My communication with my conversation partner has been off
to a slow start. But we are connected. Turns out she is a Research
Instructional Officer at the Centre for Sign Linguistics and Deaf Studies at
the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She will get back to me with contact
information for a teacher in their Deaf Education programme.
The university has a collaborative relationship with
Co-Enrollment in Deaf Education Progamme that is also sponsored by Jockey Club.
It is an “experimental [preschool and primary] programme on
a form of education that potentially benefits both deaf and hearing students
linguistically and academically…It focuses on how best to achieve bilingual
development in a bi-modal learning environment and academic outcomes when
teachers and students, deaf and hearing, co-enrol themselves in the education
process” (Jockey Club, n.d.).
Their rationale for the Deaf Education Programme is as
follows:
“Sign language, a
visual language with a full-fledged grammatical system. Research has shown the
advantage of using sign language to facilitate the development of spoken
languages in the education process, both in speech as well as in spoken
language literacy. Equally important for hearing students enrolled in this
programme is the provision of a linguistically rich environment supported by a
variety of pedagogical autonomous learning, literacy and academic attainment,
as well as the nurturing of a positive social attitude towards students with
special needs” (Jockey Club, n.d.).
Their website has good information on their overall
objectives, advantages of sign bilingualism, and advantages of co-enrollment.
Under Advantages of Co-Enrollment are some “buzz” words that we studied in our
classes like learner-centered, learning with individualized attention to cater
for specific learning needs. It is a website that is worth checking out.
Meantime, she suggested that I watch a video of their
program. It has both Chinese and English captions. It shows how their program works.
References:
Centre for Sign Linguistics & Deaf Studies. (n.d.).
Retrieved March 2015 from: http://www.cslds.org/v3/about.php
Jockey Club Sign Bilingualism and Co-Enrolment in Deaf
Education Programme. (n.d.) About.
Retrieved March 2015 from: http://www.cslds.org/acquisition/en-us/Home
This is a great resource to have when working with children who are deaf or children with hearing problems. I work with children who will have moderate or mild hearing loss. I often use the baby signs for the children I work with, and I show the families how to use them. It is a great way children who are not talking yet to communicate with their family.
ReplyDeleteMarla,
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great post. I am really interested in learning sign language. I have a child in my class who was language delayed and was taught sign language. My assistant and I both have a basic knowledge of sign language and so this is a great resource. I will definitely look up the website.
Marla,
ReplyDeletewe are actually doing some of this in the first grade and our second grade does their spelling words each week in sign language. We use some very good online sites and our local library and hospital even has a baby and me sign language course as they firmly believe that using sign language as the first language is best.
JIll
Marla,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great contact! Thank you I would have never known about such a valuable program. Also very impressive program they have clearly taken it to the next step. It presents inclusiveness in a whole new way.
This is an amazing program. How awesome to have a school where these kids can come together and learn together. It love that the children are not separated and they have an opportunity to learn together, help each other, and both are able to learn to communicate with everyone. It really is a win win situation for everyone involved. I have always wanted to learn sign language and actually learned quite a few phrases watching a couple youtube videos a few months ago. Unfortunately with out practice, I have lost most of what I learned. However, I'd love to spend some more time on it just in case I need it in the future. Thanks for the great information
ReplyDelete