It is easy to mix up a language with the teaching approach built around it, but they are not the same thing. Use this comparison chart to keep them clear: on one side are languages such as American Sign Language, English, and other spoken and signed languages; on the other are the instructional approaches often paired with them, like listening and spoken language, bilingual-bimodal teaching, and balanced literacy. Seeing the two side by side helps teams talk precisely about language and method, and make bilingual decisions without confusing the language a child uses with the way that child is taught.
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A checklist high school teachers use to help students lead their own ASL–English bridging, judge translation accuracy, and work as independent bilingual thinkers.
A checklist teachers use to teach free translation, helping students carry meaning across ASL and English by focusing on intent and clarity rather than matching words.