[misc.handicap] Dr. Supalla 13

James.Womack@f14.n300.z1.fidonet.org (James Womack) (04/15/91)

Index Number: 14884

[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

      In another model, the maintenance model, one language is spoken
all morning and the other language is spoken all afternoon. This
model is commonly used in other foreign countries.  However, I don't
believe this model is appropriate for deaf edu cation either for the
same reasons the transitional model would not work.  How would
English be used as the language of instruction for half a day?

      One model which might work for deaf children is a model that is
 being used in the Phillipines.  In this model the children are
 taught in their spoken language, Talog.  Because these children also
 need to know English, they are taught English as a language for
 reading and writing.  They do not learn to speak English.  This may
 be a model which could be used with deaf children in the United
 States.

      Bilingual education models have been developed for two spoken
languages.  For deaf children we are talking about a spoken language
and a signed language - it is not the same as two spoken languages.
When we choose a model for bilingual education, we need to be very
careful to choose a model that is appropriate for the needs of deaf
children.  Many of the existing models are not appropriate for deaf
education.dels have been developed for two spoken languages.

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