FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs):
Q: Does Language First promote ASL only?
A: No. Language First promotes ASL-English bilingualism. For some Deaf children, this may be ASL-written English bilingualism. For others, it may be ASL-oral English bilingualism. However, Language First does not promote English monolingualism for Deaf children.
Q: Does Language First oppose cochlear implants?
A: No. Language First does not oppose cochlear implants unless they are the only intervention for language acquisition. In other words, a Deaf child who is implanted should also be provided with robust ASL from birth. Cochlear implants are tools that do not guarantee success with oral language, even with extensive training. Therefore, Deaf children with cochlear implants still need a fully accessible language (i.e., ASL).
Q: Is Language First opposed to the Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) approach?
A: Similarly, Language First is only opposed to the LSL approach if it is the sole language intervention for a Deaf child. LSL does not guarantee success with oral language. Therefore, Deaf children still need to be provided a fully accessible language (i.e., ASL).
Q: Does Language First believe that parents should become fluent in ASL immediately and teach it to their Deaf child?
A: No. It is unreasonable to expect any adult to become immediately fluent in a new language, let alone fluent enough to model it for their child. Language First believes that parents of Deaf children should be provided with Deaf mentors and other programming that would allow for their Deaf child to be around fluent ASL models during the critical period for language acquisition while also learning ASL themselves.