Exploring the Sign Language Performance of Undergraduate Students at a Pre-service Deaf Teachers' Preparation Program

The ability to communicate through sign language is an essential skill for every teacher in teaching deaf and hard-of-hearing students. This study sought to assess the sign language performance of pre-service teachers of deaf and hard of hearing children using a descriptive research design through conveniently distributed questionnaires. This research aims to evaluate the sign language aspect and helping pre-service teachers' programs designers identify what aspects of sign language needed to be focused on and provide recommendations to improve pre-service teachers' sign language level. The research subjects were undergraduate female students (n= 36) enrolled in a pre-service deaf teacher preparation program at a Saudi Arabian university. This study's outcomes can disclose that pre-service teachers' sign language level needs to be improved and developed; therefore, recommendations are presented for pre-service teachers' program designers to develop learners' sign language performance.