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        Sign Language Instruction
           In Missouri Schools
            Consumer Report

 

Introduction

The Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH)
conducted a survey of “Sign Language Instruction in Missouri” during the
summer and fall of 2006.  In August, a brief questionnaire was mailed
to all high schools, colleges and universities across the state, and this
was followed several weeks later by a second mailing of the questionnaire
along with a reminder letter to those schools that had not yet responded. 
A third contact was then made about four weeks later.  At that time
another copy of the questionnaire and a second reminder letter was
sent to all schools that had not yet returned a completed questionnaire. 
Survey questionnaires were sent out to a total of 499 Missouri high
schools, and 180 completed questionnaires were eventually returned
giving a 36% response rate.  Survey questionnaires were sent out to a
total of 59 colleges and universities, and 45 completed questionnaires
were eventually returned giving a 76% response rate for institutions of
higher education.  MCDHH extends our most sincere thanks to all of the
schools that participated in this survey.  MCDHH offers this “Consumer
Report” as a way of sharing information with the general public
regarding sign language instruction across our state. 

Questions 1 through 6 in this report should have been answered by all
schools, and the percentages for those questions are calculated on the
basis of 180 total returned questionnaires for high schools and 45
completed questionnaires for colleges and universities.  For example,
Question # 1 indicates that 94% of the 180 high schools that responded
to our survey offer one or more foreign language courses while 98% of
the 45 colleges and universities that responded to our survey offer one
or more foreign language courses. 

However, Question # 1.a and Question # 6.a are different.  The
information listed under Question # 1.a concerning what foreign
languages a school offers was only obtained from the schools that
answered “Yes” to Question # 1 (170 high schools and 44 colleges and
 universities), and the N-sizes given are the number of schools in our
sample that actually offer the various languages.  Similarly, the
sub-questions listed under Question # 6.a were only asked of the
schools that answered “Yes” to Question # 6 (7 high schools and 21
colleges and universities), and the N-sizes given are the number of
schools in our sample that actually provided the various responses.  So,
for example, of the 170 high schools that said they do offer one or more
foreign language courses 89% or 160 schools offer Spanish.  And of
the 7 high schools that said they do offer a course in sign language 29%
or 2 schools indicated that the instructor of their sign language course
was certified by the American Sign Language Teachers Association
(ASLTA). 

The survey results present a rather mixed picture of sign language instruction in Missouri.  Whereas 89% of our high schools teach Spanish, which is a language useful for communicating with many Missourians, only 4% of our high schools teach a course in sign language, which can also be used to communicate with many Missourians.  In contrast, the second most frequently taught language in our high schools (French) probably is of extremely limited utility in facilitating day-to-day discourse with other Missouri citizens.  However, the good news is that 24% of our high schools indicated that they were interested in possibly teaching sign language courses in the future.  Our colleges and universities are doing much better with nearly half of them (47%) presently offering a course in sign language and half of them (47%) indicating that they are interested in possibly teaching sign language in the future. 

MCDHH sincerely hopes that this “Consumer Report” will serve as a stimulus for people who use sign language throughout the state of Missouri to visit their local schools and ask if they provide any sign language instruction at their institution.  And, if not, hopefully those who are interested in seeing more sign language instruction in Missouri schools will formally request their local schools to consider adding a course in sign language to their curriculum.  The data shows that 76% of high schools and 24% of colleges and universities have never been asked to offer a sign language class, and the only way to increase the amount of sign language instruction in Missouri has to begin with people stepping forward and asking for it.    

This “Consumer Report” may be freely duplicated and distributed.  A copy of it is posted on the MCDHH website (www.mcdhh.mo.gov) and may be downloaded and printed by anyone.  Please contact our office if you would like further information or if personnel at your local school are interested in having a staff member of MCDHH visit and discuss with them the benefits of providing sign language instruction in Missouri schools. 

 

 

Sign Language Instruction in Missouri Schools

        

1. Does your school/college/university offer any foreign language courses?    
         High Schools:
         94%_ Yes        6%_ No          0%_ Don’t Know         0%_NA            *(N=180)

         Higher Education:       
         98%_ Yes         2%_ No          0%_ Don’t Know         0%_ NA           (N=45)

   1.a.  (If “Yes” to Question # 1)    What languages do you offer?

                                                             High Schools                       Higher Education                
                                                               ************                                 ***************
                                    Spanish            89%     N=160                         93%     N=42

                                    French             41%     N=73                           71%     N=32

                                    German            17%     N=30                           40%     N=18

Latin                  5%     N=9                               7%     N=3

Japanese           2%     N=3                             29%     N=13

Italian                1%     N=1                             22%     N=10

                                    Chinese              1%     N=2                             22%     N=10

Hebrew              1%     N=1                               7%     N=3

Russian              0%    N=0                             20%     N=9

                                    Arabic                0%     N=0                             18%     N=8

                                    Greek                0%     N=0                               7%     N=3

Portugese          0%     N=0                               4%     N=2

 Note: The percentages given for Question # 1.a are the percentage of the schools that answered

“Yes” to Question # 1 (170 high schools and 44 colleges and universities).  The N sizes given for

Question # 1.a are the actual number of schools in our sample that offer the various  languages.

 

2.    Do you have any deaf or hard of hearing students in your school/college/university?

         High Schools:            
         44%_ Yes        48%_ No           7%_ Don’t Know       2%_ NA           (N=180)

         Higher Education:       
         69%_ Yes          9%_ No          18%_ Don’t Know      4%_ NA           (N=45) 

 

3.    To your knowledge, has your institution ever had a request to offer a course in sign language?

         High Schools:              
         8%_ Yes       76%_ No         17%_ Don’t Know       0%_ NA           (N=180)

         Higher Education:      
         51%_ Yes        24%_ No          18%_ Don’t Know                  7%_ NA           (N=45)

 

4.    Has your institution ever considered offering a course in sign language but could not find a qualified teacher for it?

         High Schools:                 
         5%_ Yes         64%_ No       29%_ Don’t Know       2%_ NA           (N=180)    

         Higher Education:       
         18%_ Yes         60%_ No        16%_ Don’t Know       7%_ NA           (N=45)

 

5.    Does your institution have any interest in possibly offering courses in sign language in the future?

         High Schools:             
         24%_ Yes         27%_ No        48%_ Don’t Know      1%_ NA           (N=180)

         Higher Educations:    
         47%_ Yes         16%_ No        27%_ Don’t Know      11%_ NA          (N=45)

 

6.    Does your school/college/university presently offer any courses in sign language?   

         High Schools:                
         4%_ Yes         96%_ No          0%_ Don’t Know       0%_ NA           (N=180)    

         Higher Education:       
         47%_ Yes         51%_ No          0%_ Don’t Know       2%_ NA           (N=45)

 

            6.a.  (If “Yes” to Question # 6) 

                                                                                               High School    Higher Education
                                                                                                  ***********         ****************

Is academic credit given for the course?... Yes                      88%     (N=7)        73%     (N=16)                                                                          
                                                                     No                       13%     (N=1)         27%     (N=6)

When is the course offered?...................... Daytime              100%   (N=8)         24%     (N=5)    
                                                                     Evening                 0%     (N=0)         43%     (N=9)
                                                  Daytime & Evening                  0%     (N=0)        33%     (N=7)

What is the focus of the course?................ ASL                     88%     (N=7)        86%  (N=18)
                                                                    PSE                       0%     (N=0)        10%     (N=2)
                                                                     SEE                       0%     (N=0)          0%    (N=0)                                                     
                                                         ASL & SEE                     13%     (N=1)         5%     (N=1) 

 What is the level of the course?................. Beginning            88%     (N=7)        57%    (N=12)                                                                  
                                                                  Intermediate             0%     (N=0)          0%     (N=0)                                                                    
                                                                     Advanced              0%     (N=0)          0%     (N=0)    
                                             Beginning & Intermediate            13%     (N=1)          5%     (N=1)                       
                        Beginning & Intermediate & Advanced              0%     (N=0)        38%     (N=8)

Average number of students in the course?**                         26.25   (N=8)        16.72   (N=18)  

Is the instructor ASLTA certified?............  Yes                        29%     (N=2)        39%     (N=7)
                                                                      No                        71%     (N=5)        61%     (N=11) 

Gender of the instructor?.………………..  Male                      13%     (N=1)        11%     (N=2)                                                              
                                                               Female                       88%     (N=7)       90%     (N=17)

Audiological status of the instructor?........  Deaf                        0%     (N=0)       21%     (N=4)                                                  
                                                   Hard of Hearing                      13%     (N=1)       11%     (N=2)
                                                                Hearing                      88%     (N=7)       68%     (N=13) 

Education of the instructor?.......................  Diploma                  0%     (N=0)       11%     (N=2)                                                                                       
                                                                   Associate                25%     (N=2)       11%     (N=2)                                                                    
                                                                   Bachelors                25%     (N=2)       17%     (N=3)                                                         
                                                                     Masters                 50%     (N=4)       56%     (N=10)
                                                                          Ph.D.                  0%     (N=0)        6%     (N=1)

Is the instructor an interpreter?..................  Yes                         43%     (N=3)     44%     (N=7)                                                                     
                                                                     No                           57%     (N=4)    56%     (N=9)

 Note: The percentages given for Question # 6.a are the percentage of the schools that answered

“Yes” to Question # 6 (7 high schools and 21 colleges and universities.  The N sizes given for

Question # 6.a are the actual number of schools in our sample that gave the various responses.

   * NA=No Answer

** Calculated mean of the reported number of students in the various sign language classes.

 

Note: Percentages do not always total 100% because of rounding error.

 

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Last Updated: Wednesday, April 18, 2007