The Faculty of Medicine’s Sign Language Communication (Medical Sign Language) course has won the European Language Label’s first prize. The justification of the award explained that the course has filled a gap in Hungarian sign language education and is well suited to the communication needs of deaf patients, thus facilitating professional medical care.
The goal of the special sign language course, launched in September 2011, is to provide medical students with fundamental knowledge about the hearing impaired community, their culture, and communication. Dr. László Rosivall, director of the Department of Pathophysiology, had the Medical Sign Language Communication course accredited as an elective course within the official medical training curriculum. Over 140 students successfully completed the course, worth one credit point, over the past two semesters.
The course material was developed by three experienced deaf sign language instructors and one sign language interpreter, with medical professional guidance. The material is supplemented by a DVD, which facilitates out-of-class practice. The instructors’ work is supported by sign language interpreters, to ensure that the students and teachers understand each other during the lectures.
Szilvia Tóth-Szabó
Translated by Gina Varga-Gönczi
