Portuguese Sign Language

Curriculum Program for the Deaf,

from Kindergarten to High School
Marta Morgado
Mariana Martins
Paula Estanqueiro
 Sign Language Curriculum
DEAF EDUCATION IN PORTUGAL

1980’s – Sign Language Research

– Deaf adults in schools
1997 – Sign Language Recognition
1998 – Support units for deaf students
2008 – Sign Language Curriculum
– Bilingual schools for the Deaf
 Sign Language Curriculum
BILINGUAL EDUCATION FOR THE DEAF

Written
Portuguese
as L2

Optional
spoken
Portuguese

Sign
Language
as L1
 Sign Language Curriculum
DEAF CHILDREN

• All deaf children;

• Special needs: late learners;
cognitive, visual, motor or
emotional impairments.
 Sign Language Curriculum
SIGN LANGUAGE TEACHER

• Native speaker; • Role model to

• Cultural experience; children and parents;
• Deaf identity; • Envolvement in
• Pedagogical training. decision making
processes.
 Sign Language Curriculum
LEARNING EXPERIENCES
(at national and international levels)
• Interaction with different sign language
speakers;
• Regular contact with deaf associations and
clubs;
• Regular contact with different deaf schools;
• Active participation on deaf community
events and activities.
 Sign Language Curriculum
WEEK HOURS

• 0-3 years old (kindergarten) – total immersion;

• 3-5 years old (pre-school) – 10 hours;
• 6-9 years old (1st-4th grade) – 10 hours;
• 10-11 years old (5th-6th grade) – 5 hours;
• 12-14 years old (7th-9th grade) – 5 hours;
• 15-17 years old (highschool) – 3 hours.
 Sign Language Curriculum
CLASSES

• 3-5 years old (pre-school) – 3-8 students;

• 6-9 years old (1st-4th grade) – 4-10 students;
• 10-11 years old (5th-6th grade) – 6-12
students;
• 12-14 years old (7th-9th grade) – 6-15
students;
• 15-17 years old (highschool) – 5-18 students.
Sign Language Curriculum
NUCLEAR SUBJECTS

Interaction

Community
Language
and culture

Literacy
Sign Language Curriculum
NUCLEAR SUBJECTS
Sign Language Curriculum
NUCLEAR SUBJECTS
Sign Language Curriculum
NUCLEAR SUBJECTS
Sign Language Curriculum
NUCLEAR SUBJECTS
 Sign Language Curriculum
PROBLEMS

• Sign language competence in hearing;

• Relationship between institutions;
• Teacher’s training;
• Sign language week hours;
• Deaf students’ concentration;
• Legal requirements.