Conceptualizing the role of mediation in an online American Sign Language teaching model for parents of deaf children

ABSTRACT

This paper discusses the role of mediation as it arose in developing and teaching two online American Sign Language (ASL) courses for parents of deaf children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Deaf children and their families who are still acquiring ASL have ongoing learning needs that are most often not met in mainstream educational systems, and these inequities have deepened during the pandemic. Combining reception, production, and interaction, mediation is a mode of language activity in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) that involves “languaging” to develop ideas and facilitate understanding and communication. In this nine-month study, intensive parent ASL courses were adapted and developed for rapid implementation of online instruction in order to meet the second or additional language ASL learning needs of parents of deaf children. Online questionnaire, interview, observational, and assessment data were gathered regarding participating parents’ learning processes and experiences. As study findings reveal, a main theme that arose was the role of mediation in terms of alleviating various barriers for participants and facilitating the linguistic and cultural dimensions of parents’ online ASL learning and understanding through cognitive and relational means.

KEYWORDS:

• Sign language teaching
• online learning
• parents
• Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
• mediation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a Toronto Metropolitan University Faculty of Community Services COVID-19 Rapid Response Grant.

Notes on contributors

Kristin Snoddon

Kristin Snoddon is Associate Professor with the School of Early Childhood Studies, Toronto Metropolitan University.

Krishna Madaparthi

Krishna Madaparthi is Assistant Academic Specialist and Teaching Professor, American Sign Language & Interpreting Education, College of Social Science and Humanities, Northeastern University.