Sign language teacher

Description

Sign language school teachers educate non-age-specific students in sign language. They teach sign language to both students with or without special educational needs such as deafness. They organise their classes using a variety of lesson materials, work interactively with the group, and assess and evaluate their individual progress through assignments and examinations.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to sign language teacher:

british sign language tutor
british sign language trainer
assistant sign language teacher
sign language tutor
sign language educator
sign language trainer
sign language teaching assistant
british sign language teacher

Minimum qualifications

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as sign language teacher. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Sign language teacher is a Skill level 4 occupation.

Sign language teacher career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to sign language teacher.

special educational needs teacher
early years special educational needs teacher
hospitality vocational teacher
special educational needs itinerant teacher
special educational needs teacher secondary school

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of sign language teacher. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of sign language teacher with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of sign language teacher.

Communication related to hearing impairment: The phonologic, morphologic and syntactic aspects and characteristics of human communication for individuals affected by hearing impairment.
Assessment processes: Various evaluation techniques, theories, and tools applicable in the assessment of students, participants in a programme, and employees. Different assessment strategies such as initial, formative, summative and self- assessment are used for varying purposes.
Special needs learning equipment: The materials used by a special needs teacher for training students with special educational needs in their classes, more specifically tools such as sensory equipment and equipment for stimulating motor skills.
Hearing loss: The manifestation, causes and symptoms of hearing impairment, which is the partial or total inability to hear.
Hearing disability: Impairment of the ability to discern and process sounds naturally.
Language teaching methods: The techniques used to teach students a foreign language, such as audio-lingual, communicative language teaching (CLT), and immersion.
Communication disorders: The malfunction in a person’s ability to comprehend, process and share concepts in various forms, such as verbal, non verbal or graphical during language, hearing, and speech communication processes.
Sign language: A system of communication using visual gestures and signs, used by hearing impaired individuals.
 
Curriculum objectives: The goals identified in curricula and defined learning outcomes.
Special needs education: The teaching methods, equipment and settings used to support students with special needs in achieving succes in school or community.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of sign language teacher.

Teach sign language: Instruct students with hearing impairments in the theory and practice of sign language, and more specifically in the understanding, use, and interpretation of these signs.
Prepare lesson content: Prepare content to be taught in class in accordance with curriculum objectives by drafting exercises, researching up-to-date examples etc.
Observe student’s progress: Follow up on students’ learning progress and assess their achievements and needs.
Manage student relationships: Manage the relations between students and between student and teacher. Act as a just authority and create an environment of trust and stability.
Apply teaching strategies: Employ various approaches, learning styles, and channels to instruct students, such as communicating content in terms they can understand, organising talking points for clarity, and repeating arguments when necessary. Use a wide range of teaching devices and methodologies appropriate to the class content, the learners’ level, goals, and priorities.
Teach languages: Instruct students in the theory and practice of a language. Use a wide range of teaching and learning techniques to promote proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in that language.
Demonstrate when teaching: Present to others examples of your experience, skills, and competences that are appropriate to specific learning content to help students in their learning.
Give constructive feedback: Provide founded feedback through both criticism and praise in a respectful, clear, and consistent manner. Highlight achievements as well as mistakes and set up methods of formative assessment to evaluate work.
Perform classroom management: Maintain discipline and engage students during instruction.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of sign language teacher. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Learning needs analysis: The process of analysing a student’s learning needs through observation and testing, potentially followed by the diagnosis of a learning disorder and a plan for additional support.
Disability care: The specific methods and practices used in providing care to people with physical, intellectual and learning disabilities.
Disability types: The nature and types of disabilities affecting the human beings such as physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional or developmental and the specific needs and access requirements of disabled people.
Learning difficulties: The learning disorders some students face in an academic context, especially Specific Learning Difficulties such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and concentration deficit disorders.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of sign language teacher. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Stimulate students’ independence: Encourage students with special needs to perform tasks independently, without the help from a caregiver and teach them personal independence skills.
Provide specialised instruction for special needs students: Instruct students in need of specialised attention, often in small groups, catering to their individual needs, disorders, and disabilities. Promote the psychological, social, creative or physical development of children and teenagers using specific methods such as concentration exercises, role-plays, movement training, and painting.
Support people with hearing impairment: Accompany the hearing-impaired to facilitate communication in various situations, such as training, work or administrative procedures. If necessary, gather information before appointments.
Adapt teaching to student’s capabilities: Identify the learning struggles and successes of students. Select teaching and learning strategies that support students’ individual learning needs and goals.
Maintain students’ discipline: Make sure students follow the rules and code of behaviour established in the school and take the appropriate measures in case of violation or misbehaviour.
Provide learning support: Provide the necessary support to students with general learning difficulties in literacy and numeracy to facilitate learning by assessing the learner’s development needs and preferences. Design formal and informal outcomes of learning and deliver materials that facilitate learning and development.
Assess students: Evaluate the students’ (academic) progress, achievements, course knowledge and skills through assignments, tests, and examinations. Diagnose their needs and track their progress, strengths, and weaknesses. Formulate a summative statement of the goals the student achieved.
Follow research on special needs education: Keep up to date with new studies and related upcoming regulations concerning education for students with special needs.
Assist clients with special needs: Aid clients with special needs following relevant guidelines and special standards. Recognise their needs and accurately respond to them if needed.
Work with virtual learning environments: Incorporate the use of online learning environments and platforms into the process of instruction.
Assist children with special needs in education settings: Assist children with special needs, identifying their needs, modifying classroom equipment to accommodate them and helping them participate in school activities.
Assist students in their learning: Support and coach students in their work, give learners practical support and encouragement.
Liaise with educational staff: Communicate with the school staff such as teachers, teaching assistants, academic advisors, and the principal on issues relating to students’ well-being. In the context of a university, liaise with the technical and research staff to discuss research projects and courses-related matters.

ISCO group and title

2353 – Other language teachers

 

 


 

 

References
  1. Sign language teacher – ESCO
Last updated on August 8, 2022