International Sing w praktyce

The project was initiated to meet the growing interest among teachers, Sign Language Interpreters (SLIs), and Deaf individuals in learning International Sign (IS). The lack of IS knowledge creates communication barriers with Deaf individuals and educators in other countries, limiting their mobility and personal and professional development. Our motivation also came from prior experience with an Erasmus+ project, where we noted the absence of IS training facilities and materials in Europe. Since English serves as the international language for hearing individuals, we saw the need to facilitate effective communication for Deaf individuals in Europe. Thus, the project aimed to provide essential information about IS, addressing gaps in awareness among Deaf individuals in Poland and across Europe.

By implementing the project, we aimed to increase access to IS learning for those fluent in their national sign language, among teachers, sign language interpreters, and Deaf individuals, thereby enhancing communication skills within the Deaf community worldwide. Through this project, we intended to utilize our experiences gathered from previously implemented projects as participants or partners in training sessions, where we frequently encountered a lack of educational materials for IS. Often, our communication with foreign partners or Deaf individuals was based on intuitive sign communication. We searched the internet for materials or sign language dictionaries to familiarize ourselves with international vocabulary, which proved to be very difficult to find. Through this project, we wanted individuals who wish to communicate with other Deaf people to acquire both basic theoretical knowledge and practical skills in using IS in the form of a simple course. We ourselves searched for such a course and could not find one, so with the help of an experienced partner from Austria, we developed a curriculum and prepared vocabulary at a basic level.

Within the project, we developed a guide on IS, an IS curriculum, and a video dictionary of IS in collaboration with our partner, which was made available on the training platform: https://iscourse.online The dictionary includes over 340 video clips. Theoretical and methodological issues related to IS learning were handled by our partner from Austria, who has extensive experience in preparing educational materials for various target groups. A list of modules and the scope of vocabulary to be recorded in video format was prepared. Our partner recorded the planned IS vocabulary in their studio. Subsequently, a five-day training session on Final Cut Pro was organized in Poland. During this training, we learned how to edit videos based on the recorded IS vocabulary. This resulted in a package of videos featuring basic terms and phrases in IS. The next phase of our activities involved conducting a pilot 30-hour course and testing the educational platform for this course. Another activity was organizing dissemination events where the developed educational materials were presented to potential recipients: sign language educators, participants of national sign language courses, and Deaf individuals.

Specific outcomes: • Establishment of a common IS curriculum, including vocabulary needed for basic communication between Deaf and/or hearing individuals from different countries, totaling 30 hours. • Preparation of video materials covering IS vocabulary by the Austrian partner - over 340 videos + alphabet and numerals. • Creation of a platform for IS learning on the website www.iscourse.online. • Conducting training with a Deaf lecturer from Austria on video editing in Final Cut Pro - a five-day training session. • Acquisition of skills in editing and assembling video materials that include vocabulary and subsequently IS numerals. • Implementation of a pilot IS training session for teachers and Deaf individuals. • The ability to use IS in communication with Deaf individuals from other countries after completing the course, e.g., during study visits within other Erasmus+ projects for Deaf individuals in Turin, Viterbo, and Nicosia. • Organization of dissemination events to present the implemented project.