Quote:
Originally Posted by fredfam1
Well, I am teaching a Baby ASL class to hearing parents of hearing children. My only qualifications, I have home schooled 7 children for 20 years, taken 6 ASL classes, and met my husband due to my very first ASL home work assignment. (and he was hearing at the time we met, just hoh now,lol, not that he'll admit it) Anyway, I know how to teach babies. That is the main qualification I bring to this class. The subject just happens to be ASL. The purpose of the class is to show parents creative ways to help their child acquire the concept of language as early as possible in order to boost their childs cognitive abilities. We had 23 in the class last Tuesday! (Not bad for a small town library.) So, need I be fluent in ASL to teach this class? I hope not! You could never tell I've had 6 ASL classes to observe my receptive skills! Especially if I'm upset! The people are loving the class and I'm enjoying teaching it. Though I readily admit my limitations in this language at the begining of each class.
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I'm continually amazed at the misconception people have about teaching ASL. Children growing up need highly qualified teachers and interpreters (if mainstreaming) because they are using these teachers and interpreters as language models. The younger the child, the more qualified the teacher/terp needs to be. So, yes, you SHOULD BE FLUENT to teach ASL to children. They are using you as a foundation for their language skills.