Time is precious for all of us. And time lost can never be regained. People often ask me “How do I know if this is a good class?” or “How do I know which Deaf Awareness workshop to go to?” or even “What’s the best way of making sure I can afford the time to go to a workshop?”
1. Ask around
Ask people if they have been on a similar course. What did they learn from the tutor? What were the tutor’s strong points?
2. Don’t worry about communication
A good D/deaf tutor will always be responsive and will already be aware that hearing people coming on to their courses can be very apprehensive about how the communication will work. The tutors will already have worked out their strategies
3. Is the class too large?
A good one day workshop has any number between 5 and 12 people. Beyond that, it just gets too difficult to interrupt and ask your all-important questions.
4. Will you have a chance to find out what you want to know?
People often say about workshops, “Well, I enjoyed that but I actually learnt very little!”. Let trainers know beforehand what you would like to see in the programme. Tutors can’t read your mind. So tell them. They’ll be delighted.
5. Be aware of people with a “problem” approach
Some trainers and tutors (thankfully fewer now) still have a “medical model” approach to life’s problems. They see deafness as a problem and talk about how deaf people can be “helped” instead of focusing on what we as a society can do to reconstruct things so deafness is no longer a problem
6. What kind of back up will there be?
Does the tutor have materials available? Some are happy to answer queries on the spot or by email. Are they supportive and encouraging towards delegates?
7. Do they have up to date information?
Ask if the materials are up to date and that it is all their own work, and not someone else’s poor quality photocopies.
8. What happens if the trainer is ill?
Check that if the trainer is ill, what will happen? Do they have another trainer on standby and that the workshop will not be cancelled?
9. Is there support?
All good DA workshops will provide support for you as well as good quality handouts to take home.
10. Check the trainer is deaf
You will learn more about Deaf Awareness from a deaf person, as their experiences will be invaluable to you and you will learn in the workshop how to put your Deaf Awareness knowledge into practice.
Are you a tutor yourself? Want to know more? Log onto www.deafworks.co.uk
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