Perceptions of sign language among teachers in schools that enroll deaf children in Bulawayo (Zimbabwe)
Journal Title: Scientific Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences - Year 2016, Vol 5, Issue 5
Abstract
The study set out to establish and analyse how teachers in schools that enroll deaf children in Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) perceived Sign language. A sample of 30 specialist and 30 mainstream teachers participated in the study which utilized descriptive and comparative survey designs. A Self-Designed Sign Language Perception Thematic Scale was used for data collection. The data were summarized into tables and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results indicated that teachers in schools that enroll deaf children in Bulawayo were aware that Sign language is the language for deaf children but perceived it as difficult to learn/teach and as a set of gestures which could only be used for expressing simple concrete ideas. The teachers were also not fully aware of the official status of Sign language. From the findings, it was also clear that the teachers did not appreciate the native and natural status of Sign language and were not sure whether it has its own proper grammatical structure which is adequate to express abstract ideas. A Chi-Square analysis confirmed these results but showed that despite findings to the contrary, specialist teachers perceived Sign language more positively than mainstream teachers. The main conclusion from these results was that deaf children in schools in Bulawayo were not exposed to the full linguistic structure of Sign language and were consequently denied development of their Deaf culture. This compromised their education. On these bases, the study recommended staff development of teachers, establishment of Sign language resource centers, and harmonization of policies with the new Constitution and a similar but in-depth study of a national magnitude.
Authors and Affiliations
Patrick Sibanda*| Senior Lecturer in the Department of Disability Studies and Special Needs Education; Zimbabwe Open University., Sylod Chimhenga| Senior Student Advisor; Zimbabwe Open University.
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP465
- DOI 10.14196/sjpas.v5i5.2211
- Views 638
- Downloads 26
Logistic regression on consumption of rice (case study of Offa local government Offa, Kwara State, Nigeria)
This research work is on logistic regression on consumption of locally and imported rice using Offa local government, Kwara state as case study, it aimed to establish a model that can use to predict Age, Income, Expend...
Some refinement of the triangle inequality in quasi 2-normed spaces
In this paper we establish a generalization of the triangle inequity and the Dunkl-Williams inequality in quasi 2-normed linear spaces.
The process of personal status, Iranian human rights law in schema imamiye
Religious minorities, refers to a population of less than the rest of the country, and members of different features strong, religious, or linguistic position. Typical sense of unity and solidarity of interests, in order...
Numerical simulation and prototype testing of gas turbine with hot spinning process
The gas turbine is normally operating in high temperature environment and its blades / rotor are constantly contacting gas with extremely high temperature. To prolong the life cycle and improve the function of these cr...
Spatial analysis of hail and its suppression methods (case study: East-Azerbaijan province, Iran)
Atmospheric hazards are considered as the mainenvironmental hazards, which threaten plants, animals and human communities. Hailing is one of these hazards which cause a lot of damages to differentactivities, especially...