaziland. http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1475202006

	Links to information on signing with children in their early years http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/sharednews/2006/educational/july/news_tcm4356253.asp


	ICT glossary The Quality Improvement Agency (QIA) provides this ICT dictionary for the benefit of deaf students, their Communication Support Workers and interpreters, and anyone else interested in learning signs for ICT terms. http://www.slcresources4ict.net/index.php


	Signing avatars The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has teamed up with the University of East Anglia and the Royal National Institute for Deaf People to explore the potential of signing avatars to provide British Sign Language (BSL) support in examinations. With funding from the Teaching and Learning Research Programme, the project seeks to explore whether avatar based signing support can overcome some of the difficulties that candidates with BSL as their first language can experience when accessing SQA qualifications. Their recent announcement states: “This research will inform how SQA can best enable access to its qualification for all of our candidates. If successful, it could be rolled out across the qualifications range.” For more information: http://www.tlrp.org/proj/tel/tel_glauert.html


	Pupils struggle to hear in noisy classrooms RNID research has found that many hearing children up to the age of 14 struggle to recognise speech well against a noisy background. The cognitive ability to do so develops as children grow older. You can read more about it here: http://www.rnid.org.uk/mediacentre/press/2006/children_hearing_in_classroom.htm Perhaps there are particular implications for communicative language learning strategies that make extensive use of paired and group work, especially with younger children?


	The Quality Improvement Agency, National Teaching and Learning Change Programme has launched a new website, a glossary and dictionary of computer terms. This comprehensive guide is divided logically into specific areas - such as Networks, Hardware, Software, Security and Programming. It also offers instant navigation to terms alphabetically. Clips can be downloaded and saved to your hard drive. http://www.qiaresources4ict.net/


	British Sign Dictionary for mobile phones The University of Bristol's Centre for Deaf Studies has launched the world's first sign language dictionary available from a mobile phone. http://www.mobilesign.org contains over 5,000 British Sign Language signs and is specially designed with a simple interface for mobile phone displays. Users type in the word they wish to see or choose from an alphabetical list. To avoid unnecessary fees, signs do not appear until users ask for a download


	A new web-based television service, or IPTV, for British Sign Language (BSL) users has recently launched in the UK. VeeSee TV airs news and other programmes in BSL and is available 24 hours a day. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6613097.stm


	Access to external assessment for D/deaf candidates. Guidance for Awarding Bodies. Version 3 Dec 2006. Published by CACDP http://www.cacdp.org.uk/Information/PDFs/RAguideDeafCandsVersion3Dec06.pdf


	Participation The new Participation Portal for Scotland's children has a number of video clips in BSL. http://www.sccyp.org/participation/index.php


	University of Strathclyde General advice on working with students who are deaf or hard of hearing. http://www.strath.ac.uk/disabilityservice/information/workingwithstudentswhoaredeaforhardofhearing/


	PDA in BSL Studies Questionnaire SQA are developing a Professional Development Award (PDA) in British Sign Language (BSL) Studies which will support progression to becoming a qualified BSL tutor, or leading on to other related careers such as Interpreting, or simply for self development reasons. The PDA is designed to improve BSL skills and will lead on to the existing PDA 'Teaching in Further Education' for those tutors who wish to teach BSL.SQA are now beginning the wider consultation part of this development and would welcome feedback from Deaf BSL tutors, employers, students thinking about starting the course, previous students, individuals, training centres and anyone who feels they can give useful input. For further information: http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/27862.html

The Crowded Cottage

The Crowded Cottage is a free CD-ROM resource presented in written English and signed in British Sign Language. Aimed at deaf primary aged children, it tells a traditional Scottish folk tale in BSL and English and has a number of interactive activities so that learners can practise aspects of English, for example: prepositions. There is also a bilingual glossary.

The disc will run on Macintosh with System 9 or a System 9 emulator, and on Windows XP.

This resource was developed by the Multimedia Curriculum Support for Deaf Pupils project at the University of Edinburgh, under the directorship of Mary Brennan and with financial help from the Scottish Executive.

Single copies are available from Rachel O'Neill, Lecturer in Deaf Education, University of Edinburgh, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, EH8 8AQ. Email: rachel.oneill@ed.ac.uk

Item added 6.11.07

Count Us In: Achieving Success for Deaf Pupils

Count us in: Achieving success for deaf pupils has been produced jointly by HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) and the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS). The aim of the publication is to report on the quality of education currently experienced by deaf children in Scottish schools, to provide examples of good practice and to identify signposts for improvement which schools can use when planning for excellence.

http://www.hmie.gov.uk/documents/publication/asfdp.html
http://www.hmie.gov.uk/documents/publication/asfdp.pdf

Signed Language

Want information about British Sign Language? Find it here: http://www.signedlanguage.co.uk/home.htm

The site also has a facility for translating the site content into Spanish, French, German, Italian and Chinese - may be of interest to deaf students of these languages?


	21.1.08 A new BSL glossary has been developed by Edinburgh University specialists to help make communication easier for deaf pupils studying physics, chemistry and biology. Experts have compiled a glossary of more than 250 signs for scientific terms. The maths glossary has been in use for several months. See them all here: http://www.ssc.education.ed.ac.uk/bsl/list.html An article in the Times describes the new lists: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article3213283.ece


	23.1.08 The Scottish Parliament announces that 'How the Scottish Parliament Works - British Sign Language video' is now available on its website. You can find out about the work of the Parliament, how MSPs are elected, what happens in the Debating Chamber, what the committees do and more. Copies of the BSL DVDs with subtitles or voiceover are also available free of charge from the Public Information Service. Contact sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk or phone 0131 348 5000 for more details.


	28.1.08 SignOn! "English for Deaf Sign Language Users on the Internet" is a Socrates project, funded by the EU. The aim of the project is to enable deaf sign language users to use written English for international communication via the Internet. http://www.acm5.com/signon2/index.html


	23.2.08 BSL Survey The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is undertaking an online survey of British Sign Language (BSL) and Deaf Awareness provision in Scotland. This will inform the potential revision of their Units or the development of new Units and qualifications. Their online survey is open until Friday 21 March 2008. SQA's BSL page is here: http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/controller?p_service=Content.show&p_applic=CCC&pContentID=8215 Find the online survey here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=ynhXxVK1SQcnEErSsBW8Zg_3d_3d

25.5.08 Count us in: Achieving success for deaf pupils has been produced jointly by HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) and the National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS). The aim of the publication is to report on the quality of education currently experienced by deaf1 children in Scottish schools, to provide examples of good practice and to identify signposts for improvement which schools can use when planning for excellence.

Extracts relating to MFL:
... some secondary schools always withdrew the pupil from a second language without consultation with the pupils involved, based on the assumption that an additional language would be too challenging for deaf pupils.

In one area visited, deaf pupils had a positive experience in studying an additional language and were achieving well. The specific focus on grammar and syntax helped them to understand the differing language structures of English and BSL.

http://www.hmie.gov.uk/documents/publication/asfdp.html


	This work is licenced under a Creative Commons Licence.


	Page last updated: 23.6. 08
			TOP