Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) Practice Test

Using a first language that is fully accessible to the learner is essential in bilingual education for Deaf students. American Sign Language (ASL) serves as that first language because it is the natural language of many Deaf communities in the United States, with its own distinct grammar and vocabulary that learners can acquire through visual-gestural input. Establishing ASL as the foundation supports cognitive development and communication, and it provides a strong base for learning English as the second language and developing literacy. French Sign Language is a national sign language used in France, not the typical first language for Deaf students in US bilingual programs. English is often the second language in this context since Deaf students may not have full access to spoken or written English early on. Pidgin Signed English is a signing system that mixes signs with English word order and is not a natural language, so it isn’t used as the primary first language in most bilingual Deaf education models.