Quote:
Originally Posted by shel90
We don't split them up in groups..the kids have speech classes for spoken language instruction but all of them are together for the important subjects like math, LA, social studies, and science and ASL is the language used. I tested using spoken language and asl with my class just an hour ago...it was a mess and 2 of my students kept asking me to repeat myself so time was wasted. So I went back to ASL and the lesson was completed. If we r going to have our students be taught with the same curriulm as the public school kids are tuaght with, then we have to stick with one language while teaching otherwise, we wouldn't get anything taught. Then the students will fall further behind...I won't put their education at risk for the sake of being able to communicate with hearing people. Education comes first.
U can disagree with the BiBi program ..that's your right. As a teacher who has been in the field for 5 plus years, I have seen TC, BiBi and oral programs and I see that the BiBi approach is working the most effectively if the goal is to teach deaf children using the same curriculm as the public schhols use. It is all about giving our deaf students equal access to what hearing children learn. For me, their education comes first and I will use what works the best for ALL. Using both languages in my classroom won't work for 3 of my students but will work for one. It wouldn't be fair for my 3 who have no auditory nor speech skills. Heck, even me who has excellent oral skills wouldn't benefit either cuz I would miss out too much on what is being taught. I can't do that to my students' learning process...what happened an hour ago proved that it disrupted their learning process. Wish it wud work for all but it is not that simple.
If u really want to see how it works, then I suggest try working in a classroom in all kinds of programs. Being a teacher is not easy especially when using 2 languages.
I wud love to work in a CS program as a volunteer to see how it really works. Reading it on paper is not the same as actually seeing it in action.
Iam just giving u my experience as a teacher and what I have seen. U don't have to agree with me.
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One of the major problems as I understand it is that you can't compare one bi bi program to another. You can't compare one TC program to another becuase as many have mentioned before, there are programs out there that claim to be bi-bi and that claim to be TC but are really not by definition. This is because of many factors of which few, if any are controlable. Personally I believe that exposing a deaf child to all methods is a good approach. I think there is importance in the education no doubt. But there is also importance in communication with the majority. ASL while a beautiful language and an efficient means of communication, does have it's drawbacks. A deaf child is going to have a bit more of a load on his back than hearing children with regards to education not only in a bi bi program but also in a TC program. It's an extra load to have to learn two languages and a further load to have to learn speech. It's a tough road for these kids but with a TC approach I believe they will be better prepared for life in the real world.