Acquisition of Sign Language Skills among Trainee Teachers in Selected Private and Public Universities in Zambia

The study focused on acquisition of sign language skills among trainee teachers at (X, Y, Z and W) both at public and private universities. The objective administered established the factors in support of acquisition of sign language skills among trainee teachers in the study areas. The approach was qualitative, a case study research design was used and the sample comprised of eighty students from four universities with twenty from each university. The unstructured interview was administered to all respondents. The main purpose was to explore what determines the acquisition of sign language among trainee teachers. The major finding of the study revealed that sign language skills among trainee teachers was acquired using factors such as individual signing and being observed by the lecturer or friends, interacting and practicing the signs with friends, for it being a requirement for the award of the degree, personal interest, practical exams, having someone disabled in the family and using it for further studies, for using it in classrooms, schools, in a wider community such as churches, banks and non-governmental organization. Therefore, this study suggests that sign language skills are a must as mode of communication to learners with hearing impaired and must be learnt or acquired by trainee teachers.