The following academic tips should assist you in working with students who are deaf or hard of hearing in post-secondary education.

Academic Tips..

• Repeat or rephrase questions/comments from the class before responding
• Face the class and speak naturally and at a moderate pace
• Avoid the temptation to pick up the pace when time is short
• Do not stand or sit in front of a window where shadows will impede lip reading
• Encourage communication from a student with a hearing loss
• Provide handouts on PowerPoint presentations, lecture notes, and assignments
• Write announcements and assignments on the board
• Use captioned films/videos/DVD's
• Seek instruction on the use of assistive listening devices (see Tips below)
• Seek instruction on working with interpreters in class (see Tips below)

Working with Interpreters

• An interpreter's role is to facilitate communication

• Interpreters are not aides or participants in class

• Keep lines of sight free for visual access to information

• Interpreters need to stand or sit in direct line with you, the student, and any visuals

• Share any handouts, text books, technical vocabulary, syllabus, agenda, etc. which will enhance the quality of the interpreted message

• Speak naturally and at a reasonable, modest pace

• The interpreter must listen and understand a complete thought before signing it

• Interpreters are usually one or two sentences behind

• Address any communication to the student, not the interpreter

• Maintain eye contact with the student

• For group work, semi-circles or circles work best

• Students cannot read or take notes while watching the interpreter

FM Systems

• Request training from DRS or the student

• Position the microphone properly

• Perform a listening check

• Face the student when talking

• Speak slowly and clearly