Teaching skills for teachers

Harnessing Creativity
Teachers often underestimate their own creativity and can be concerned about producing materials using electronic media. Most computers have aids to language learning and will have “Wizards” which tell you how to use various packages for example, Power-point presentations.

Teachers can be creative in two ways: Producing materials and using existing materials creatively. A reminder here that teachers must check copyright before using photocopies.

Teaching vocabulary visually
As has been done to teach other languages at first real objects, photographs and/or images which teachers create, can be used to introduce vocabulary

To extend new vocabulary teachers can create or use video clips of deaf presenters using BSL in real situations so that students link BSL used in the situation to the context of a film; for example, a café scene or an interview. These can be either on video or mini-DV, therefore linking specific vocabulary to reality.

This vocabulary learning can be reinforced later on new videos depicting BSL signers signing the same topics but without visual prompts.

Teaching Grammar
Learners need memory aids, prompts and learning exercises using to understand BSL grammatical structure especially verb structures and syntax. As BSL is as visual language teaching specific grammar for themes and topics can be done by linking visual images to actual BSL signs. If a tutor has the facilities they can scan pictures and drawings to create files or CD ROMs but they can also use free clip art and free animated drawings. Animated Clip Art is ideal for teaching verbs. Tutors must learn to film themselves and other colleagues or BSL presenters as an essential source of materials.

Teaching non-manual features of BSL
Again here using animated clip art within a power-point presentation is ideal. Video Clips from TV programmes could be collected as examples of these features if teachers use only the clips already published free on-line. Specific videos could be produced to emphasise non-manual features. Videos or CD ROMs are excellent tools for repetition and recycling during the establishing of both language forms and structures.

Exercises and Assessments
Grammar and Vocabulary Exercises CD ROMs with “drop down” techniques are perfect for comprehension and translation exercises.

For formal comprehension and translation assessments it is essential that teachers produce topic based videos for preparation and new assessment videos to meet the curriculum. As discussed earlier, if students are being assessed externally then schools, colleges and universities should supply some commercial materials.

What is Free?

• BSL On – line:
• Clip Art
• Animated Clip Art
• Photographs form colleagues
• Power-point facilities
• Video clips of BSL form Deaf Websites
• BBC clips online

You can produce

• Video Clips
• Filmed assessment exercises
• CD ROMs
• Photographs
• Power-point presentations with hyperlinks to BSL Glossaries
• Line drawings
• Cartoons
• Photocopies of less than 10% of a published documents

The vital role of creative materials is that they are used to:

• Present language
• Students can practice structures and vocabulary
• At each level or stage students establish authentic meaningful language

In conclusion all materials must be linked to four things:

• Students’ needs
• The Curriculum
• The Assessments
• Authentic BSL