There are some deaf Pinoy who use signed English or S.E.E as their primary language. There are other Deaf people who sign using Filipino Sign Language (FSL). Since long ago, SEE is used in education to teach deaf kids speak, read, write English. Hearing teachers focus only to teach Deaf kids to speak, read, write English. Did the Deaf fully learn and develop as a person? Did they develop the needed competencies they need for higher education? Did they have greater opportunities for employment?

Those Deaf children are now Deaf adults. They are asking that Filipino Sign Language, their OWN NATURAL LANGUAGE be used NOW in education. NOT signed English. But hearing teachers and decision makers still insist signed English should be used in the education of Deaf children. Deaf Filipino want FSL, hearing Filipino and few deaf want SEE.

Which has more value? English or Filipino? Who has more right to find ways to help deaf children to have better future? Deaf people or hearing people?

Deaf people want to learn how to write and read English, but they want to learn it in the context of their Deaf experience, using their Filipino Sign Language as primary language to communicate and learn in the classroom and everywhere else. Using FSL in education will make real learning accessible. Deaf students will learn more meaningfully. Deaf will have greater access not only to words and spellings, but access to a learning environment enriched because their OWN language is used and therefore greater opportunity to develop fully their brain potentials and competencies. Something many of the Deaf adults have been denied in the education they received as children because signed English and English alone was given importance by the system and by their teachers.

FSL Bill supports Deaf people. It recognizes importance of learning using their own natural language. Hearing people and some deaf people who love SEE don’t want FSL Bill, they say Deaf people will not learn English.

Deaf people who support FSL Bill are advocates of Deaf people’s rights, they are representatives of Deaf organizations who are involved in UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. They are Deaf people who are helping Deaf children and other Deaf people who are isolated and discriminated by people who don’t believe in Deaf rights and by the system that only recognize hearing people’s rights.

Who should we support? Deaf people who represents the Deaf community and are fighting for Deaf rights? Or hearing people and some deaf people who just don’t like FSL to be used in education??

We all want to learn something we fully understand, and we learn because we understand. We want that for ourselves. Why should we deny Deaf people that same right? Why should we deny them their right to protect the Deaf children who will go through the kind of education system they went through? Just like anyone, we want our children to have a better future. They want the same for Deaf children. Why should hearing people deny them that right????

FSL Bill must be passed!!! Let us support Deaf Filipinos’ right to their own language!!!

#4: Techie - Support Deaf People’s Right to their OWN Language!!!

With all due respect to your ideas miss, but I believe there are some things you have to think about!

 

You said...

.....Did they develop the needed competencies they need for higher education? Did they have greater opportunities for employment?

( Why should we blame it to SEE? There are several factors you have to consider in having greater opportunities for employment! - and SEE is not a major part of it... if you want more employment then ask the government to pass a bill that will increase more job opportunities for the Hearing Impaired people! (Hello! hearing people experience the same!! but do we blame language for not having job?? - that is not FAIR!!!) You are proposing a wrong medicine to a wrong illness causing it to be more severe!!

 

You said .....

.......insist signed English should be used in the education of Deaf children

( The purpose of Education is to create an impact to a child's life!! Excuse me miss Techie!! DO YOU HAVE RELEVANT EXPERIENCE IN TEACHING DEAF KIDS? ARE YOU A LISENCED SPED TEACHER???   Do you know the concept of Modeling and its impact to learning!!!   Bandura said that there should be a good model for learning to occur meaningfully, SEE can provide that model which FSL cant!! CAN YOU TEACH THE ENGLISH SUBJECT USING FILIPINO LANGUAGE? Of course not! Thus, we have to follow the rules....)

 

You said.....

.... Who has more right to find ways to help deaf children to have better future? Deaf people or hearing people?

(ARE YOU A DEAF OR A HEARING PERSON????? WHO DRAFTED THE BILL IN THE FIRST PLACE, A DEAF OR A HEARING PERSON!! THIS IS NOT A QUESTION OF BEING A DEAF OR A HEARING PERSON!!!!!!!! THE MAIN THOUGHT STAYS ON THE IDEA OF YOUR INTENTION!!!!!!! IS IT JUST FOR FAME OR FOR GREATER GLORY OF OTHER SOCIAL CLASSES. ... NOT CONSIDERING THE IMPACT OF OTHER LANGUAGES INHIBIT YOU FROM ACHIEVING INCLUSION!!! EDUCATION SHOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARDS THIS MAIN GOAL.. INCLUSION..... BUT YOU ARE DOING IT IN AN OPPOSITE WAY :( )

 

you said .....

.... Deaf people want to learn how to write and read English, but they want to learn it in the context of their Deaf experience, using their Filipino Sign Language as primary language to communicate and learn in the classroom and everywhere else.

( Are you familiar with the term MODIFICATION OF PROGRAM??? What do you think of us, Sped teachers in the field, ignorant and do not consider others differences??? That is why we have flexible curriculum!!!! QUESTIONING MY MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION IS QUESTIONING MY CAPACITY AS A TEACHER TO IMPART MY KNOWLEDGE!!!! IF YOU WANT, COME TO MY CLASS AND YOU WILL SEE HOW MY STUDENTS CREATE THEIR SONNETS AND HAIKUS !!! )

 

you said...

.... Deaf people who are isolated and discriminated by people who don’t believe in Deaf rights and by the system that only recognize hearing people’s rights.

 

( Dont you think you will be more discriminated if you are not fully equipped with the necessary LITERACY SKILLS NEEDED?? You are doing something that will make you more discriminated by the society!!!! People from different places, regardless of cultural background are trying to learn English because it it one to be considered necessary for globalization.... SHOULD YOU ALWAYS RELY TO YOUR INTERPRETER>????? )

 

you said..

....Who should we support? Deaf people who represents the Deaf community and are fighting for Deaf rights? Or hearing people and some deaf people who just don’t like FSL to be used in education??

(FALLACY!!! )

 

you said

our children to have a better future

.... Do you have a child????  IS he or she familiar and knowledgeable of the English language??? or only Filipino?? If both then dont deprive the students from learning both .....!!!!! Deaf people should also have the right to learn the CORRECT STRUCTURE OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE!!! yOU have clearly stated THAT FSL HAS A DIFFERENT STRUCTURE ..... THEN IN CANT ADDRESS THE IDEA OF TEACHING ENGLISH BECAUSE ENGLISH IS ALSO DIFFERENT!!!!!

 

....... I am NOT against the FSL BILL... but there should be MODIFICATIONS!! particularly on the MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS!!!! Talk if you are really into the BASIC EDUCATION OF THESE CHILDREN>>>>> Kung KATULAD KITA na GURO sa ELEMENTARYA  eh dun ka magmaganda... salamat :)

 

#4: Techie - Support Deaf People’s Right to their OWN Language!!!

I would like to say one of comment's in # 4 and #39. There are many impacted some issue how to Deaf children's learning age and Deaf adult's learning age that is because they are not first language in English, they are first language in FSL who their experienced in domain such as cognitive,physical, emotion developments part of lifespans.

One thing is important is understands of Deaf peoples who have developed in languages. There are two difference BICS and CALP.
Basic Interpersonal Communication Skill are related language skills need in social situations the day to day language to interact socially with other peoples. English learners when BICS skills when they are on the playground, in the lunch or recces in activities.

Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency is related refer formal academic learning, such includes listen, reading, writing about subject area content material that where give level of language learning essential for student to success in school. Students need to time and support to become improve proficient in academic area.

These are classroom or social need to understand difference between in social language and academic language acquisition. They would have acquisition language.