What is Language Philosophy

The Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind has sought to create collaboration between the traditionally opposing language philosophies of ASL/English and Listening and Spoken Language through partnering teachers together to educate students whose families want instruction in both modalities, but not simultaneous instruction in both languages. This collaboration was tested in preschool/early childhood grades and brought opposing viewpoints together and partnerships were not always successful. Through this process of collaboration, teachers learned a great deal about how to professionally work with people who may believe very different things when working toward the common goal of student success. Lessons from the struggles and successes of the collaboration are shared in the story of a Deaf teacher, Natalie, and the teachers she partnered with.