Sign Language Institute Canada (SLIC) is a national network of professionals striving to excel in higher standards for teaching Sign Language. SLIC certifies teachers and instructors of ASL through the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) and the American Sign Language Instructors of Canada Evaluation (ASLICE). It provides instructors access to educational resource materials and networking connections with professionals, mentors and the Deaf Community.
SLIC Director Gary Malkowski says, “SLIC is committed to the continued development of the national certification process and the professional enrichment of teachers of sign languages.”
Gary explains in ASL:
LSQ (la langue des signes québécoise) proficiency evaluation is now available to all those who want to know their level of proficiency and set learning or development goals. ÉvaLSQ is provided by CB Linguistics Services; more information can be found at https://evalsq.ca/en/.
LSQ SLICE evaluation is not available at this time, but SLIC, in partnership with the Société Culturelle Québécoise des Sourds and LSQ communities across Canada, is working to have LSQ certification implemented within three years.
Celebrating its 30th Anniversary in 2021, SLIC operates under the umbrella of the Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf, a non-profit charitable organization that relies on volunteers, donations, and community partners to provide quality programs and services in communities across Canada.
Gary urges sign language instructors, interpreters and mentors to purchase an annual membership to support the work of SLIC. The cost is only $25 for individuals and $200 for organizations. Zoom Membership Night events are being held across Canada right now: in Ontario on January 14, 2021, BC on January 25, Newfoundland and Labrador on January 27, Deaf Youth Canada on January 30, and Alberta on February 1. Zoom SLIC Presentation Nights in LSQ communities in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick will be scheduled in Spring 2021. Contact Victoria at info@slicanada.ca for event-specific registration information.
American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI)
The ASLPI is a holistic language evaluation used to determine global ASL proficiency on a scale of 0 – 5. Through a face-to-face interview, proficiency will be assessed based on what the individual can do with the target language at a given point in time. For more information, visit the ASLPI section of the SLIC website here.
American Sign Language Instructors of Canada Evaluation (ASLICE)
SLIC helps standardize teaching methods and materials for ASL instructors across Canada, and certifies teachers and instructors through ASLICE.
Candidates applying for certification as an ASL instructor must
– be an active member of a provincial cultural society of the Deaf (or a provincial organization of the Deaf, if there is no cultural society in your province)
– have taught ASL to students for a minimum of 400 hours of documented instruction within a three-year period.
– consider ASL his/her first language and have proficiency in ASL (possess an ASLPI rating of 4 or above)
– have letters of reference from an executive of a provincial cultural society of the Deaf and from an administrator in a recognized program where s/he has worked
– have taken ASL-related workshops and courses in a recognized program or under the direction of a recognized organization of the Deaf in the past 5 years
For general inquiries or questions regarding the application process, contact Vincent Chauvet, SLIC Chair – slice@slicanada.ca.