How to Become a Sign Language Teacher to the Hearing

Deaf education courses at colleges and universities prepare students for careers as sign language teachers.

The United States offers higher education institutions dedicated to preparing students for careers as sign language interpreters, counselors, government specialists and teachers of deaf and hard-of-hearing students. American Sign Language (ASL) and deaf studies programs help students who aspire to become sign language teachers of the hearing and those who wish to learn a second language. Training requirements for sign language instructors may vary depending on the types of classes and age range of students they want to teach.

Things You'll Need

• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree (optional if teaching elementary/secondary education)
• State licensure (required for public elementary/secondary education)
• ASL teacher certification

Instructions

1. Determine where and whom you want to teach before enrolling in a training program. Decide whether you want to teach elementary school children, high school teenagers, college students or professional adults. Find out what the requirements are for teaching in a public or private school versus a community college or university.

2. Get a bachelor's degree in deaf education, deaf studies or American Sign Language (ASL). In addition to developing proficiency in ASL, take courses in ASL literature, deaf culture, history, individual skills development and artistic and creative uses of ASL. Consider pursuing a minor in education or concentrating your major in an area where you can learn general education requirements. Strive to attain not only fluency in ASL, but also expertise in relationship building and communication between deaf and hearing people.

3. Obtain a graduate degree in ASL to boost your academic credentials and qualify for postsecondary teaching positions. Pass the ASL proficiency interview exam offered by the school, as well as meet undergraduate credit and minimum GPA requirements. Opt for a master degree program that offers specializations in elementary and secondary education.

4. Become licensed under your State Board of Education or licensure advisory committee to teach in an elementary or postsecondary public school. Pass a competency exam in basic reading and writing, as well as proficiency in ASL. For example, pass the Texas Examination of Educator Standards (TExES) exam and the Texas Assessment of Sign Communication-American Sign Language (TASC-ASL) to teach sign language to the hearing in the state of Texas (see Resources).

5. Earn professional designation as an elementary school ASL specialist for kindergarten through eighth grade or secondary ASL specialist for sixth through 12th grade students. Earn certification as part of your master degree program, or pursue professional certification separately through the American Sign Language Teacher's Association (ASLTA). Obtain certification at one of the three levels: provisional, qualified or professional. Start with provision certification after earning one to two years of ASL teaching experience (see Resources).

Tips & Warnings

• The American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASL PI) tests students' knowledge of ASL, and preparedness for a graduate degree in deaf education. The exam lasts 20 minutes and grades students on grammar, accuracy, pronunciation, fluency and comprehension. Work on building fluency in your undergraduate program to adequately prepare for the exam and increase your chances of admission into graduate school.

References

• Education-Portal.com: How to Become a Sign Language Teacher
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Teachers---Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary
• California State University Northridge: Deaf Studies
• McDaniel College: Deaf Education Curriculum

Resources

• ASLTA: Certification
• ETS: Texas Educator Certification Program