Just Deaf

Why is it important to start learning sign language before your child gets a CI?

More reading

Scientific literature

François Grosjean (2009), What parents want to know about bilingualism. In: The Bilingual Family Newsletter, 26(4), 1-6.

Gladys Tang (Chinese University of Hong Kong): multilingual education

Learning sign language

"The sign language classes evolve alongside your child."

How much language input is necessary for proper acquisition of a language?

"At the day care they watched the Lotte & Max DVDs with the children, and that's how they learned how to sign."

"We run into all kinds of situations where we're forced to use sign language. That's quite exciting."

Why is the first year of life so important for language acquisition?

"Guus' first sign was MOMMY!"

How can you learn sign language as a parent?

Why is it important that parents learn sign language too?

"I learn all kinds of signs from Guus."

"The best response is when people ask: could we join you for one of those sign language classes?"

Why is it important for children to learn sign language if they have a CI?

Is it difficult for parents to learn sign language?

"It was a blessing in disguise, since we wanted to learn a new language anyway, and we enjoy it."

How early should you start learning a (first) language?

"I had to sign in public for the first time -- that was quite a big step."

Can children learn sign language at school?

"I think it's good, learning sign language from both a hearing and a deaf teacher."

"In Norway they offer sign language to babies at school."

"When Guus was three years old we were taught sign language at home."

"When family counseling started, we were taking sign language classes."