Concerns about ASL Teachers

Not enough Deaf ASL Teachers. Need more Deaf people to take ASL field to teach.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Deafhood
• Deaf
• ASL
• Sign
• Language

[Trishamazingg]

I'm an interpreting student and I've recently had both a hearing professor and a Deaf professor teach ASL. Although I can tell my hearing teacher is very knowledgeable of the language, she's a CODA w/ Deaf siblings, I honestly do feel I gained more knowledge of the language from my Deaf professor. Teaching ASL comes so naturally for her, and it's fun learning from her and learning her point of views. If I could only have her as my professor from now on, I would definitely enjoy it better.

[Julie11Rose]

I agreed with all of you .. lucky Canadian Deaf teachers still teaching ASL . Hearing person who know ASL and let to give Deaf job and their language .. where is their respect and attitude ??? Why not the hearing ASL instructors let Deaf job and our ASL !!!! language plus culture.. I cant understand why hearing instructor contribute Deaf people take our place to teach ASL.. When i went to workshop in USA and our Deaf group were so shocked and jaw dropped !! almost all hearing taught ASL.

[xXTragicDollyXx]

I agree that the deaf should teach sign language instead of hearing. I have a hearing asl teacher who does a lot of signs wrong. He is a horrible teacher. I am thankful that my boyfriends mom is deaf and she teaches me. When I speak to her and since I am beginner I usually fingerspell any word I do not know and then she will teach me the sign. I love deaf culture and the people in it are wonderful. thank you for posting

[germandeafASL]

@eileentruskowski Hi! yes, I do agree but some disagree, Why? because I was asl teacher in Denver, of course I am deaf. ha...no interpreter. I make people learn harder, How do I communcate hearing people? just write on chalkboard. If I don't understand them but I do well lipreading. It won't let me read their lips, They write on chalkboard which I stress on them more motiviate to pick up many sign of words. It is successful, so I don't think any difficult for them.

[x0elli0x]

I agree completely. I am learning sign language at the sign language center in NYC and all oif the teachers are deaf. I feel like i am learning more opinions of deaf on what signs are better to use then a hearing person.

[germandeafASL]

Yeah! I agree with you well, the reason why I said because I notice now days more hearing asl teachers not much deaf asl teachers which i concern many times I have been seen most hearing asl teachers are oppression toward deaf people and deaf people still "sleepy" and not realize how serious hearing asl become more enpowerd than deaf. so we need to stand up and overcome hearing asl's enpowers and let deaf enpower their deaf culture. Agree? wink...

germanASL55

[CLDeafies]

You have book? Find to buy, how?

You very, very good teacher. Keep it up! We need. Sooooo many bad Hearing teachers, bad Hearing programs around! Hearing student learn all wrong, choas, garbage.  Then expect us Deafs to tutor them!

[eileentruskowski]

As a deaf ASL teacher I can tell you is difficult to teach ASL to hearing kids who are always trying to put something over on you. Try to have them use ASL only and they whisper using voice and I cannot hear. The children are always trying to pull something on the deaf teacher. Not fun to be sure.... before becoming deaf I was an Interpreter and worked to get an education in ASL. I have BA and MA for teaching. MUST have that to teach MUST!