Abstract:

As is known, the knowledge of the English language is indispensable nowadays. However, students who are deaf and hearing impaired are at a disadvantage when it comes to learning a foreign language. The article aims to make an overview of studies of and approaches to teaching English as a foreign language to this segment of the population. The number of studies on this topic is quite limited, an overview of about 30 papers has been made. The areas of research can be grouped into two categories: learners’ profiles and teaching strategies. The former includes strategies used by deaf EFL learners, their difficulties in mastering the language, the role of motivation in their education, results of surveys, and analyses of their needs. The latter includes classroom techniques (including, but not limited to, the use of subtitled materials, the use of graphic novels, the use of visual materials), research of the effects of the bilingual model (using the sign language), the use of modern technologies to facilitate language acquisition (e.g. social media, creating a special environment, online glossing lessons). The area conspicuous by its absence is the use of online education as there appears to be only one experiment of such kind present. Thereby there clearly is a lack of methodology for teaching English online. Thus, these areas – online courses and their underlying methodology – require further research.

Keywords:

Teaching EFL, hearing impaired students, deaf education.