Subject Workshop for Teachers of Deaf Children - English Language

Presented in October 2005

Teaching Within a Sign Bilingual Communication Policy

Anne Bain, Donaldson's College for the Deaf

Recognising the right to access

Recognising linguistic preference

• Welsh
• Urdu
• Gaelic
• British Sign Language

Learning requires pupil ownership.

Teachers need to be able to deliver the curriculum in a way that is meaningful and that develops independent thinking skills.

Deaf people have a language and culture

Deaf people have a history

Deaf people have a history of education

BSL has unique visual properties which add a dimension to communication lacking in oral/written languages.

The curriculum is delivered and assessed using mainly English Language.

Two languages of equal value are used within the school.

All pupils have visual access to both languages.

Some pupils have a degree of oral/aural access to English Language.

Development of multi-media to show graphics, signing, text and sound at the same time

Exploiting the skills of qualified deaf professionals / adults

• Recognising the right to access
• Recognising linguistic preference
• Information now!