Training Needs for Teaching Hearing-Impaired Students from Sign Language Teachers’ Perspective

Abstract

The aim of the research was to identify the training needs for teaching hearing-impaired students from sign language teachers’ perspective. The research also aimed at arranging these needs in a ascending order and examining the differences among them according to several variables. A questionnaire was designed that included (40) items distributed into (4) dimensions: (theoretical and academic knowledge, practical experiences, personal competencies, ethical standards). The sample consisted of (96) teachers for the grades (from the first to the ninth), who were chosen from several (public, private, community) institutes in Damascus and Homs. The findings showed that the (theoretical and academic knowledge, practical experiences, ethical standards) ranked first at a level of (very important), and the (personal competencies) ranked fourth at a level of (important). There were no differences among teachers in the questionnaire dimensions and the total degree according to (institute subordination) variable. However, there were differences among them according to (scientific qualification) variable, and they were in favor of those with a lower academic qualification. Also, such differences appeared according to the variable of (years of experience), and they were in favor of those with less years of experience. The findings were interpreted according to field reality, and several suggestions were reached.